 and was embroiled in wild story lines; pictured here as Gerard Kelly, who plays Callum Finnegan, grabs her throat (Image: Channel 4) 'As far as I'm concerned, it should never have been cancelled,' says actress Claire Sweeney, who's gone on to star in everything from Benidorm and Scarborough to Strictly Come Dancing and Chicago in the West End. She's currently filming for a top-secret British drama. "All shows have their ups and downs, and Brookside was brilliant.' Claire, 51, joined the soap in 1991 and starred as the iconic Lindsey Corkhill, daughter of Jimmy and Jackie, chip shop worker, accidental drug smuggler and gun-toting gangster. Growing up in the programme's home city, she was a lifelong fan and like millions across Britain tuned in every week for the latest gobsmacking tales to come out of the Close. 'I h){kind=link}
Actress Claire Sweeney, who played Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside, opens up on her time on the legendary soap and the “brilliant storylines” that she navigated
There was murder and mayhem, an explosion and incest, a spot of drug smuggling and even a siege or two â action-packed to say the least for a suburban cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Liverpool.
This week marks 40 years since legendary soap Brookside hit screens across the UK during Channel 4 ‘s first night on air back in 1982, and the impact it made on the telly landscape was huge.
One of the first programmes to share helpline details on screen as ground-breaking storylines played out, it grabbed headlines for everything from British TV’s first lesbian kiss to the âbody under the patio’ storyline which aired the same year real-life serial killer Fred West committed suicide on remand.
At the height of its popularity the show, created by legendary TV producer Phil Redmond, had massive audiences of 8 million viewers, peaking at 9 million in January 1995 when Trevor Jordache’s body was discovered at the back of Number 10 Brookside Close.