Lauren Hirst
BBC News, Liverpool
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Sue Johnston first appeared as Sheila Grant in 1982 alongside Ricky Tomlinson
Actress Sue Johnston is set to reprise her role in Brookside for the TV soap’s long-awaited return.
Camera crews are set to return to the famous cul-de-sac as part of a one-off special episode to mark Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary.
Johnston, who was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2009, will return to the character of Liverpudlian matriarch Sheila Grant, later Corkhill.
“It’ll be so lovely to go back and be Sheila for a day as it was such big, enjoyable part of my life,” said Johnston, who is also well-known for playing Barbara Royle in the award-winning BBC comedy The Royle Family.
After a brief stint on Coronation Street, this was Johnston’s first major role on the soap, which first aired on Channel 4 in 1982.
The acclaimed actress is the first cast member to be announced as returning for the episode, which will be filmed on Brookside Close.
Conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Sir Philip Redmond, the show drew in audiences of nine million viewers at its peak before finishing on 4 November 2003.
The show, set in Liverpool, was known for its hard-hitting storylines and took on issues like rape, bullying and incest.
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Brookside was filmed on a real cul-de-sac from 1982 to 2003
Viewers fell in love with Sheila as she battled with the family finances and her husband Bobby, played by Ricky Tomlinson.
In 1986, Sheila was attacked by a taxi driver, finding herself pregnant and her marriage falling apart from the strain.
One year later, Sheila’s youngest son Damon was stabbed to death in London.
Shelia later found love again with Billy Corkhill, played by John McCardle, and the pair left Brookside for Basingstoke in 1990.
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Sue Johnston acted alongside Ricky Tomlinson as husband and wife
The crossover episode will see the return of other popular Brookside characters, which have yet to be announced.
It will be the first time that Brookside Close has been on air, since it ended in with Jimmy Corkhill, played by the late Dean Sullivan, daubing a “d” onto the sign, leaving it as “Brookside Closed” before driving out of the cul-de-sac.
Filming is set take place in September on the close which is based in the West Derby area of Liverpool.