Louis Emerick on his Hollyoaks future after Brookside crossover twist

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The return of Brookside Close wasn’t just about fond memories. The show’s 30th anniversary special, which included a crossover with Hollyoaks, revealed a surprising twist and a long-running, dramatic story that had been unfolding for decades.

Detective Donny Clark, who came to Hollyoaks a year and a half ago hoping to find his daughter Vicky Grant, is actually a familiar face – Mick Johnson from the show Brookside. The reveal was a shock for viewers, but even more surprising for Louis Emerick, the actor who played the role without realizing it all along!

The whole plan was kept very secret, almost like something out of a spy movie. She explained everything – how to combine the ‘Brookie’ storyline, the connecting plot, and the surprising reveal that Donny was actually Mick. I kept expecting her to say it was an April Fool’s joke, but it was July!

Before Hannah told me, she was beating around the bush, trying to gently prepare me for some difficult news. I was completely surprised by what she was about to say and braced myself for anything – I even jokingly wondered if Donny was going to come out later in life! It was totally unexpected, but I was actually really thrilled.

Twenty years ago, in the Brookie-Oaks world, Mick Johnson had a brief relationship with the wife of a dangerous gangster named Froggy Black. When Froggy found out, he wanted Mick killed. To keep his family safe, Mick pretended to die and started a new life using the name Donny Clark.

Now that Froggy is living in the same town as Donny – a surprising coincidence! – Donny’s secret past has resurfaced, putting his cover at risk. He had to return to Brookside Close to warn his daughter, Gemma, and old friends like Sheila Grant and Billy Corkhill (who previously cared for Gemma after she was orphaned) that they might be targets of Froggy’s criminal activities. This dramatic storyline continues in a special edition of Hollyoaks Later, but what does this mean for Donny – who also goes by Mick – in the main Hollyoaks show? And which name should viewers use for him now?

Emerick explains they originally planned to rename the character ‘Mick,’ but he felt it would reveal too much and create unwanted attention. Hannah agreed, believing it was better to keep the truth known by as few people as possible to maximize dramatic tension.

Mick is no longer with us, but Donny is still living under that identity, desperately trying to conceal his former life. After years working as a police officer, he’s facing a huge problem: how can he explain his past? Those who know his secret could exploit it, and now he and his family are in danger. After keeping this hidden for two decades, the question is: what other secrets is Donny keeping?

I’m convinced the person pretending to be Gemma isn’t the real Gemma – it’s like someone completely different has taken her place! The woman Mick is with now is incredibly demanding and difficult, even more so than Miranda Priestly from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. This new Gemma is manipulative and seems to be responsible for a lot of trouble that went down recently, and to make matters worse, she’s dating Warren Fox!

Hollyoaks began in 1995 as a spin-off of Brookside, originally aimed at a younger audience. In the beginning, the two shows shared a connected storyline with occasional references and hidden details. However, after Brookside ended in 2003, those connections were dropped – until recently.

Hollyoaks is smartly honoring its original series, and it’s working! Many viewers are enjoying the nostalgic nods to Brookside – the show that revolutionized TV drama when it first aired in 1982. The current storyline also features actor Jimmy Johnson reflecting on how he landed the role, and sharing a heartwarming story about a neighbor who helped him along the way.

Back in 1989, I was an actor between jobs. One day, my neighbor Rita knocked on my door – she knew I wasn’t at work like everyone else. She had a leak in her house, with water pouring through the ceiling. I’m completely hopeless at DIY, but I did know how to turn off the water supply. I managed to do that, and then she called a plumber.

I was incredibly thankful for Rita’s help. I couldn’t afford to pay my phone bill, and she generously offered to cover it as a thank you. I politely declined, but I did ask if I could give my agent her phone number – this was before everyone had cell phones – so they could reach me. Two weeks later, I landed the audition for Brookside, and Rita acted as the messenger between me and my agent, writing my schedule and call times on a piece of paper. That one act of kindness started a chain reaction. Getting a role on Brookside led to a BBC film with Miranda Richardson and Zoë Wanamaker, then I returned to Brookside, and from there, my career took off.

Since leaving Brookside in 2001, Emrick has consistently found work thanks to his appealing mix of playful personality and commanding presence. He’s appeared in popular shows like Coronation Street, Casualty, and Last of the Summer Wine, and has also had many guest roles in series such as New Tricks and Vera, as well as performing on stage.

The actor fondly remembers starting his career on Brookside, where he first gained recognition working with established stars who were already well-known in the world of soap operas. He was particularly starstruck by Bill Dean, who played Harry Cross, as Dean had previously appeared in the influential 1970s film ‘Scum’ and Dennis Potter’s television series ‘Pennies from Heaven.’ Having been a fan of Brookside himself, the actor was thrilled to be working alongside someone he admired so much, even going as far as to buy cigarettes for Bill from the local corner shop near the set.

I also remember Gladys Ambrose, who was married to Billy Corkhill. She was originally Julia Brogan, and she and her husband used to perform as a funny acrobatic duo in the circus. Later, she performed on variety shows. She was a really glamorous woman, always wearing very high heels. After finally becoming a regular performer after years of appearing as a guest, she famously exclaimed in the dressing room, ‘It’s taken me 45 years to become an overnight success!’

Like its predecessor, Brookside, Hollyoaks isn’t afraid to address difficult and rarely-seen topics on television. It explored the issue of incel culture years before other shows, and recently tackled the sensitive subject of sibling sexual abuse with honesty and courage. Looking back on the legacy of Sir Phil Redmond’s shows, producer Eric Emerick expresses pride in having worked on both series, and commends the soap opera genre for continuing to bring important, but uncomfortable, issues to light.

As a movie and TV fan, I’ve always thought there’s something special about soap operas. When you see characters dealing with real-life issues on screen, it can actually encourage viewers to seek help themselves – it’s incredibly relatable. Honestly, I think soaps are still really important to a lot of people, and I expect they’ll continue to be for a long time to come.

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2025-10-22 22:35