Life on Brookside Close ahead of show's return

Pauline Manning is set to open her doors to film crews next month

It has been more than 20 years since the final episode of Brookside was aired in November 2003.

But now the 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.

The set where Brookside was filmed was a real cul-de-sac of newly-built houses in the West Derby area of Liverpool.

So what does the show's comeback mean for the residents who now reside on the famous close?

Brookside was filmed on a real cul-de-sac from 1982 to 2003

Pauline Manning will actually open up her home to TV crews, who are planning to film inside the house.

She moved to the close 13 years ago – but she did not realise this was where the popular soap, affectionately known as Brookie, was actually filmed until after she moved in.

"I used to watch it when I was young, but to me it's just like living on an ordinary road.

"Although you get a lot of tourists here, having their photographs taken."

Ken Williams said it was the norm to see tourists on the cul-de-sac

Ken Williams said he "loved" living on Brookside Close, adding he had been assured that filming would not disrupt their day-to-day lives.

"We're not going to run away," he joked.

"We know that they're coming for a day [to film] and I think they're going into two of the houses," he said.

"But other than that it won't really affect us all that much."

He said residents had become acclimatised to fans heading to the close for a glimpse at the famous cul-de-sac over the years.

"A tremendous amount people come from all parts of the country," he said.

"My daughter lives here and one chap even tried to put his camera over the wall to take a picture of it.

"He actually asked my daughter could he go through the house to the back.

"She said 'no you can't'. She didn't know him from Adam.

"I know it's been a TV set but sometimes they forget that these are people's homes."

Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston were among the famous faces to grace the close

The crossover episode will also see the return of popular Brookside characters.

Conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Sir Philip Redmond and starting on the opening night of Channel 4's broadcasts in 1982, 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.

Sir Phil said: "It is always bitter sweet thinking back to Brookie, the reminders of its success and impact, but the thoughts of many, like Dean Sullivan and Bill Dean, who are no longer with us.

"But it is great that Lime Pictures are paying homage in their Hollyoaks anniversary cross over episodes."