Julia Brogan

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.