UPDATED: 14th October 2025
The rumours are true! Brookside is coming back and this time it’s crossing paths with Hollyoaks.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hollyoaks later this month, Channel 4 has announced a very special crossover event that will bring back some of Brookside’s most iconic characters for the first time in over two decades.
It’s being described as a “love letter to both soaps” and for fans of The Close, it promises nostalgia, emotion, and plenty of drama. Here’s everything we know so far.
Why now? Marking Hollyoaks’ 30th Anniversary
The crossover has been commissioned as part of Hollyoaks’ 30th birthday celebrations. Rather than a simple guest appearance, the event will see storylines, sets, and characters from Brookside directly intertwine with Hollyoaks.
It’s a fitting tribute because, Hollyoaks was created by the same team that brought us Brookside, and even took over parts of its Liverpool production base when Brookside ended in 2003.
According to producers, this crossover aims to honour the legacy of Brookside while exploring what its world might look like in 2025.
Who’s returning to The Close?
Several beloved faces from Brookside have already been seen filming on set along with some Hollyoaks cast members, with more names still under wraps. Among those appearing are:
- Sue Johnston as Sheila Grant/Corkhill
- Ricky Tomlinson as Bobby Grant
- John McArdle as Billy Corkhill
- Paul Usher as Barry Grant
- Suzanne Collins as Nikki Shadwick
- Philip Olivier as Tinhead O’Leary
- Michael Starke as Sinbad/Taxi Driver?
- Louis Emerick as Donny (Hollyoaks character) or Mick Johnson? Who knows!
It’s also been confirmed that Yasmin Davies has been cast as Jacqui Dixon’s daughter Esme. Yasmin is Alexandra Fletcher’s real-life daughter. Alexandra of course is well-known for playing Jacqui Dixon in Brookside and currently Diane Hutchinson in Hollyoaks. Alexandra Fletcher will not be part of the Brookside reunion, but it’ll be interesting to see how Esme will fit in with the rest of the storyline.
When will it air?
According to Louis Emerick on X, there are three regular episodes celebrating Hollyoaks 30th anniversary, but only the third episode will feature the Brookside elements which will apparently continue in a special ‘Hollyoaks Later’ episode to be aired the same evening as the third regular episode.
A launch party is taking place in Liverpool on 20th October with a preview screening of the episodes. For more details see: www.hollyoaks30tickets.com
Hollyoaks airs on Mondays – Wednesdays with its Channel 4 streaming premiere at 7am, then an E4 broadcast the same night at 7pm. Full episodes are also released on YouTube a week after their Channel 4 release.
The specific Brookside related episodes will air on Wednesday 22nd October 2025. The first episode airs at 7pm followed by the ‘Hollyoaks Later’ episode at 10:05pm.
What to expect in the storyline?
Plot details are being tightly guarded, but here are the official description for the Brookside related episodes.
Wednesday 22nd October at 7pm – After Clare’s deadly scheme, a resident’s hunt for answers takes them to Brookside Close, where they’re met by someone who’s not afraid to speak her mind – Sheila Grant.
Wednesday 22nd October at 10:05pm – Hollyoaks Later collides with Brookside as residents escape the Close for Liverpool’s luxury suburbs, where old secrets ignite new betrayals when a party turns deadly.
An article on Digital Spy delves deeper into the storyline:
In Hollyoaks village, Detective Donny and his team are left to deal with the fallout of master criminal Clare’s unthinkable plan to destroy Tony and Diane’s wedding and the chaos that has been left in her wake
At the hospital, Donny’s partner Misbah is worried about him. Following an altercation with Froggy, Donny is getting ever closer to uncovering the criminal gang, but a home truth startles him.
Calling on his taxi driver pal ‘Benny’ to help, Donny ignores his old pal’s warning and heads to Brookside Close.
There, Donny’s taxi pulls up and he gets out. As Brookside matriarch Sheila greets Donny, it’s clear that she is very unhappy and not afraid to say so.
What happens next remains under wraps, but we know that he doesn’t exactly get a warm welcome. Froggy is keeping a big secret about Donny – but what is he hiding?”
There have been rumours circulating that possible storyline elements may include:
- References to classic storylines – characters could either be brought back for Jimmy Corkhill’s funeral, or some discovery about Damon Grant’s killers but nothing has been confirmed officially.
- Modern-day updates on The Close, exploring who lives there now or even what happened to Cinerco who were due to demolish the Close to make way for an incinerator?
- Character reunions and confrontations, revisiting unresolved relationships or rivalries.
- Crossovers with Hollyoaks regulars, highlighting shared connections between the two worlds.
Expect emotional reunions, surprises, and a healthy dose of nostalgia for long-time fans.
Why not check out our Brookside fan-fiction page for what might have been. We’d love to hear your ideas and stories too so get in touch!
What we don’t know (yet!)
A few key details are still under wraps:
- The full cast list, including whether any surprise cameos are planned.
- Whether this event might lead to a longer-term revival of Brookside.
While there’s been no confirmation of more episodes, the hype and enthusiasm online and in the media shows there’s plenty of appetite for a full-scale comeback.
Why this matters to Brookside fans
For anyone who loved Brookside, this crossover is more than just a nostalgia trip, it’s a recognition of the show’s enduring impact.
Brookside broke boundaries with its socially relevant storylines and innovative style, and much of that DNA can still be felt in Hollyoaks today.
Reuniting these worlds is not only a celebration of British soap history but a reminder of how Brookside changed TV forever tackling issues that other shows wouldn’t touch and creating characters we still care about 40 years on.
Join the conversation
We’ll keep this page updated as new information is confirmed from trailer drops to behind-the-scenes photos and any additional returning cast.
What are you hoping to see in the Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover?
Share your thoughts in the comments below…