Frank Rogers (Brookside Character)
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Francis "Frank" Rogers is a fictional character from the British
Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...
soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...
''
Brookside Brookside may refer to: Geography Canada * Brookside, Edmonton * Brookside, Newfoundland and Labrador * Brookside, Nova Scotia United Kingdom * Brookside, Berkshire, England * Brookside, Telford, an area of Telford, England United States * Bro ...
'', played by Peter Christian. The character made his first on-screen appearance during the episode broadcast 1 December 1987 and remained in the show for an additional six years, being killed off in the episode aired on 5 November 1993.


Development

Frank, a lorry driver, had been promised a desk job but failed to gain the promotion. The breakdown of their marriage deeply affects their youngest daughter Katie Rogers (Diane Burke). Burke told the ''
Liverpool Echo The ''Liverpool Echo'' is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales – a subsidiary company of Reach plc and is based in St. Paul's Square, Liverpool, England. It is published Monday through Sunday, and is Liverpool's da ...
's'' Peter Grant that "as the youngest daughter of Frank and Chrissy Rogers, atiehad a lot on her plate." Frank later enters a relationship with Lyn McLoughlin. He has to fight off unwanted advances from Lyn's sister Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White). Frank's departure storyline saw him killed in a car crash caused by a "drug-crazed"
Jimmy Corkhill Jimmy Corkhill is a fictional character from ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside'', played by Dean Sullivan, who joined the series in 1986. Jimmy originally appeared on a recurring basis appearing alongside his brother, Billy Corkhill, Billy (Joh ...
(
Dean Sullivan Dean Sullivan (7 June 1955 – 29 November 2023) was an English actor, best known for playing Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Brookside'' between 1986 and 2003. Early life Dean Sullivan was born in Liverpool on 7 June 1955. He grad ...
). The accident happens as Frank tries to make it to his wedding reception to Lyn McLoughlin (Sharon Power). Frank dies just after reaching the hospital, and his other passenger Tony Dixon (Mark Lennock) is in a coma for three months before dying in the hospital. ''Brookside's'' executive producer
Mal Young Mal Young (born 26 January 1957) is a British television producer, screenwriter and executive producer. Career Mersey TV Young began his career in graphic design. At age 27, he began working in television on the Channel 4 soap opera '' Broo ...
defended the decision to kill Frank because it created emotional drama. He told a reporter from ''
The Observer ''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. First published in 1791, it is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper. In 1993 it was acquired by Guardian Media Group Limited, and operated as a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' ...
'' that "people say they cried when Frank Rogers died. I feel that makes me successful. I feel it was therefore good drama. It is not cruel because it is not real. You do like to play with your emotions. That's entertainment."


