BROOKSIDE legend has revealed his real-life job – and it couldn’t be more different from his soap star days on the iconic drama.
Philip Olivier, best known for his role as Timothy “Tinhead” O’Leary in the Channel 4 soap, is still the spitting image of his character two decades on.
7
7
7
For 21 years, Brookside had viewers gripped with its scandal and hard-hitting storylines from the Liverpool close.
From the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British TV in 1994 and the body buried under the patio plot, it was nothing if not groundbreaking.
Philip first played the role as Tinhead at age 15 and initially played a bully – but changed his ways when his actions nearly killed his little sister.
He formed an unlikely bond with Sinbad, who invited the troubled teen to live with him and Tinhead started a relationship with Emily.
When his girlfriend was killed in the siege in 2002, he started to go off the rails and narrowly avoided jail several times.
In the final episodes of the show he was working as a limo driver and was involved in the killing of a drug dealer.
At the height of its popularity, Brookside was watched by nine million viewers – a record for Channel 4.
But, when it was axed in November 2003 – just two million people were tuning in.
Since then, Philip has appeared on a late-night spin-off of the popular series Hollyoaks, medical drama Doctors, and starred as Jason Gallagher in the hit series Benidorm.
He also took to the stage in the Take That musical Never Forget, and some Doctor Who audio dramas from Big Finish.
He even tried reality TV taking part in Four in a Bed, Come Dine with Me and The Games, showcasing his determination and competitive spirit outside the world of acting.
But now, Philip has a very normal job – and is a managing director of Liverpool City Sights, a thriving bus tour business.
He 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. He has three boys and two girls with his girlfriend, Amy Virtue.
Soap’s most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle’s schizophrenia in Emmerdale – Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma’s voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth’s anorexia in Hollyoaks – Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah’s condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal in Coronation Street – Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean’s abuse from Tony in EastEnders – Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca’s boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.
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.”
When asked if he would want to be involved in a Brookside return, he said: “If he were to ask me back in Brookside of course I would do it.
“It holds a special place in my heart.”
7
7
7
7