Brookside stars Claire Sweeney and Louis Emerick claimed the Channel 4 soap opera foretold the future with their stories.
During an appearance on Lorraine on Tuesday, Claire, 51, discussed a plot in which her character Lindsey Corkhill was arrested in Thailand after her ex-husband Gary Jackson (played by Allan Patterson) planted drugs in her suitcase.
She said: ‘The history of Thailand… he would write it, and five weeks later it would be in the press! It’s so scary.
Louis (who played Mick Johnson) added: ‘When you think about it now, we’ve got the strikes going now. When you also think about the type of plague… we hated that story.
Claire chimed in: ‘We thought it was mental, right?’ she before Louis she said: ‘he was the Covid of 25 years ago’.
Chilling! Brookside stars Claire Sweeney and Louis Emerick claimed the Channel 4 soap opera foretold the future with their stories.
Claire concluded of creator Phil Redmond: “Phil had a brilliant instinct. There would be a story in the script, and a week later it would be in the news.
The Simpsons regularly amazes fans with its unsettling ability to predict the future, with many events aired on the show taking place in real life.
Over the years, the iconic TV show has forecast major world events, from Donald Trump’s presidency to the discovery of a three-eyed mutant fish to the construction of London’s The Shard skyscraper.
It follows the announcement that Brookside will return to screens across the UK after 20 years off the air.
The iconic Liverpool-based soap opera will be broadcast on Scottish television channel STV, but the channel can be viewed by anyone living in Britain.
The soap opera, set in Liverpool, narrated the lives of the characters who lived in 13 houses in a cul-de-sac called Brookside Close.
The show will be airing from the start, news that is sure to delight soap opera nostalgics who watched the show when it originally aired in the 1980s.
The first 10 episodes will be added to STV Plater on February 1, and five episodes per week will be available thereafter.
Rejoice! Brookside is returning to screens across the UK after 20 years off the air
Flashback: Claire and Louis appear in character as Lindsey Corkhill and Mick Johnson
Brookside originally aired on the first day Channel 4 aired on 2 November 1982 and proved to be an instant hit with viewers.
Fan favorites included Bobby, Sheila, and Grant, played by Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston.
The show launched the careers of many industry heavyweights including Anna Friel, Amanda Burton, and Claire Sweeney.
Prior to the re-release of old episodes, they were remastered by Lime Pictures, the company that originally made the show when it was known as Mersey Television.
A spokesperson said: ‘Brookside is a lovingly produced show at Lime Pictures. Her strong social conscience combined with a never-ending supply of northern acting and writing talent made her not to be missed and formed a model of storytelling that has stood the test of time.
Looking back: During an appearance on Lorraine on Tuesday, Claire, 51, discussed a plot in which her character Lindsey Corkhill was arrested in Thailand.
Wow! She said: ‘The history of Thailand… he would write it, and five weeks later it would be in the press! it’s so scary’
“We are delighted that the public will be able to revisit or enjoy the investment in this era of innovative television that put Liverpool on the television landscape.”
Conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator Sir Philip Redmond and produced by his company, the soap attracted millions of viewers.
At its peak, the show drew an audience of nine million viewers before it came to an end on November 4, 2003.
Sunetra Sarker said she “owes a lot” to the beloved soap opera after she was cast in the role of Nisha Batra after being spotted at a bus stop at 3pm.
Coincidence? Louis added: ‘When you think about it now, we’ve got the strikes going now. When you also think about the type of plague… we hate that story’
Shock: Claire chimed in: ‘We thought it was mental, right?’ she before Louis she said: ‘he was the Covid of 25 years ago’
The Ackley Bridge and Casualty actress added: “If I had known then that Brookside Close would be the path that would lead me to my surprising and eventful career, I never would have believed it.”
“I am delighted that STV Player is returning to broadcast Brookie after all these years. I never stop hearing fans tell me how much they miss the show. Get streaming and see just how groundbreaking this Liverpool-based soap opera was all those years ago.
Throughout its run, the show tackled topics like LGBT+ and hard-hitting storylines like rape, stalking, and incest.
In 1985, teenage character Gordon Collins came out to his family on the soap opera.
Haunting: The Simpsons regularly amazes fans with their unsettling ability to predict the future, with many events aired on the show taking place in real life.
The character, played by Mark Burgess and Nigel Crowley, became the first openly gay character on a British television series when the episode aired.
Brookside also had the first pre-milestone lesbian kiss in British history between characters Beth Jordache, played by Anna Friel, and Margaret Clemence, who was played by future Emmerdale actress Nicola Stephenson.
Anna’s career has taken her to the United States, where she appeared in the comedy series Pushing Daisies, opposite Susan Sarandon in the country music drama Monarch, and opposite Bradley Cooper in the film Limitless.
Silent Witness actress Amanda, Hollyoaks actress Alex Fletcher and West End musical star Claire Sweeney also began their careers on soap.
The soap opera, which is currently available in part on All 4, came to STV following an agreement with distributor All3Media International.
Richard Williams, managing director of digital at STV, said: “It may have been two decades since Brookside came to an end, but the love for the show from its passionate army of fans has never waned.”
We’re excited to be the first streaming service to bring this legendary piece of TV history to viewers’ living rooms for free, and I hope superfans and new audiences alike enjoy all the nostalgic drama Brookside has to offer. has to offer on STV Player. .’
Brookside will arrive with the first 10 episodes on February 1 on STV Player and five new episodes will arrive every week after that.