Brookside reruns

[Redglitter]

Has anyone else been watching today? I've watched 4 episodes so far. Dated, but loving it

yes I thought it was going to be menopause too. perhaps menopause was still too taboo to talk about in the early 80s. I also remember my mum referring to it as "the change" too.

If I remember rightly Brookside was broadcast on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
I remember when Eastenders was on twice a week !

glad you posted this as I was wondering which days it was shown. was it always 3 episodes per week right from the start in 82?

It was two nights in the 80’s and then the Friday got added as an extra.

Is it just me, or do the portions served at meal times seem really small compared to now? I saw someone eating a tiny bowl of cornflakes which didn’t even look as much as a Variety pack! I know plates were smaller then - MIL even has some 70s dinner plates and they are properly small!

I think meal sizes were smaller, yes. Certainly the plates were smaller.

What impresses me is that the actors on brookside (mainly the Grant's I've noticed) are able to actually sit at the table, pour each other cups of (Proper, Hot Tea) and drink it while as well as actually eating their meals. All during a scene.

Most modern programmes it's all sipping from blatantly empty cups. I'm guessing the health and safety bods stepped I'm at some point regarding scalding.

Oh, and I remember searching high and low on the telly for that bloody rabbit programme that they all start watching. It's only from reading here I find it was created for the flipping show and not actually broadcast.

I have a really strong memory of watching it on a Tuesday and a Thursday (plus the Sat omnibus) but looking at the episode dates they've given, it looks like it was Tuesdays and Weds in the early 80s. [Yes, I have too much time on my hands!]

Have been catching up and have to say, absolutely fabulous street fighting by Sheila & Marie. And another one who just assumed Annabel's health issues were menopause-related, especially after they did the Karen period pain/pill SL. What is actually wrong with her? I've just done the episode when she sees the posh dr but don't mind a spoiler or 2.

Yes I thought Tuesday and Thursday.

Can’t remember Brookside from the early 80s as I was born then. But remember it being on 3 times a week in the 90s. And the Saturday omnibus.

I’m not watching these re reins but most of them are on YouTube.
Gavin is played by Danny Webb, he’s been on lots of things. I didn’t realise it was him initially. He’s obviously putting on a Liverpool accent.

I knew Pat looked familiar, but I hadn't twigged that she later became Tracy Corkhill! I did recognise Billy in his teacher role though.

OMG Alan's Mum is Wolfie Smith's MIL & Nana Moon! I am loving spotting actors from other programmes popping up randomly. Jim Carver from the Bill was the newspaper reporter when Sheila & Sam were on the picket line, and Mr Bronson from Grange Hill was a copper a little while back.

I remember thinking that Heather was so posh because she had a water disposal unit!! But no central heating...

Free George Jackson. (In every box of cornflakes)

Just finished watching the last available episode, and decided to google Tony Scoggo (the actor who plays Matty to see what else he had been in. I was truly shocked to see that he is now 87. I mean, I know it makes sense, but I was still shocked!

Anyone still watching?

Yes I am. Didn't watch it this early before so am enjoying it. Loving Sheila's pregnancy storyline. Enjoying not knowing how that all works out.

Still watching! I loved the episodes in Spain. Brilliant. Lots of camera ogling by passers-by, clothes and bags that I still remember. What a memory box.

Yes! Haven’t seen this weeks drop yet.
DH hadn’t seen it from the start and we are both loving it - genuinely funny as well as nostalgic.

Yes still watching although wish it was more than 5 a week!

Oh my! Watching the last episode available showing the Garden Festival. I went twice as a kid and it’s wonderful to see it again.

20k for the bungalow?!! Unbelievable!

According to one calculator it’s about 82k in modern terms. According to another site, an average salary was about 10k but bear in mind that Liverpool was badly impacted by recession at that time so the salaries were probably lower there and the housing market depressed. The interest rate was also 14%.

… that works out at £240 a month from a gross of about £830 (based on 10k gross salary). So around 1/3rd of an average income. Manageable but not exactly a time of plenty. It was also harder for women to contribute when childcare options were really family only.

Yep childcare in the 1980s wasn’t really a thing like nowadays. It was family or play school, which was normally a few hours a day. I don’t remember there being all day child care facilities.