The Responder fans go into meltdown over Brookside 'reunion' as soap actresses return
During an episode of the gritty police drama The Responder, Brookside fans were left baffled as multiple soap stars appeared in the same episode.
The Responder: Chris speaks to Madge
BBC fans were left in meltdown after numerous Brookside legends reunited during an episode of The Responder. The gritty cop drama focuses on a burnt-out police officer (Martin Freeman) trying to uphold the law whilst his mental health unravels.
During one scene, PC Chris Carson (Freeman) was trying to track down an individual named Vernon. Whilst searching inside a house, he stumbles across two women (Nora and Madge) who try to distract him before he eventually finds him and drags him out.
Soap fans were left amused after discovering that the two ladies were Brookside legends Sheila Grant and Jackie Corkhill. Many took to social media to react to the amusing reunion.
One person said: "I swear Sue Johnston has looked EXACTLY the same for at least 30 years. #TheResponder." A second person chimed in: "Proper Brookside reunion on tonight’s #TheResponder. Sheila Grant and Jackie Corkhill in the same scene!"
A third commented: "Corkhills & Grants? Is this Brookside? What next, Sinbad in the CID? #TheResponder." Another also wrote: "3 Brookside characters. Cool. #Theresponder."
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Another person similarly penned: "Sue Jenkins AND Sue Johnston? It’s like a #Brookie reunion. #TheResponder." A fan also wrote on X: "The Responder has just become full on brookside 2024 #TheResponder."
In another scene, actress Einthe Browne also appears as Brenda and was best known for playing Chrissy Rogers in Brookside. Another fan gushed: "Brookie the reunion tonight, love it!"
Prior to the second series airing, Martin Freeman has previously waded in on the conversation surrounding the return of BBC crime drama.
Speaking to The Times, Martin defended the Liverpool-based police drama and says that "most police are decent people". The comment came after a survey in 2022 by the Policy Institute at King’s College London said 67 per cent had confidence in policing.
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Martin said: "Young people’s reflex opinion of the police is 'Urgh.' Go and live in a fascist country. I’ve always had a bit more of a nuanced idea about what the police were for, just trusted that most of them are decent people. What’s the likelihood that they’re all bastards? Not very high."
He added: "But would your street be better if they weren’t there? Clearly what the police do not need is a pass, but they also don’t just need a kicking."
During season one, PC Chris Carson is demoted to gruelling night shifts but ends up getting tangled with the gritty underworld of Liverpool drug gangs. The second series promises to show similar situations where Chris moves from one crisis to the other.
The Responder airs on BBC One at 9pm on Sundays.
