Internet campaign demands Brookside DVD release
Former stars of Channel 4’s Brookside have been backing an internet campaign which looks to bring out a ‘best of’ DVD.
The online petition now has more than 4,500 signatures from fans, and previous cast members including Dean Sullivan, Louis Emerik, Suzanne Collins and Bryan Murray are also calling for episodes to be re-released.
The soap, which ceased broadcasting in 2003 after 21 years on TV screens, is famed for launching the careers of Jennifer Ellison, Ricky Tomlinson and Anna Friel, as well as its groundbreaking storylines– from the murder, and subsequent burying under a patio, of wife-beater Trevor Jordach, to soaps’ first lesbian kiss.
Dean Sullivan, who played Jimmy Corkhill, said of the campaign: "I would love to be involved in any initiative to keep the Brookside name alive."
And Lynsey McCaffrey, who starred as Ruth Smith, added: "It's great news regarding the Brookside DVD campaign its great to hear that Brooky hasn’t been forgotten!”
There is confusion, however, over who actually owns the rights to the soap – creator Phil Redmond owns the name ‘Brookside’ but Channel 4 are not clear if they own the show.
Fans Lee Brady and Danny Burton came up with the idea of a campaign following a visit to the close in 2007
Brady said: "All other soaps have DVDs of Classics out on sale. They have Crossroads, Corrie classics to buy on DVD, but why not Brookie? Brookside was probably the biggest ground breaking soap of all time. Brookside done everything first but it seems to be last bringing out a DVD.”