Brookside Barry Grant star Paul Usher’s life from rival soap role to family tragedy
Brookside, the beloved soap, is set to make a triumpha
nt return to our screens, with Paul Usher reprising his iconic role as Barry Grant.
The popular Channel 4 soap, affectionately known as Brookie, ran from 1982 to 2003 and will be making a comeback in a special crossover episode with Hollyoaks to mark the latter’s 30th anniversary.
Set in Liverpool, Brookside was renowned for its hard-hitting storylines, tackling issues such as rape, bullying and incest. The special episode is scheduled to air at 7pm on 22 October, paying tribute to Brookside creator Sir Phil Redmond.
Paul Usher first appeared as Barry Grant in Brookside’s debut episode in 1982, with his character evolving from a cheeky young lad into the soap’s tough guy.
Barry infamously became embroiled in the criminal underworld, even murdering his best mate’s wife and child in a storyline that marked the soap’s 1000th episode in 1991, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Paul portrayed Barry throughout the entirety of Brookside’s run, from 1982 to 2003, although he did take breaks over the years.
He also featured in the spin-off Brookside: The Lost Weekend, and Barry holds the distinction of being the only character to appear in both the first episode in November 1982 and the final episode in November 2003.
So, where is Paul Usher now?
In March 2019, soap enthusiasts were thrilled to see Paul, now aged 64, in EastEnders, taking on the role of Danny Hardcastle.
This unsavoury character had a bone to pick with Phil in Walford, played by Steve McFadden, after they found themselves entangled in a money-laundering scheme together in Spain.
Phil’s reckless behaviour led to the collapse of a dubious business, leaving him in debt to Danny. Upon his return, Danny confronted the mechanic and demanded repayment.
However, things took a turn for the worse when Ben Mitchell (Max Bowden) attempted to persuade Danny to join forces with him, resulting in Danny kidnapping Louise Mitchell (Tilly Keeper).
Danny resurfaced in 2020 seeking vengeance on the Mitchells, but found himself entangled in a warehouse heist and subsequently apprehended by the police.
Paul has also graced our screens in numerous programmes including Liverpool 1, London’s Burning and had a significant role in The Bill as Des Taviner until 2004, appearing in a total of 135 episodes.
He previously confessed to the ECHO: “I enjoyed acting but not the fame side of it. I don’t want to play that game. I never really did any interviews when I was on the telly. I’m proud of my acting work, including dramas like Liverpool 1, but I get really annoyed about celebrity culture.”
Paul is happily married to Charlotte, whom he met while working on The Bill, and they have a son named Lucas together.
In 2014, Paul’s son, James, tragically passed away at the age of 24. He fell ill on a supply vessel in Aberdeen and later died in hospital.
Paul has expressed his thoughts on the Brookside crossover episode, eagerly signing up once he discovered his on-screen parents had agreed to participate, according to The Echo.
He revealed: “When they told me Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant) and Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant) were doing it, that made me say yes because we don’t get to see each other as often as we’d like.”
Paul added: “I’ve got a lot of really good friends from Brookside days so to come back and be with them, it puts the bow on top of it. I’m pleased I said yes now.”