B-----ks

Devised by Phil Redmond to be an alternative to soap operas such as Coronation Street and Emmerdale Farm. Brookside launched on the opening night of Channel 4 and would deal with social issues.

Brookside Close is actual houses, they are not sets. There is no pub where people congregate. The first episode also has some bad language.

It introduces three families, only of them seem to be native scousers. The Grant family are working class scousers with two teenage sons. Damon being the troublemaker. Although the family must be doing well, they have a detached house.

The Collins are the newcomers to the estate. A posh family downsizing as abrasive head of the family Paul Collins got redundant.

Moving in has not been easy for them. Their house was vandalised and it brings Paul into confrontation with Bobby Grant, as Paul identifies Damon rushing out from his new home.

The final house belongs t the proto Yuppies the Huntington's. They already seem to be bickering.

Having watched this on broadcast, all I could remember was the interminable scenes of a milk float wandering about. The early episodes really took a while to get going.

Watching the first episode again. Brookside cannot be described as working class with its detached homes and cars in the driveway. Even my wife remarked how posh it all looked.

It also unleashed new talent to British acting from Amanda Burton, Sue Johnston, Ricky Tomlinson and the late Katrin Cartlidge.