it's back
Classic 80s soap spin-off returning to TV for first time in 37 years
The iconic Brookside spin-off series that first aired in November 1987
STV Player announced iconic Brookside spin-off to return on New Year’s Day – 37 years after it first aired.
The mini-series follows teen sweethearts Damon Grant (Simon O’Brien) and Debbie McGrath (Gillian Kearney) as they escape their disapproving parents on Brookside Close.
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They abscond to York to escape their disapproving parents in Liverpool who object to their relationship because of the class divide between them.
Damon and Debbie is the earliest example of a “soap bubble” – a narrative device used by producers to ensure that the multi-stranded plot of the main soap can continue during standard episodes, while some characters also co-exist in a separate production.
Soap bubbles have since been widely used in other major soaps, including EastEnders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.
The series stars Simon O’Brien (Damon Grant), who later became a property expert and host of shows including Channel 4’s The Great House Giveaway, and Gillian Kearney (Debbie McGrath), who soap fans will also remember for her NTA-nominated performance as Emma Barton in Emmerdale.
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All three episodes were written by acclaimed screenwriter, novelist and current Children’s Laureate, Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
Damon and Debbie is one of Cottrell-Boyce’s earliest writing credits, and he later went on to pen major films The Railway Man, Millions and Goodbye Christopher Robin, as well as the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.
Simon O’Brien, who plays Damon Grant, said: “I’m so chuffed that Damon and Debbie has been found, dusted off and is now going to be aired on STV Player.
"It was an absolutely groundbreaking format, being the original ‘soap bubble’, and I fondly remember wandering around the north of England with the lovely Gillian Kearney and the rest of the talented team.
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"The nation can get their hankies ready once more for the airing of this rediscovered seminal moment in TV history.”
Gillian Kearney, who plays Debbie McGrath, said: “Being asked at the age of 14 to join a soap as groundbreaking as Brookside was a dream come true for me, and I was delighted when we were told that the wonderful Frank Cottrell-Boyce was writing a ‘soap bubble’ involving Damon and Debbie eloping from Brookside Close on a romantic adventure.
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“We shot for six weeks in Leeds, Bradford and York, and I will always remember our producer, Colin McKeown, taking the time to visit my school and reassure my teachers that I would continue my studies regardless of the shoot!
"We were like a family, and the atmosphere on set was always full of fun and laughter – largely because of cheeky chappy, Simon O’Brien!
"I think we all knew we were making something very special, and I will forever be grateful to Mersey TV [now Lime Pictures] for such an amazing opportunity 37 years ago.”
The first hour-long episode lands on Wednesday 1 January, with the remaining two following on Wednesday 8 January.
Forgotten soap storylines
The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more...
- Ken and Audrey's romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like "Ross and Rachel". In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals.
- Beth's bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked - and Beth was arrested - the storyline didn't didn't go much further.
- Kat Slater's secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled 'Redwater', it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott's not been mentioned since.
- Alfie's brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline.
- Kathy and Buster's affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale ( fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons - Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn’t even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass.
- Jacob's OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob's OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a “lucky coin” that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations - such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla’s drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing - the condition doesn't appear to have returned.
- Marlon and Charity's fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris's supposed "murder".
- Alex Browning's revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning’s son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex’s dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father's death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy's son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after.
To celebrate the launch of the spin-off series, STV Player will also drop five extra episodes of Brookside on Christmas Day.
Brookside became the fastest show to ever reach one million streams on STV Player – in just one week – and has since become one of the streamer’s most popular shows.
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STV Player is available for free across the UK on all major platforms, including Sky Q, NOW, Virgin Media, Amazon Fire TV and Freeview Play.
Damon and Debbie is available on STV Player on Wednesday 1 January. New episodes of Brookside drop on STV Player every Wednesday.
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