Julia Brogan is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Gladys Ambrose. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 24 September 1985. Julia was introduced as part of a new family, the Corkhills, and is the mother of Doreen Corkhill (Kate Fitzgerald) and grandmother of Tracy Corkhill (Justine Kerrigan) and Rod Corkhill (Jason Hope). Writers quickly made her the interfering mother-in-law to Doreen's husband, Billy Corkhill (John McArdle). Ambrose was originally hired to appear in only eight episodes of Brookside but she was continually invited back to portray further storylines. Ambrose wanted to become a regular cast member and her role within the show was expanded in the early 1990s. Julia is characterised as outrageous, interfering and a local gossip. Ambrose has described Julia as brash but kind-hearted with a well-turned-out dress sense despite her working class backstory. Ambrose also based Julia's personality on that of her own grandmother. She is often used in comedic storylines which her characterisation plays into. Julia is infamous for mispronouncing words and writers bestowed various comical malapropisms into Julia's dialogue. She is also known for her various catchphrases when entering a scene and the sound of her stilettos clattering on the floor. Brookside producer Mal Young wanted to utilise Julia and portray a positive representation of old age characters. Julia outlasted her entire original on-screen family who had all departed by 1993 but writers continued creating storylines for her.
Julia's early storylines involved interfering in the Corkhill's lives and her friendships with Ralph Hardwick (Ray Dunbobbin) and Harry Cross (Bill Dean). Julia has been featured in relationship storylines with Cyril Dixon (Allan Surtees) and Jack Sullivan (William Maxwell) and both ended in heart-break for the character. Julia's romance with Cyril was marred by the reveal of his past promiscuity and he dies from a heart-attack. Ambrose believed Julia's relationship with Jack was supposed to be her final chance of happiness that was eventually ruined by Jack revealing he is still married and a murderer. Her friendship with David Crosbie (John Burgess) was another focal point for writers. They developed a plot in which the two take up ballroom dancing and enter competitions. Ambrose and Burgess took two-months of professional dance classes to portray the storyline realistically. Off-screen they too won competitions for the Allied Dancing Association. In 1994, Ambrose was diagnosed with bowel cancer and took most of the year off to recover. She returned to filming that year and was made a regular cast member in July 1996.
Julia has been well received by television critics and book authors who favoured her "Scouse attitude" and brash persona. She was documented as being one of the show's most recognisable characters and a "battle-axe" and "busybody" of the soap opera genre. Her malapropisms gained the nickname "Juliaisms" and her comedy was welcomed by reviewers for giving viewers respite from the show's bleak storylines. Ambrose's portrayal of Julia gained her nominations for "Funniest Character" at the 1998 Inside Soap Awards and "Best Comedy Performance" at the 1999 British Soap Awards.
Casting Ambrose joined the cast in 1985 and viewed it as her breakout role. She told Ken Irwin from Daily Mirror that "after years of struggling I've finally been discovered" and revealed that "Julia is a merry widow and she has opened up a whole new world for me." Ambrose was originally contracted to appear as Julia in eight episodes but this was later continually extended.
Development Characterisation and malapropisms Ambrose made her first on-screen appearance as Julia during the episode broadcast on 24 September 1985. Julia's introduction storyline features her coming to live with her daughter, Doreen Corkhill (Kate Fitzgerald) and family after her electricity supply is cut off. Doreen's husband, Billy Corkhill (John McArdle) is not happy with her moving in. Julia shares a room with her granddaughter, Tracy Corkhill (Justine Kerrigan) who does not mind her presence.Redmond 1987, p.75. Writers quickly established Julia as a gossiping character as she immediately begins to share her family history with Ralph Hardwick (Ray Dunbobbin).Tibballs 1994, p.88.
In her backstory, production detailed that Julia was married to Arthur Brogan and he fathered their daughter but she later became widowed. Julia had aspirations of becoming a singer when she was young, but becoming pregnant with Doreen prevented her from fulfilling her dreams. Julia often interferes in Doreen's life and resents her for marrying into the Corkhill family. Writers continued to explore Julia's interfering ways after Doreen's departure and she continues to visit her grandchildren.Hayward 1995, p.13. In her early years on the soap, Julia works at a local grocery shop and hairdressers. In her later years she is employed at Ron Dixon's (Vince Earl) shop, The Trading Post. In the book, "Brookside: The Official Companion", Julia is described as an "outrageous character" and that Ambrose "enjoys playing her as a figure of fun."Redmond 1987, p.89. Writers portrayed Julia as being aware of the local gossip in her community, despite not always knowing the full story, which does not phase her.Tibballs 1998, p.219.
