They seemed to carry the show from 2001 onwards with the amount of storylines they got, but did you enjoy watching them?
Brookside: Did You Like The Murrays?
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No, one of the reasons I stopped watching and probably one of the reasons the show became as unpopular as it did, ultimately leading to its cancellation.
I thought they were awful and they made me stop watching, although I was never a big brookie fan anyway
I loved the Murray's. Diane was my fave - poor Bernie 
. They were a great family and one of the highlights of the last years of Brookie. I did hate Marty's ex wife though. She was awful. I also think It was the Gordan family who caused all the problems not the Murray's. Badly miscast and terribly dull and lifeless.
. They were a great family and one of the highlights of the last years of Brookie. I did hate Marty's ex wife though. She was awful. I also think It was the Gordan family who caused all the problems not the Murray's. Badly miscast and terribly dull and lifeless.
Yes! They were my best family and I always watch the Anthony Murray plot which is ALL available on Youtube!
The acting from Marty Murray was second to known when he found out his son was being bullied by girls.
The acting from Marty Murray was second to known when he found out his son was being bullied by girls.
I really liked Anthony - young Ray Quinn thoroughly deserved his Soap Award for best Young Actor - and I quite liked Diane.
Was this a time when no one was watching, I was and I thought the plot was a great piece of British TV!
I liked the Murrays a lot and really enjoyed the bullying story from beginning to end. I loved Marty and Diane. I also liked the Nan (was she Diane's mum?). She's an old veteran of soaps.
As for little Anthony, I adored that kid - he was excellently portrayed by Ray Quinn - who I still have a soft spot for now.
I certainly didn't enjoy them as a family after Bernie left and I was keen on Marty's ex.
As for little Anthony, I adored that kid - he was excellently portrayed by Ray Quinn - who I still have a soft spot for now.
I certainly didn't enjoy them as a family after Bernie left and I was keen on Marty's ex.
I agree when Bernie died it ruined the family having the ex around, did you know it was a year yesterday since her real life death...
Originally Posted by Jewels501:
“I liked the Murrays a lot and really enjoyed the bullying story from beginning to end. I loved Marty and Diane. I also liked the Nan (was she Diane's mum?). She's an old veteran of soaps.
As for little Anthony, I adored that kid - he was excellently portrayed by Ray Quinn - who I still have a soft spot for now.
I certainly didn't enjoy them as a family after Bernie left and I was keen on Marty's ex.”
“I liked the Murrays a lot and really enjoyed the bullying story from beginning to end. I loved Marty and Diane. I also liked the Nan (was she Diane's mum?). She's an old veteran of soaps.
As for little Anthony, I adored that kid - he was excellently portrayed by Ray Quinn - who I still have a soft spot for now.
I certainly didn't enjoy them as a family after Bernie left and I was keen on Marty's ex.”
I liked the Murrays but what the Ep and writers done the bullying story that made people switch off it most of went on and on even after they won awards for it it was still going on for almost 3 years it become really silly as well seeing the teachers defending the bully's and there whole attitude to Anthony being bullied was almost as bad as the way trish was written with Lola in EastEnders about lexi.How did you enjoy the story of Anthony being bullied then killing on and it running for as long as it did almost every episode was the same scenes over and over.
Originally Posted by Brookside:
“Yes! They were my best family and I always watch the Anthony Murray plot which is ALL available on Youtube!
The acting from Marty Murray was second to known when he found out his son was being bullied by girls.”
“Yes! They were my best family and I always watch the Anthony Murray plot which is ALL available on Youtube!
The acting from Marty Murray was second to known when he found out his son was being bullied by girls.”
Thank you for that, I shall revisit that brilliant and hard-hitting storyline.
Amazing how when Brookside was in decline it produced such a classic.
I really liked them. Hated the way they gave Diane an off-screen death in the helicopter crash and replaced her with moaning Jan.
Now, the Musgroves...THEY were an awful family. *shudder*
Now, the Musgroves...THEY were an awful family. *shudder*
Originally Posted by Marcus_Smith:
“I liked the Murrays but what the Ep and writers done the bullying story that made people switch off it most of went on and on even after they won awards for it it was still going on for almost 3 years it become really silly as well seeing the teachers defending the bully's and there whole attitude to Anthony being bullied was almost as bad as the way trish was written with Lola in EastEnders about lexi.How did you enjoy the story of Anthony being bullied then killing on and it running for as long as it did almost every episode was the same scenes over and over.”
