Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins for Brookside x Hollyoaks / Lime Pictures
Philip Olivier and Suzanne Collins are the next two actors confirmed for a Brookside return as part of the upcoming Hollyoaks crossover.
The seminal Channel 4 soap, which aired from 1982 to 2003, is making a one-off comeback for a special hybrid episode to celebrate Hollyoaks‘ 30th anniversary next month.
Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant/Corkhill), John McArdle (Billy Corkhill) and Paul Usher (Barry Grant) have previously been confirmed for the episode and now Olivier and Collins have been added to the list.
Olivier played one of the soap’s most popular characters, Tinhead, from 1996 to 2003, while Collins starred as Tinhead’s sister-in-law Nikki Shadwick, who was taken under the wing of the iconic Jimmy Corkhill (Dean Sullivan).
“It was a delight and surprise to be asked to join this special episode for Hollyoaks‘ anniversary,” said Olivier, who is now a regular on the Doctor Who Big Finish audio adventures.
“When I was first cast in Brookside aged fifteen, I would never have thought that 30 years on, people would still be calling me Tinhead! I remember my time on Brookside with great affection and will relish returning to ‘the close’.”
Collins added: “I’m so honoured and privileged to be part of this special episode and to play Nikki again. It was life-changing getting cast in this role all those years ago, and I’m eternally grateful.
“I’ve been lucky to work for nearly 30 years, all over the world with wonderful people, but nothing comes close to my Brookside family, many I still see and work with and who have become like real family. I feel like I’m going home. It will be emotional without our darling Dean, but I think he will be looking down, beaming with pride and smiling down on us.
“I think it’s wonderful what Hollyoaks are doing, such a fitting tribute, and a heartfelt thank you to Phil Redmond, Our Boss, whose genius vision changed all our lives and to whom we are all eternally grateful.”
Filming of the episode is currently underway on the original Brookside Close.