Ambrose based much of Julia's characterisation on her grandmother.Tibballs 1992, p.49. Julia's sayings such as "now get in there, Lady Godiva" and "spare me!" were borrowed from her grandmother. Ambrose revealed they were her grandmother's favourite catchphrases. She recalled that when she was a child, her grandmother would often sing the song, "Nellie Dean". When writers required Ambrose to sing in scenes featuring Julia to sing in a club, she decided that Julia too should sing "Nellie Dean". Julia's interfering ways can alienate some. Ambrose defended Julia in the book, "Brookside - The First Ten Years". She told author Geoff Tibballs that "I love Julia, I know she speaks before she thinks but she's the salt of the earth and she'll always turn up trumps when someone's in trouble. She's the sort that would bring them into the world and lay them out when they're dead." She is written as a kind hearted character who is keen will help other characters. Another recognisable character trait is Julia's love of boiled sweets. In 1986, Ambrose told a reporter from Herald Express that she is different to Julia. She labelled her character as "working class, brash but always well turned-out." Ambrose viewed it as "a nice touch" for the character because it showcased that those without money do not need to look "scruffy". She added Julia was "a lovely character" to portray because "she says and does all the things I would never dare do." In 1987, Ambrose told a Liverpool Echo reporter that she loved playing Julia because she is "flamboyant" and "an awful flirt". In 1989, Ambrose spoke about her surprise that viewers across responded so well to Julia's characterisation. She noted that "they love the way she is a real battle-axe." Another characteristic of Julia is her loud "clip-clopping" sound her shoes make and her "spare me" catchphrase.
Brookside producer Mal Young revealed that the show wanted to portray a positive representation of old age via Julia. He told Tibballs ("The Brookside Files") that both Ambrose and Julia have a "tremendous energy" that is fully utilised in her characterisation. He noted that Julia goes against the normal portrayals of an older aged character without exploring "senility, bed-wetting and going to funerals."Tibballs 1996, p.75. He explained that "a lot of retired people have a great time" and "Julia is a very positive character". Writers sometimes explored Julia's serious side which they did via her reaction to Diana Corkhill (Paula Frances) being raped. Young also liked Julia because she is a unique character who interacts with all the characters featured in the series. This offered a better range of character interactions for the writing of Julia. Young explained that "she's one of those rare characters who can go into anyone's shop or house. Some people will only knock on certain people's doors but Julia can go everywhere - not even to buy anything, just to talk."
Another part of Julia's characterisation is her muddled speech and scripts contained various malapropisms that Julia says. One of her most recognisable is mispronouncing Max (Steven Pinder) and Susannah Farnham's (Karen Drury) surname in a double-barrel format as "Farn-Ham". When Julia references Beth Jordache's (Anna Friel) lesbianism, she crowed "I've seen 'er type before, she's one of them Lebanese." Another example is when Ron accuses Julia of stealing from the shop till, unaware his son Mike Dixon (Paul Byatt) is the culprit. Ron later apologises to Julia but she incorrectly accuses him of "defecation of character". Ambrose stated that the storyline gained a good reaction from viewers based on her fan mail. She also recalled that when she went shopping, people would make jokes about protecting the till from Julia. Ambrose recalled that viewers would approach her in the street and do impressions of Julia. Young organised a special video feature for the 1996 Q Awards which featured a Julia malapropism. In the video, Julia and Sinbad (Michael Starke) argue about an issue of Q magazine out the Trading Post. Julia references singer Liam Gallagher but mistakenly calls him "that Liam Galahad fella".Collins 2012, p.192.
Early story development In March 1986, Ambrose took part in location filming in Torquay. In the show, Julia and the fellow older characters, Ralph, Harry Cross (Bill Dean), and Madge Richmond (Shirley Stelfox) go on holiday together. Dean was approached by a news reporter during filming on Torquay seafront but refused to reveal story specifics. He added "we're not letting on who ends up with who, lets just say we're all having a lovely time." Stelfox revealed that it was cold weather during filming and the cast were wrapped in blankets in-between filming scenes. In one scene, Julia and Madge go swimming. When Ambrose and Stelfox filmed the scenes, Ambrose accidentally kicked Stelfox and disjointed her pelvis. When the story was broadcast during April 1986, it was revealed that Harry, Ralph and Madge go on holiday together but Julia later turns up and gate-crashes their getaway. Madge and Ralph reminisce about the war which forces Julia and Harry to go off together.
In the 1980s, Ambrose appeared as Julia on a recurring basis but she wanted to become a regular cast member. In 1989, Ambrose returned to filming as Julia for another guest stint. Julia then had a several month absence from storylines and in January 1990, Ambrose reaffirmed her desire to appear as Julia more frequently. Ambrose returned to filming in May 1990. Ambrose revealed that viewers had been enquiring when she would return again because they liked her role as a "nosey mother-in-law". In 1991, writers began to expand the character and make her a more integral part of the show. Ambrose had to limit her theatre commitments to accommodate the character. She told a reporter from Perthshire Advertiser that she was happy with how writers had developed Julia. She added "the writers have been very kind to me, I love every line I have to utter." Producer Mal Young had wanted Julia's full-time return to help rebalance the show's direction following numerous storylines focusing on younger characters.