Brookside icon Anna Friel delivers verdict on revival – and whether she would return

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Anticipation is high among soap opera enthusiasts as they eagerly look forward to the upcoming joint special episode of Brookside and Hollyoaks, slated for release later this year in honor of Hollyoaks’ 30th anniversary.

As a fan, I’ve been eagerly waiting for more information regarding the upcoming episode, but so far, details have been somewhat scarce. However, there are a few tantalizing updates about some familiar faces from the past that we’re likely to encounter once again.

To date, Ricky Tomlinson, Sue Johnston, John McArdle, Paul Usher, among others, have been confirmed for the upcoming special episode. Without a doubt, fans are eagerly awaiting a glimpse of their lives on Brookside Close since the soap concluded in 2003.

Apart from that, Anna Friel, famously known for her role as Beth Jordache in the soap opera, is eagerly anticipating reconnecting with her old friends as well.

When asked if she was planning to return, Friel mentioned that she was soon departing for Australia on work-related travel, and had recently completed a new production titled “The Dream Lands.” This production is scheduled to air on the BBC in January. It’s a dystopian drama set in the year 2038, and Friel expressed great pride in it.

I’m thrilled about what I’m currently involved with, yet I hope the best for the Brookside team and eagerly anticipate seeing their progress and recognizing familiar friends.

Friel commended Brookside for the training she received, stating that it served as an excellent starting point for her career.

Friel stated that it was an exceptional training experience for a 16-year-old breaking into television, remarking, “The uniqueness back then lay in the fact that it was a genuine location, operated with a single camera, and had tightly written scripts.

If you manage to handle a demanding schedule filled with extended work hours, numerous study materials to digest each evening, and a five-day workweek starting from an early age (at 16), then you are certainly on a strong path towards success. It’s now 30 years later, and I find myself reflecting upon those days.

“It was the best training in the world, and what a great launch pad.”

For a period of two years, Friel portrayed Beth Jordache, and her character became an integral part of some of the most unforgettable scenes in the history of Brookside.

In my account, I was the one who carried out the tragic act of taking my father’s life and burying him in our patio, a task that forever changed me. Additionally, I had the distinct honor of being part of the groundbreaking first-ever lesbian kiss on British television, an event that resonated widely and challenged societal norms.

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2025-09-12 15:19