Sue Johnston to reprise her role in Brookside as Shelia Grant

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Lauren Hirst

BBC News, Liverpool

Lime Pictures/Rex Features Bobby, portrayed by Ricky Tomlinson, and Sheila Grant, played by Sue Johnston are standing in front of their red-bricked home on Brookside Close with one of their children. They are all smiling at the camera in this posed photograph. Lime Pictures/Rex Features

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.

Lime Pictures/Rex Features A picture of Brookside Close, captured in the 1990s. To the left is a street sign which reads: Brookside Close with bushes behind it. The road curves round to the left with a number of houses and one bungalow in view.Lime Pictures/Rex Features

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.

Lime Pictures/Rex Features A black and white photograph of the Grant family, featuring parents Bobby, portrayed by Ricky Tomlinson, and Sheila Grant, played by Sue Johnston, along with their children Barry, Karen and Damon. They are all smiling at the camera and have their arms around each other.Lime Pictures/Rex Features

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.

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