Brookside, commonly referred to as "Brookie", was a soap opera set in Liverpool, England - introduced with the then new British television network, Channel 4. Produced by Mersey Television, it aired from the channel's first night on 2 November 1982. Conceived by Phil Redmond, who also devised Grange Hill (1978-2008) and Hollyoaks (1995-present), the soap was set to become Britain's grittiest ever soap opera.

Brookside became well known for its tackling of realistic and socially challenging storylines and was most popular in the 1980s and early 1990s. In the mid-1990s it began raising more controversial, and perhaps sensationalist issues under the guidance of new producers such as Mal Young and Paul Marquess. It is especially well-known for broadcasting the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British television in December 1993, as well as a storyline featuring consensual incestuous sexual relations between two sibling characters during 1996. Although the series had a long and successful run, by the year 2000 its viewing figures were in decline and low ratings eventually called for its cancellation. The final episode was broadcast on 4 November 2003 and was watched by around 2 million viewers.

The first ever episode of Brookside was also shown as part of Channel 4 at 25 on 1 October 2007 on More4 as part of a season of celebratory Channel 4 programmes as it celebrates its 25th birthday.

Brookside, as of Friday 29th February will be shown on the Internet TV channel Tvuk - Website It is rumoured that TV:UK will be creating their own version of the 100 Greatest Moments. A DVD promised by Phil Redmond which was never released.

The former Brookside Close is to be used for a film called Salvage.

In 2000, the character Matt Musgrove (played by Kristian Ealey) transferred from Brookside to "Hollyoaks" (1995), the first time this had been done in England.

The series was filmed on a real estate in Liverpool. Mersey TV owned all the houses one of which was used as a production office and never actually filmed in. When the series was cancelled in 2003 the houses were renovated and are now used for the interior scenes in "Hollyoaks" (1995). The only exterior scenes are shot around the front doors.

The last resident to leave Brookside Close, Jimmy Corkhill, added the letter 'd' to the word 'Close', symbolically signalling the end of the soap.

In the final few episodes a drug dealer named "Jack Michaelson" moved into Brookside Close. This is a play on the name Michael Jackson, the Channel 4 controller who had canceled the soap.