Damon and Debbie Returning to Screens on New Year’s

STV Player has slated a re-airing of Damon and Debbie, a three-part spin-off of Brookside, to begin on January 1.

The short spin-off follows two of Brookside’s most popular early characters, teen sweethearts Damon Grant and Debbie McGrath, as they run away to York in order to escape their disapproving parents in Liverpool, who object to their relationship because of their class divide.

The series stars Simon O’Brien, who later became a property expert and host of shows such as Channel 4’s The Great House Giveaway, and Gillian Kearney, who later starred as Emma Barton in Emmerdale.

All three episodes of Damon and Debbie were written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce, marking one of his earliest writing credits. Cottrell-Boyce went on to pen films such as The Railway Man, Millions and Goodbye Christopher Robin, as well as the 2012 Olympics opening ceremony.

STV Player acquired Damon and Debbie as part of a continuation of its deal with All3Media International. The first hour-long episode will debut on January 1, with the remaining two following on January 8. To celebrate, STV Player will also drop five extra episodes of Brookside on Christmas.

“I’m so chuffed that Damon and Debbie has been found, dusted off and is now going to be aired on STV Player,” O’Brien said. “It was an absolutely groundbreaking format, being the original ‘soap bubble,’ and I fondly remember wandering around the north of England with the lovely Gillian Kearney and the rest of the talented team. The nation can get their hankies ready once more for the airing of this rediscovered seminal moment in TV history.”

Kearney commented, “Being asked at the age of 14 to join a soap as groundbreaking as Brookside was a dream come true for me, and I was delighted when we were told that the wonderful Frank Cottrell-Boyce was writing a ‘soap bubble’ involving Damon and Debbie eloping from Brookside Close on a romantic adventure.

“We shot for six weeks in Leeds, Bradford and York, and I will always remember our producer, Colin McKeown, taking the time to visit my school and reassure my teachers that I would continue my studies regardless of the shoot! We were like a family, and the atmosphere on set was always full of fun and laughter—largely because of cheeky chappy Simon O’Brien! I think we all knew we were making something very special, and I will forever be grateful to Mersey TV [now Lime Pictures] for such an amazing opportunity 37 years ago.”

“Soap fans have never forgotten Damon and Debbie—a thrilling and heartbreaking Romeo and Juliet story with Scouse accents and a backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain,” said Richard Williams, managing director of digital at STV. “It was event TV when it first aired in 1987, and despite many believing it had been consigned to the history books, we’re delighted to be giving it a new home alongside its older sibling on STV Player.

“Ever since we announced our Brookside relaunch, fans have been asking us for Damon and Debbie, so we hope they enjoy spending the early weeks of 2025 with one of soapland’s most memorable teen pairings.”