The classic Liverpool-based soap opera Brookside, affectionately known as ‘Brookie,’ is set to return to screens after a 20-year hiatus. First airing in 1982, it drew a massive following, becoming a daily staple for millions of fans and peaking at nine million viewers.

Cancelled in 2003, the series will now be revived on the free streaming service STV Player, allowing fans to stream the entire series from the start for the first time ever, thanks to a new deal between STV Player and All3Media International.

During its 2,915-episode run, Brookside featured many unforgettable storylines, including the iconic romance between Damon Grant and Debbie McGrath, played by Simon O’Brien and Gillian Kearney. This beloved on-screen couple made Channel 4 history by starring in the first-ever mini-series spin-off from a soap opera, the 1987 three-part series Damon and Debbie, dubbed TV’s first “soap bubble.”

Brookside’s Simon O’Brien and Gillian Kearney in October 1987 (Image:

Mirrorpix)

Written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the series followed the young lovers as they left Brookside and eloped. The couple made their home in York, with Debbie attending an open day at the university and Damon securing a job at a burger joint named Dick Turpin’s.

However, things didn’t run smoothly – Debbie kept her diabetes a secret from Damon and when the barge they were living on disappeared, she was left in a panic about her insulin supply, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Their love story, reminiscent of a Shakespearean tragedy, ended in sorrow. Following a pretend wedding in a hotel room, Damon was fatally stabbed by an unidentified attacker on the streets of York, dying in Debbie’s arms.

Following the spin-off series, both actors continued to build successful careers in showbusiness and started families. After leaving Brookside, which she had been part of since she was 14, Gillian Kearney completed her O and A levels before attending drama school.

A past member of the Liverpool Playhouse Youth Theatre, she accumulated numerous television credits. Her TV roles include Casualty, Clocking Off, Shameless, Lilies, The Forsyte Saga and daytime courtroom drama Justice, partially filmed in the ECHO’S Old Hall Street offices in November 2010.

She also showcased her talent on stage in productions such as Hedda Gabler, King Lear, The Flint Street Nativity at the Playhouse and A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the West End. Many will also remember Gillian for her role as young Shirley Valentine, starring in Suspects and later joining the cast of Emmerdale.

In December 2014, the actress had bagged the role of Finn Barton’s long-lost mum, Emma. This role earned her a nomination for Best Serial Drama Performance at the 2016 National Television Awards.

In 2019, Gillian took on the directorial reins for the 5Star women’s prison drama Clink. In 2010, she celebrated the birth of her first child with her husband.

Simon O’Brien embarked on his acting journey in 1982 with the debut episode of Brookside, when he was just 16. Post-Brookie, he has maintained his acting career while also making a name for himself as a radio presenter and property developer.

He has hosted his own TV children’s shows, starred in films like Willy Russell’s Dancing In The Dark and fortuitously secured the role as presenter of BBC 2’s The Rough Guide travelogues alongside Magenta Divine. According to his website, he also traverses Europe “seeking out derelict properties to renovate: all done from an ecological perspective.”

After a stint presenting football show Standing Room Only on the BBC in the 90s, Simon also gained recognition in the States for his role in American sitcom Out All Night and presenting on BBC Radio Merseyside. He even opened a vegetarian cafe and cycle shop in Liverpool, before making a comeback to acting after a career hiatus, featuring in Grange Hill.

Liverpool-born actor and green activist Simon was appointed chair of the Green Strategy Group in December 2014, tasked with scrutinising the city’s green spaces. As cycling and walking commissioner for the Liverpool City Region, the married father-of-one plays a key role in promoting active travel throughout the area.

In 2022, Simon made a guest appearance on ITV’s Coronation Street as Frank Bardsley, sparking excitement among fans as a potential love interest for Sean Tully (Antony Cotton).

In recent years, Simon has reunited with his Brookside co-star Gillian Kearney. In January 2015, Gillian made her directorial debut with a short film for the Sunday ECHO, which went viral online.

The film, produced by Colin McKeown and written by Echo columnist Gary Bainbridge, featured Simon and Gillian as a posh couple who “turn Scouse” after moving to Liverpool.

In April 2018, the actors behind Channel 4’s groundbreaking mini-series spin-off from a soap opera called on the broadcaster to relocate to their hometown. Fans can now relive the drama of Brookside and stream the soap from the start for the first time ever on STV Player.