“I liked the Murrays but what the Ep and writers done the bullying story that made people switch off it most of went on and on even after they won awards for it it was still going on for almost 3 years it become really silly as well seeing the teachers defending the bully's and there whole attitude to Anthony being bullied was almost as bad as the way trish was written with Lola in EastEnders about lexi.How did you enjoy the story of Anthony being bullied then killing on and it running for as long as it did almost every episode was the same scenes over and over.”
When I say "enjoyed" that is perhaps the wrong word. I just thought it was well done and well acted. Yes it did go on for a long time but it wasn't just the bullying, it was also the aftermath when Imelda(?) went missing and then the eventually revelation and trial etc. I actually can't remember any other decent stories around that time which means either it was really gripping or Brookie was struggling for stories at the time. And Ray Quinn's performances as Anthony made me cry at times which is a good thing!
So, I think I'm justified in answering the original question with a "yes".
Originally Posted by Marcus_Smith:
“I liked the Murrays but what the Ep and writers done the bullying story that made people switch off it most of went on and on even after they won awards for it it was still going on for almost 3 years it become really silly as well seeing the teachers defending the bully's and there whole attitude to Anthony being bullied was almost as bad as the way trish was written with Lola in EastEnders about lexi.How did you enjoy the story of Anthony being bullied then killing on and it running for as long as it did almost every episode was the same scenes over and over.”
“I liked the Murrays but what the Ep and writers done the bullying story that made people switch off it most of went on and on even after they won awards for it it was still going on for almost 3 years it become really silly as well seeing the teachers defending the bully's and there whole attitude to Anthony being bullied was almost as bad as the way trish was written with Lola in EastEnders about lexi.How did you enjoy the story of Anthony being bullied then killing on and it running for as long as it did almost every episode was the same scenes over and over.”
The actual bullying story ran for a year, only over a year if you include the aftermarth which was a different story in itself. Not sure where you got 3 years from
The Murray's had only been on the show 3 years when the show actually ended.Despite what people say Brookside was watchable up until early 2002. The Bev, Emily, Tim, Murray era was actually a good time for the show and Susanna's death week is one of the all time best weeks of UK soap.
The main problems came with The Bill moving to hour episodes which put it in direct competition with Brookie. It also didn't help when the Gordan family flopped and then Four just gave up on the show and started showing it in random slots so no one had any idea when it was on. If things had been handled better and a decent time slot found for Brookside it might have still been here. Another factor is that Hollyoaks suddenly took off in 2002/2003 due to the serial killer storyline. So as it had a fixed 6.30pm slot, Channel Four viewed it as more valuable and increased its episode output. What they should have done is decreased Brookside from 3 episodes to 2 and put it in the Tuesday and Thursday 6.30pm slots instead of increasing Hollyoaks.
Originally Posted by Benllech:
“Thank you for that, I shall revisit that brilliant and hard-hitting storyline.
Amazing how when Brookside was in decline it produced such a classic.”
“Thank you for that, I shall revisit that brilliant and hard-hitting storyline.
Amazing how when Brookside was in decline it produced such a classic.”
Would you like the link, inbox me!?
Originally Posted by Brookside:
“Would you like the link, inbox me!?”
“Would you like the link, inbox me!?”
Nah I found it, but thanks for the offer.
Very much enjoying it so far!
They were the best of a bad bunch as far as the families in the last few years went. I wasn't oerly keen on the way they just seemed to exchange mothers when Bernie Nolan decided to leave and some of the plots were overblown but then the whole show was by then. I did think that Ray Quinn was a great little actor as a child and enjoyed the Imelda storyline - it was probably the last storyline I did enjoy and think was ground breaking in a good way.
I liked the Murrays, too.
Apart from the bullying storyline one of the stand out arcs they had was the teenage daughter (Adele) getting pregnant and wanting an abortion when Diane kept trying for a baby and was unable to do so.
Apart from the bullying storyline one of the stand out arcs they had was the teenage daughter (Adele) getting pregnant and wanting an abortion when Diane kept trying for a baby and was unable to do so.
I really liked the Murrays and the bullying plot.
Diane's IVF story was the beginning of the end though. It dragged on and on and on and on along with Jimmy's bi polar and Ron's heart problems. This new way of dragging out stories co incided with the Gordons arrival and the show being moved all over the time slots.
the helicopter crash was great for a few weeks of gripping viewing but it was the final nail in the coffin for the show, losing Bernie Nolan and also jennifer Ellison.
Diane's IVF story was the beginning of the end though. It dragged on and on and on and on along with Jimmy's bi polar and Ron's heart problems. This new way of dragging out stories co incided with the Gordons arrival and the show being moved all over the time slots.
the helicopter crash was great for a few weeks of gripping viewing but it was the final nail in the coffin for the show, losing Bernie Nolan and also jennifer Ellison.
