Brookside is making its return to screens across the UK after 20 years off air.
The iconic Liverpool-based soap will be streamed by Scottish TV channel STV, but the channel can be viewed by anyone living in Britain.
The soap, set in Liverpool, chronicled the lives of characters living in 13 houses on a cul-de-sac called Brookside Close.
Rejoice! Brookside is making its return to screens across the UK after 20 years off air
The programme will be shown from the beginning, news which will no doubt delight nostalgic soap fans 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 from then on five episodes a week will be made available.
Brookside originally aired on the first day that Channel 4 was broadcast on November 2 in 1982 and proved an instant hit with viewers.
Fan favourites included Bobby and 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.
The Grants! Fan favourites included Bobby and Sheila and Grant, played by Ricky Tomlinson and Sue Johnston
Ahead of the rerelease of old episodes, they have been remastered by Lime Pictures, the company who originally made the show when it was known as Mersey Television.
A spokesperson said: ‘Brookside is a programme that is held in deep affection at Lime Pictures. Its strong social conscience combined with a powerhouse of Northern acting talent and writers made it unmissable viewing and formed a model of storytelling that has stood the test of time.
‘We are delighted that audiences will be able to revisit or enjoy investing in this era of ground-breaking television that put Liverpool into the television landscape.’
Conceived by Grange Hill and Hollyoaks creator, Sir Philip Redmond, and produced by his company, the soap drew in millions of viewers.
Shooting to stardom: The show launched the careers of many industry heavyweights including Anna Friel, Amanda Burton and Claire Sweeney (pictured left)
At its peak, the show drew in audiences of nine million viewers before it came to a close on November 4 2003.
Sunetra Sarker said she ‘owes a lot’ to the beloved soap after she was given the role of Nisha Batra following being spotted at a bus stop at 15.
The Ackley Bridge and Casualty actress added: ‘Had I known then that Brookside Close would be the road that led me to my surprising and eventful career, I would never have believed it.’
‘I am thrilled that STV Player is airing Brookie again after all these years. I never fail to hear fans tell me how much they still miss the show. Get streaming and see just how ground-breaking this Liverpool-based soap opera was all those years ago.’
Across its run, the show took on issues such as LGBT+ and hard hitting storylines like rape, bullying and incest.
Soap start out: Sunetra Sarker (pictured left) said she ‘owes a lot’ to the beloved soap after she was given the role of Nisha Batra following being spotted at a bus stop at 15
In 1985, teenage character Gordon Collins came out to his family as gay on the soap.
The character, played by both Mark Burgess and Nigel Crowley, became the first ever openly gay character in a British TV series when the episode aired.
Brookside also had the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss in British history between characters Beth Jordache, played by Anna Friel, and Margaret Clemence, who was portrayed by future Emmerdale actress Nicola Stephenson.
Anna’s career has taken her to America where she has appeared in the comedy series Pushing Daisies, opposite Susan Sarandon in country music drama Monarch and alongside Bradley Cooper in the film Limitless.
Career: Anna’s career has taken her to America where she has appeared in the comedy series Pushing Daisies, opposite Susan Sarandon in country music drama Monarch and alongside Bradley Cooper in the film Limitless (pictured in Broken)
Silent Witness actress Amanda, Hollyoaks actress Alex Fletcher, and West End musical star Claire Sweeney also began their careers on the soap.
The soap, which is currently available in part on All 4, has been brought to STV after a deal with distributor All3Media International.
Richard Williams, managing director of digital at STV said: ‘It may have been two decades since Brookside drew to a close, but the love for the show from its passionate army of fans has never waned.
‘We’re so pleased to be the first streaming service to bring this legendary piece of TV history back into viewers’ living rooms for free, and I hope superfans and new audiences alike enjoy all the nostalgic drama that Brookside 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 land each week following that.
