The Spirit of Brookside Lives On

Off work for the week, I’ve finally had chance to sample The Courtroom - Channel 4’s super-cheap daytime soap. And it was everything Brookside ever was, and less. Comedy caricatures of ethnic minorities; non-speaking extras pulled off the street owing to budget requirements; the un-universal truth that anyone with money is evil, while all poor people are saintly; the corny fades between scenes. Plus, there’s the opportunity to play spot the former famous face, today’s being The One Out of Ruth Rendell Who wasn’t Wexford. The best part is after the verdict, when we are informed of what became after the (fictional) characters after the trial! The Beeb must be thanking Redmond and co, as compared to this, their daytime saga Doctors look likes like it has the budget of Titantic.