More than 100 guests, including former cast members of the iconic Channel 4 soap Brookside, gathered on the MV Royal Daffodil on Saturday night (June 27) for a nostalgic reunion. The event, held on a Mersey cruise, marked the second such gathering since the soap ended in 2003, following a January party hosted by creator Sir Phil Redmond.
Star-Studded Guest List
Attendees included Jennifer Ellison, Suzanne Collins, Sarah White, Louis Emerick, Philip Olivier, Robert Beck, and Robert Smith, among many other familiar faces. The reunion featured live music, food, and drinks, with guests arriving around 6:30 PM and staying until after 11 PM.
Emotional Reunions
Super-fan Lee Brady, 39, from Huyton, described the evening as 'fantastic.' Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, he said: 'It was brilliant. I loved it. It’s very rare we get invited to things like that, so it was really nice.' He added: 'Everyone was coming in, all in good spirits, hugging each other and just having a laugh. They probably don’t see each other that often nowadays because they’re all doing different things.'
Brady noted particularly touching moments when the Dixon family cast members reunited, saying: 'You could see everyone laughing, taking photographs, and catching up. It was lovely to see.'
Brookside's Legacy
Brookside, created by Sir Phil Redmond, aired on Channel 4 from 1982 to 2003. It was known for groundbreaking storylines, including the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British TV between Beth Jordache (Anna Friel) and Margaret Clemence (Nicola Stephenson), and the infamous 'body under the patio' plot where Mandy Jordache (Sandra Maitland) killed her abusive husband.
The soap returned briefly in 2025 with a crossover episode with Hollyoaks on October 22, reigniting interest. Several actors, including Philip Olivier (Tim 'Tinhead' O'Leary) and Suzanne Collins (Nikki Shadwick), have continued their roles in Hollyoaks.
Fan Dedication
Lee Brady, who has campaigned for years to keep Brookside's legacy alive, was invited after helping with DVD campaigns and supporting efforts to bring the show to streaming on STV Player. He reflected: 'It’s a big part of the history of the city. It tackled real issues and spoke about what was happening in the country. Shows aren’t really like that anymore.'
Brady added: 'I think because it’s such a big part of Liverpool’s heritage, people still want to see something happen with it. It’ll always mean a lot to fans.'
