Sue Johnston: The Royle Family, Brookside & Her Friendship with The Beatles
About this episode
Sue Johnston discusses her career, friendships, and personal experiences in this emotional interview.
Joining Sally on the sofa this week it's acclaimed actress Sue Johnston. From becoming a household name as Sheila Grant in Brookside to the much-loved Barbara Royle in The Royle Family , Sue looks back on the roles that have defined her extraordinary career. She shares behind-the-scenes stories from the sets of Brookside , Waking the Dead and Downton Abbey , and fondly remembers the laughter she shared with Ricky Tomlinson while making The Royle Family . Sue also reflects on the life and legacy of the late Caroline Aherne, recalling their close friendship and the genius that made The Royle Family such a timeless classic. In an emotional conversation, Sue opens up about one of Brookside 's most groundbreaking storylines, revealing how filming Sheila Grant's shocking attack resonated deeply because it mirrored a traumatic assault she had experienced in her own life. The conversation also turns to Sue's exciting new BBC comedy Ann Droid , where she stars alongside Diane Morgan. She talks about working with Diane, why the series appealed to her, and why she's still as passionate about acting as ever. Plus, Sue…
People in this episode
Host: Sally Lindsay
Guest: Sue Johnston
Topics covered
- acting
- television
- friendship
- comedy
- personal stories
- British pop history
Keywords
- Sue Johnston
- The Royle Family
- Brookside
- Diane Morgan
- Caroline Aherne
- acting career
- Merseybeat
- The Beatles
- Ann Droid
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: BBC
Books & works: Brookside, The Royle Family, Waking the Dead, Downton Abbey, Ann Droid
Places: Liverpool
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