Brookside - Most Memorable Moments (30th Anniversary Edition) [DVD] by Anna Friel

This long awaited DVD release features 16 full episodes of the classic, groundbreaking, Channel 4 soap which ran from 1982-2003 when it was axed after falling viewing figures (mainly due to being pushed around the schedules for Big Brother during 2000-2002).Before each episode Dean Sullivan (Jimmy Corkhill) gives an overview of the episode which helps to tie up any parts of the storylines featured that aren't shown on screen. For instance he explains, before one of the Jordache episodes, what happened to Beth and Mandy. This stops you wondering too much about what happened next.Overall the episodes chosen are a decent glance at each period of Brookside's history from the first episode in 1982 upto the final primetime episode from 2002. Obviously not everyone's favourite storylines will be featured, but you can't fit 21 Years of soap onto a DVD.The Jordache episodes stand out a mile,as do most of them. My least favourite episode was the siege episode from the 1980's, it seemed a bit flat to me, but maybe because I hadn't seen it in the past. The first episode is still very watchable.Watching it, I realised how much I had forgotten and how much I used to love Brookside. A nice little touch is the inclusion of the original advert break titles (Part One/ Part Two).The 1998 gas explosion episodes are excellent and I am pleased they are included, also brilliant is the murder of Imelda Clough from 2002 which won Best Storyline at the Soap Awards, along with an acting award for Ray Quinn, almost Brookside's last hurrah.I've seen reviews of this from before it was even released panning the fact that some storylines have only one episode, but as I explained, this isn't a problem as the overview wraps most loose ends up for the viewers.Brookside was one of the best soaps and almost certainly the most daring, the ones that it left behind are constantly copying it today. Channel 4 should have released this years ago, let's hope they release more episodes in the future.Long Live Brookside!

'Most Memorable Moments' is a subjective title!I've adored 'Brookie' since it started on Channel 4's opening night in Nov. 1982 and this setpromises much - above all (the reason for the four stars) it gives me quite a bit of Ricky Tomlinsonand Sue Johnston as Bobby and Sheila Grant, the lynchpins of the series for the first five years.But there's too much concentration on the later episodes ( I would have liked to have seen many moreof the 1982-1987 period included) and try as I may, I can see absolutely NOTHING of John McArdle asBilly Corkhill.... surely we all remember Billy kissing Sheila in the kitchen - it made me go weak at the knees!!!There is quite a bit of his brother Jimmy but that isn't quite the same thing.....is the inclusion of Trevor Jordache meantas compensation?

Loved going back into the past really enjoyed watching it again. Went back to my youth again. Thank you.

When I heard that they were releasing some Brookside on DVD, I was quite excited, but on viewing it now am quite disappointed. The major complaint is the yawning gaps between episodes. There are only FOUR episodes on here from Brooksides heyday, the 1980's. After 1986, there is 5 year gap which is a BIG mistake as all the characters have changed. I couldn't believe that you never get to see the Corkhills as a family (apart from Jimmy), and the Collins's and Harry Cross don't get much of a look in either. Another complaint is the choice of episodes chosen. Every single one is "sensationalistic". There was FAR more to Brookside than this. What about all the normal day to day storylines, and these episodes hardly feature any good old scouse humour, of which there was a lot of! I don't believe much thought went into this release. I think they should have released a 1980's set and a 1990's set, a bit similar to what Network have done with Coronation Street, at least then you get some sort of continuity! On the positive side, it is good to have at least a reminder of the show with full episodes, and to be reminded of some of the great characters there were (however briefly you see them), but overall a missed opportunity Channel 4!

I have to agree with the criticism about the selection of episodes - 16 in all. Number 1 was the very first broadcast in 1982 then number 2 from 1985. So it then completely missed several principle characters who helped establish the show's credentials - such as were portrayed by Alexandra Pigg, Gabrielle Glaister, Danny Webb and Steven Pinder. Given that it was such a huge hit in it's time this retrospective was maybe deserving of the kind of dvd issue given to Coronation Street - 8 episodes per year - but the explanation could be that not all episodes were available or intact. Overall it's something of a disappointment but interesting nonetheless and worth the price at £7.95 including postage.

I think they got the balance just right with episodes spanning the 80s to 2002. I admit I lost interest in Brookside after about 2000 when the storylines started getting silly, especially Tim & Emily (yawn) and Lyndsey turning into a psycho gangsta and then her mum having an affair with her girlfriend! But even after 2000 there were still a couple of classic storylines like Anthony killing the bully, which is on this DVD.Some fans obviously want more of the 80s episodes, and while I agree Brookside was groundbreaking back then, I think for most people the 90s were actually the soap's heyday. You had the Jordaches, Max Farnham's endless wife swapping, Jimmy Corkhill and Little Jimmy on drugs, and Nat and Georgia's incestuous relationship were all absolute classics, and they're all included, so I'm a happy camper!I just hope they'll release more episodes, or at least put some up on iTunes / 4OD.