Brookside Corkhill Cross-over to Corrie?

Dean Sullivan who played one of Brookside’s best-loved characters, Jimmy Corkhill, has said he’d love to reprise the role, only this time in another serial.

Jimmy first appeared in the Channel 4 soap back in 1986 and became part of many of the shows most memorable storylines including becoming a drug addict, accidentally killing neighbours Frank Rogers and Tony Dixon in a road accident and discovering the ‘body under the patio’.

Speaking to Inside Soap magazine Sullivan says “If I had a pound for every time someone mentioned Jimmy to me, I wouldn’t have to work again. So I think people would love to see Jimmy back – maybe in a different situation though.”

He suggests that the iconic character, which he played for nearly 20 years, could turn up in EastEnders or even Coronation Street.

Lee Brady, who has campaigned for a number of years to have a Brookside DVD released told us “I know Dean quite well with his support for our DVD Campaign. Thanks to his time to help us I feel I can only return the favour and support this idea.” Lee adds “I have also thought of this idea myself and wondered if it could ever happen, not just the Jimmy Corkhill character but any soap character if it could ever cross over into another soap, would be brilliant! I really hope it happens for Dean, Great actor and we want OUR JIMMY BACK!!!!”

Brookside was axed in 2003, which Channel 4 blamed on declining ratings and the show losing its way. Fans of the show would suggest it was Channel 4 that lost faith in its flagship serial and shunted it around the schedules.

The storyline ended with the close scheduled to be demolished, Jimmy Corkhill was the last resident to leave the cul-de-sac.

“The last episode was such an emotional experience. I was the last person on the Close and did the speech that ended things. My enduring memory is adding the letter ‘d’ to the Brookside Close sign, so it read ‘Brookside Closed’.” Dean told Inside Soap.

Soap Opera cross-overs have rarely happened in British serials however there has been a switching between Hollyoaks and Brookside when the character of Matt Musgrove (actor Kristian Ealey) moved from the Liverpool based saga to the Chester based teen soap. Brookside also played host to guest star Jane Rossington who reprised her role of Jill Chance from ATV’s Crossroads, even recalling the infamous motel fire of 1981 to Bev Dixon (actress Sarah White).

A DVD to mark the 30th anniversary of Brookside in 2012 is currently being planned.