Brookside’s Sandra Maitland needs the Doctors

Next week former Brookside actress Sandra Maitland re-appears in BBC One’s award winning daily daytime soap opera Doctors.

Maitland is probably most famous for her role as Mandy Jordache in the Channel 4 serial, when she became part of what is often described as its biggest storyline.

ATV’s soap expert Lynn Swift says “In 1993 number 10 Brookside Close, unknown to the neighbours, became a ‘safe house’ for abused families. Mandy, with her daughters Beth and Rachel, moved in under a shroud of mystery. They were hiding away from child abuser and wife beater Trevor Jordache, however it wasn’t long before Trevor tracked the women down and bullied his way back into the family home. As the abuse and torture got worse, Beth encouraged her mother Mandy to plot to kill Trevor. Beth stabbed him in the Kitchen and, with the help of neighbour Sinbad – who had a soft spot for Mandy – buried him underneath their patio, where his body remained for well over a year and was only discovered when flooding in a neighbours garden saw the area dug up.”

Things in the Midlands are going to be much more relaxing and ‘angelic’ for Maitland’s Doctors role. The actress returns to the soap in her ‘semi-regular  role’ as Connie Pearce, receptionist Ruth’s mother, in the Birmingham based saga next week.

In Tuesday’s episode Connie suggests that Ruth meet her new-man Gordon. She takes her to his home the ‘House of Angels’ and Ruth is bemused by their talk of positive affirmations and energy crystals.

“Connie leaves exasperated when Ruth can’t take the chanting seriously, but alone, Gordon starts to get through the Ruth by talking about his former life as a paramedic, his breakdown and how he found himself in India. Surely Ruth must see the difference in her mother? Ruth can and later concedes to Connie that if it makes her happy then she’s happy too.” The BBC say.

Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One, and is simulcast on BBC ONE HD.