Brookside legend swaps soaps to join huge BBC show – and has already filmed his first scenes
A BROOKSIDE legend has swapped soaps to join a huge BBC show – and already filmed his first scenes.
The iconic Liverpool-set soap aired on Channel 4 from 1982 until ending in 2003.
Michael Starke, 67, played Thomas “Sinbad” Sweeney for a 16-year stint.
The actor has signed up to play a role in BBC medical drama Casualty.
He has already filmed his first scenes on the long-running programme.
Nicola Bolton Management, who represent Michael, wrote on Instagram: “Our MICHAEL STARKE @michael_starke_ has been busy down in Cardiff filming on @bbccasualtyofficial @bbc #casualty.”
However, it’s not the first time he has ventured into other major soap operas.
Michael joined the cast of Coronation Street in 2007 – playing Jerry Morton, the patriarch of a new family.
Viewers may recall his character opened up a kebab shop upon moving to the cobbles.
The Morton clan were short-lived and he left the ITV soap after 18 months.
Michael has also made appearances in Hollyoaks as a taxi driver named Benny.
It comes as another Brookside alum revealed his real-life job – and its worlds away from the show.
Soap hunk Philip Olivier is best known for his role as Brookside‘s Timothy “Tinhead” O’Leary.
He is a managing director of Liverpool City Sights, a thriving bus tour business.
Philip has successfully transitioned into an entrepreneurial role as the owner and has gained a 5-star rating on TripAdvisor.
The 44-year-old is also a proud dad of five children.
The star also revealed that the locals still call him “Tinhead” when he’s out and about in Liverpool.
He said: “When I’m going around the city and around the world, people are still calling me Tinhead.
“When I started when I was 15, I never would have thought I’d be 42 and people still call me Tinhead.”