It was the weirdest reunion... everyone is 20 years older

PHILIP Olivier says slipping back into playing his much-loved Brookside character Tinhead felt amazing as the soap returns after 22 years.

- BY JANINE YAQOOB

He is among a host of faces from the Channel 4 soap taking part in a special crossover episode with Hollyoaks, including originals Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson.

Philip, 45, said: “It was like the weirdest reunion you've ever had.

“Everyone's aged. Everyone's 20 years older.

“But seeing everyone back in the same place... it was the strangest thing, but it was great.”

Brookside started on the day Channel 4 launched - November 2, 1982 - and went off air 21 years later on November 4, 2003.

Filmed in a cul-de-sac on a new-build estate in Liverpool, it was the brainchild of Sir Phil Redmond, who also created Hollyoaks, which turns 30 next month.