Brookside is back!

[LennyBriscoe]

I find Paul so bloody unbearable! And I can honestly say I’m still traumatised by the scenes of him and Annabelle in bed…he’s a man of principles but surely any job is better than no job when you’ve got a family to feed.

40 years doesn’t seem all that long ago when Alan’s girlfriend said she didn’t want to get married because she wasn’t ready to give up her career. It’s a good insight into what life was like in the early 80s

 

[Misssj80]

Have watched first 5 episodes and will watch the next 5 today. Enjoyed it. Have never been a fan of Amanda Burton but haven't minded her, so far, in this! I did watch brookside but probably from the mid 90's to maybe a year or so before it finished so looking forward to seeing what I missed first time round

 

[minnieminx88]

Anyone still watching??

 

[HowlOwl]

I am enjoying watching these very much. Wish the picture quality was better though, and I won’t watch it on the TV as they stretch the aspect ratio to widescreen.

Roger and Heather’s bickering is irritating, and the car locking palaver makes you grateful for remote central locking!

I also think Lucy and Gordon’s dad looks old. (Mind you, I’m 60 with a teenager.) Katrin Cartlidge, who played Lucy, went on to star in Mike Leigh films and other stuff, but sadly died in 2002, she was only 41.

The strike etc is a bit draggy but an important issue.

It’s surprisingly sweary and amazing what topics they have touched on already (period pain, infertility, bullying, dodgy business, counterfeit goods.)

Am watching 2/3 a night when each new batch comes along Used to love talking about it the next day at work, especially when it came to the Jordaches.

 

[Maid22]

Petra's acting has been dreadful ! Along with Alan Partridge!!
Had forgotten about Rogers affair, never understood what the women saw in him tbh!

And 5 episodes a week is not enough!!!

 

[Maid22]

Billy annoyed me, declaring love to Sheila but letting Doreen stay there, should have kicked her out!
And taking Sheila to 'a special place' where he proposed to Doreen, that would of been the end for me!
And have had enough of stroppy Tracy!!

 

[Maid22]

I had to rewind for a second look at Roger’s tanned torso today.

Just watched this weeks, and blimey we nearly saw Roger's todger when he got out of the bath!!

 

[minnieminx88]

I know! Karen would hve snapchatted Jeff by now! And no computer in the offices. No emails. How did life work?! It all seems so difficult.

 

[Sh1tRollsDownHill]

The Damon and Debbie mini series was dreadful, it could have all been done in one 30min episode. Damon was playing a totally different character to what we've seen before. The scene were he got physical with Debbie was so out of character. The uncle turns up as a different character in years to come, Ray Quinns dad if I remember correctly. Was great to see Morecambe and Frontierland though, we spent a lot of our youth there and it struck up some great memories.
To be fair all the early episodes of Brookside are shit, with a lot of weak storylines and characters. I'm patiently waiting for Bar Brookie, the Jordaches, Tinhead and Jen Ellison to appear.

 

[LennyBriscoe]

I remember the nightclub bomb. Even at 11 years old I thought having a bomb 18 months after the gas explosion on one shopping parade was a bit far fetched

Thanks @Maid22 for flagging up this thread! I’ve seen so many storylines mentioned so far that I don’t remember, although i only really watched it from about the mid-90s. Saturday teatimes were never the same without the omnibus!

I remember the body under the patio, the lesbian kiss, the brother and sister relationship and Mick Johnno’s mother-in-law (?) asking him to euthanise her. Casa Bevron!

I’m looking forward to seeing what makes Barry Grant turn rogue as he seems alright so far! Not sure how he can cope with Petra tbh

 

[Maid22]

@Rosco agree, it's the same tunes all the time! Does my head in!
Also, the only tv program they ever seem to watch is the magic rabbits with another annoying tune!!

 

[Cupid_Stunt]

That patronising interview that Heather went to:

Interviewer: “What does your husband think Mrs Huntington (about you applying for this job)?”
Heather: “Does this question influence your consideration of my application?”
Interviewer: “We have to ask”
Heather: “Well as you’ve asked, Mr Huntington’s opinion doesn’t arise, we’re separated”
Interviewer: “For good?”
Heather: “We’re separated”
Interviewer: “Thank you. We have to ask”

Why do they have to ask? The patronising 80s where married women shouldn’t be out working unless they get their husband’s permission first

 

[minnieminx88]

2 very good actors, Ricky Tomlinson & Sue Johnston, they make it look easy, I don't think Brookside would have taken off without them.

Yeah i did think that too. They go so well together it was maybe just so natural when filming.

 

[Miss Havisham]

The actress playing Sam (Alan Partridge’s girlfriend), is delivering her lines like she is reading out a shopping list.

 

[HowlOwl]

I've been waiting so long for a channel to repeat Brookie, well done STV, bet channel 4 are kicking themselves!!!

I think they missed a trick there, find it strange that they didn’t!

 

[Miss Havisham]

I am all caught up and loving it. I wish they would release more episodes each week.
I thought Bobby and Sheila’s Spanish holiday was hilarious (it wasn’t meant to be).
I reminisced over the Garden Festival and breathed a sigh of relief when Alan Partridge and Sam left the close - the poor acting from that pair was beyond hopeless.
We now how the return of BOTH Tommy Mcardle and Victor
---
Harry and Edna are moving in to Alan’s Bungalow. Does anyone remember who bought their house? I can’t remember who moves into the close..
---
The pregnant Irish woman who has overstayed her welcome at Heather’s - is really getting on my nerves..

 

[Maid22]

Have to admit I do like Lucy's rebelling against her snob father though, some stinging barbs aimed at him.
Quite witty

I was quite shocked at her dad being 55, blimey thought he was older!!!

 

[Miss Havisham]

I am still watching and loving it. There is some fantastic acting - and then some of it is dire, but it all gets better as it moves along.
I just feel incredibly old watching it, rembering the storylines from first time around is quite depressing!

I used to watch it religiously (I think it was originally broadcast Mondays and Tuesdays?) and would watch the Saturday omnibus again. There was really very little for a teenager to watch on TV back then. When C4 started with The Tube and Brookside - I was blown away.

 

[Cupid_Stunt]

Barry, that shell suit and jeep

That Jeep was extremely odd with its fabric door and zip up plastic windows. I bet it was hard to keep warm and dry in during the winter months and would be a thief’s wet dream to get into by just using a pen knife to cut your way in

The insurance on it must have been very expensive

 

[kendallroysdownfall]

Blimey. Second time I saw far more of Pat than I ever needed to ...