The Murrays were perhaps one of the last good family units introduced in Brookside. Diane did get on my nerves a bit but she was well acted as was Marty. The three kids and the nan were well cast also and together they all worked well. The bullying and pregnancy/abortion arcs were very well done even if dragged out a little
One of issues I found with Brookside in it's later days before it went majorly downhill with the introduction of the ill-fated Gordons, Bernie Nolan quitting and the hostage/helicopter rubbish was the seeming refusal of the producers to clear out some of the longer established characters when new material for them dried up. As all the characters had to live either in the six houses or above the shops Brookside didn't have as much scope for a large cast compared to say Emmerdale, Eastenders etc.
The Corkhills, Dixons, Farnhams, Shadwicks, Rogers, Johnsons were great families in their time but I really feel that as these families dropped numbers the strategy was either returns or keeping one character on with much lower story potential.
Bev and Josh were reintroduced alongside Ron, Mike and Rachel but storylines went around in circles - Mike & Rachel moaning/bickering for years struggling to get by financially, Josh being a troubled teen even though this role was played out by Tim before him. Any new material that involved new characters e.g. Anthea and Ron's long lost daughter Megan was abruptly wrapped up to shoehorn Bev back in and it was really more of the same from her. Jacqui jumped into the Farnhams even though she couldn't stand Max for years and literally replaced Susannah overnight, which stretched credibility. Sammy returned and caused nothing but grief for Katie, which we'd all seen before. Emily became extremely unlikeable and everything between her and Tim becamse very tedious with their ongoing schemes. Her grandmother Jessie then followed suit with crazy behaviour and the relentless belittling of her husband.
The only time any established character seemed to leave was when material for their character became completely ludicrious and was generally of their own accord e.g. Jackie Corkhill, Lindsey Corkhill, Sinbad, Susannah Farnham. Mick Johnson might be an exception as I can't recall what story he had prior to the actor quitting.
While I completely recognise that long standing characters are needed, I do think moving some of the above out would have help rejuvenate the neighbourhood and replace them with well planned and thought out families, which the Murrays were but the Gordons were not. There were others that weren't used properly possibly because these senior characters were given the material due to their loyalty to the show e.g. Lance & Leanne, Nisha, Cassie, Mo Magee, the new doctor & his wife.
Yes crazy storylines were the final nail in the coffin but cast mis-management I believe played a part as well. I do miss Brookie - there were some great years
One of issues I found with Brookside in it's later days before it went majorly downhill with the introduction of the ill-fated Gordons, Bernie Nolan quitting and the hostage/helicopter rubbish was the seeming refusal of the producers to clear out some of the longer established characters when new material for them dried up. As all the characters had to live either in the six houses or above the shops Brookside didn't have as much scope for a large cast compared to say Emmerdale, Eastenders etc.
The Corkhills, Dixons, Farnhams, Shadwicks, Rogers, Johnsons were great families in their time but I really feel that as these families dropped numbers the strategy was either returns or keeping one character on with much lower story potential.
Bev and Josh were reintroduced alongside Ron, Mike and Rachel but storylines went around in circles - Mike & Rachel moaning/bickering for years struggling to get by financially, Josh being a troubled teen even though this role was played out by Tim before him. Any new material that involved new characters e.g. Anthea and Ron's long lost daughter Megan was abruptly wrapped up to shoehorn Bev back in and it was really more of the same from her. Jacqui jumped into the Farnhams even though she couldn't stand Max for years and literally replaced Susannah overnight, which stretched credibility. Sammy returned and caused nothing but grief for Katie, which we'd all seen before. Emily became extremely unlikeable and everything between her and Tim becamse very tedious with their ongoing schemes. Her grandmother Jessie then followed suit with crazy behaviour and the relentless belittling of her husband.
The only time any established character seemed to leave was when material for their character became completely ludicrious and was generally of their own accord e.g. Jackie Corkhill, Lindsey Corkhill, Sinbad, Susannah Farnham. Mick Johnson might be an exception as I can't recall what story he had prior to the actor quitting.
While I completely recognise that long standing characters are needed, I do think moving some of the above out would have help rejuvenate the neighbourhood and replace them with well planned and thought out families, which the Murrays were but the Gordons were not. There were others that weren't used properly possibly because these senior characters were given the material due to their loyalty to the show e.g. Lance & Leanne, Nisha, Cassie, Mo Magee, the new doctor & his wife.
Yes crazy storylines were the final nail in the coffin but cast mis-management I believe played a part as well. I do miss Brookie - there were some great years
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