'Brookside was drama therapy for me after my sex attack'

SUE JOHNSTON REVEALS HOW STORYLINE HELPED HER DEAL WITH HORRIFIC ORDEAL

- By JOE CRUTCHLEY

Sue Johnston and Ricky Tomlinson are reunited for the one-off episode of Brookside

SUE Johnston has spoken out about the groundbreaking rape storyline on Brookside.

Actress Sue played matriarch Sheila Grant on the Channel 4 soap, which ran from 1982 to 2003. And as one of Brookside’s original characters, Sheila was involved in several big storylines during her stint.

Especially in 1986, when Sheila was attacked and raped by a taxi driver. The storyline would go on to show the emotional impact on Sheila and her family, as well as the hunt for her attacker.

However, actress Sue has revealed that she was herself the victim of a sex attack years before her storyline on Brookside. And now, speaking ahead of the Brookside and Hollyoaks crossover episode - in which Sue will be reprising her role as Sheila - the actress has revealed how the rape storyline “helped” her following her sex attack.