Dramatic climax to Brookside bullying plot

Channel 4 soap Brookside is to feature a harrowing storyline about child killing as a teenage character turns on a school bully, it was announced today.

The Liverpool-based show will feature the chilling climax to its bullying plot later this month as creator Phil Redmond reclaims the show’s ‘‘dramatic credentials’’.

In the show 12-year-old Anthony Murray (played by Raymond Quinn) attacks the tormentor who has made his life hell for months, Imelda Clough.

The youngster has been terrorised in a prolonged campaign by Clough (Billie Clements).

Programme makers Mersey Television said the storyline took viewers into ‘‘uncompromising territory’’ as they witnessed one child killing another.

In the build-up to the devastating scenes, Anthony waited months before he felt able to tell his parents Marty (Neil Caple) and Diane (Bernie Nolan) that he was being bullied by girls.

They have struggled to help and tried educating him at home to keep him away from the bullies, but they reluctantly send him back after being threatened with prosecution, with disastrous consequences.

Redmond said: ‘‘Like many big Brookside storylines, this is not the end of a story, but merely the beginning of the next phase.

‘‘Although the death of the bully, Imelda, is tragic in its own right, we will be following our central character Anthony and how he deals with this terrible turn of events and later, how his family cope.

‘‘For every parent it is one of the dark horrors you push away from your mind everyday, the discovery that the child you love has found themselves in such horrific circumstances.

‘‘I said earlier in the year that I wanted Brookside to reclaim its dramatic credentials. This storyline puts us back on that road.’’

Brookside celebrates its 20th anniversary this year but has tended to be overshadowed in recent years by EastEnders and Coronation Street which have far greater pulling power with viewers.

However it has featured its fair share of dramatic storylines including the body under the patio scenario, a lesbian kiss and child abuse.

Programme makers are aware they may come under criticism for such a shocking storyline.

In a statement, they said today: ‘‘Brookside has never been afraid to tackle powerful and controversial issues. The current Anthony and Imelda storyline illustrates this by chronicling the months of bullying that Anthony has been subjected to and illustrating the possible tragic consequences that could ensue.

‘‘In any civilised society, bullying is completely unacceptable and Mersey Television as a responsible programme maker aims to highlight the suppressed guilt and concerns of any individual being bullied. Brookside takes on this point as well as the further implications and impact on the family unit.

‘‘Recent statistics prove that at least 16 children commit suicide and 19,000 attempt suicide annually, with up to 50,000 families in the UK choosing to educate their children at home as a reaction to bullying.’’

The death will feature in the March 20 edition of the programme, but producers are keeping a lid on how the death occurs.

‘‘The tragedy arises after a confrontation with Anthony after school. Viewers will witness the confrontation that results in Imelda’s death and they will be left in no doubt as to her fate,’’ said a spokesman.