Storylines

Frank arrived on Brookside Close in December 1987 with his wife
Chrissy Chrissy is a given name or nickname for males and females, short for Christina, Chris, Christian, Christopher, Christine, Christen, Christmas, Christos, etc. that may refer to: People Female * Chrissy Amphlett (1959–2013), Australian musician * ...
(Eithne Brown) and children, renting No.7 from Harry Cross (
Bill Dean Bill Dean (born Patrick Anthony Connolly, 3 September 1921 – 20 April 2000) was an English actor who was born in Everton, Liverpool, Lancashire. He took his stage name in honour of Everton football legend William 'Dixie' Dean. Biography ...
). Frank is promised a desk job at his lorry firm but they do not offer him the position. He travels to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
to sort the problem out, but his lorry is stolen and he faces disciplinary action. Frank decides to upscale and buys the more spacious No.5 in 1989, following its repossession from
Sheila Grant Sheila Corkhill (also Grant) is a fictional character from British soap opera ''Brookside (TV series), Brookside'', played by Sue Johnston. Sheila appeared in Brookside from the first episode in 1982 until the character's departure in 1990. Her ...
(
Sue Johnston Sue Johnston (born Susan Wright; 7 December 1943) is an English actress. She is known for portraying Sheila Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera '' Brookside'' (1982–1990), Barbara Royle in the BBC comedy '' The Royle Family'' (1998–2012), G ...
). Frank later attends a funeral where he meets Lyn McLoughlin (
Debbie Rush Debbie Rush (born 29 March 1966) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Anna Windass in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from 2008 to 2018. Career Early career After training at the Manchester School of Acting when s ...
). The pair form a close bond and begin a relationship, following the end of his marriage to Chrissy in 1991. Frank and Chrissy's children continue living at the house with him, although
Sammy Sammy is a nickname, frequently for people named Samuel or Samantha, and also an English spelling of the Arabic name Sami. People Music * Sammy Adams (born 1987), American rapper and songwriter *Sammy Cahn (1913-1993), American songwriter *Sammy ...
(Rachael Lindsay) moves out in 1992. After Lyn becomes pregnant, the pair marry in November 1993. Frank drives to his wedding reception with Tony Dixon as a passenger - Frank offers Tony a lift to get him away from his feuding (separated) parents, Ron (
Vince Earl Vincent Earl (born 11 June 1944) is an English singer, comedian and actor most famous for his portrayal of the character Ron Dixon in the soap opera ''Brookside'', a role which he played from 1990 until the show's demise in 2003. Early life ...
) and DD ( Irene Marot). Jimmy Corkhill is also driving, but while under the influence of
cocaine Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...
. He causes Frank to swerve off the road and crash into a wall. Lyn, who was sitting in the back of the
Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce (always hyphenated) may refer to: * Rolls-Royce Limited, a British manufacturer of cars and later aero engines, founded in 1906, now defunct Automobiles * Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, the current car manufacturing company incorporated in ...
car, escaped uninjured, but Frank and Tony took the brunt of the impact. Frank dies shortly after reaching the hospital, and Tony is left in a coma. After Frank's funeral, it is revealed that the
post-mortem An autopsy (also referred to as post-mortem examination, obduction, necropsy, or autopsia cadaverum) is a surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse by dissection to determine the cause, mode, and manner of death ...
showed him to be above the drink-drive limit. In Frank's will it states No.5, along with his savings, are to be split between his children and new wife. No.5 is eventually sold to
Barry Grant Barry Grant is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera ''Brookside'', played by Paul Usher. The character debuted on-screen during the first episode of ''Brookside'', broadcast on 2 November 1982. Barry is one of the show's ...
(
Paul Usher Paul Usher (born 20 April 1961) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Barry Grant in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Brookside'' and Des Taviner in the ITV drama ''The Bill''. In 2019, he began appearing in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnder ...
) in 1994 and the proceeds are split between Lyn, Sammy, Geoff (
Stephen Walters Stephen Walters (born 22 May 1975) is an English actor. A regular in British television and film, he has played a wide range and variety of character roles in both drama and comedy. Walters is most commonly associated with unpredictable, comp ...
) and Katie. Tony dies three months later, having never regained consciousness, and at his funeral, Jimmy confesses that he was the driver of the other car.


Reception

Just before Brookside's demise in 2003, Frances Traynor from the '' Daily Record'' named the crash that caused Frank's death one of the show's "most controversial plotlines". A reporter from ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' branded Frank a "friendly trucker". A reporter from ''
Inside Soap ''Inside Soap'' is a weekly soap opera and television listings magazine published in the United Kingdom. The magazine is currently released every Tuesday. It covers storylines featured in British and Australian soap operas that are broadcast in t ...
branded the character Chrissy's "Neanderthal truck driver husband". ''Inside Soap'' ran a feature compiling "The 100 greatest soap stories ever told". They featured Frank's death storyline as their 79th choice. Mark Lawson from ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
'' criticised ''Brookside'' for featuring too many dramatic stories in quick succession and included Frank's death. Francesca Babb from ''
All About Soap ''All About Soap'' was a fortnightly UK magazine founded in October 1999. It was released on Tuesdays. Storylines of the shows it covered were from soap operas shown in the United Kingdom and from Australia, including ''EastEnders'', ''Coronat ...
'' included Frank's wedding day death in their "most memorable moments" of ''Brookside'' feature. Hilary Kingsley from ''
Daily Mirror The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily Tabloid journalism, tabloid newspaper. Founded in 1903, it is part of Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), which is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the tit ...
'' believed Frank should be awarded "the most embarrassing father of the decade". She chose an episode exploring his parenting skills in her "pick of the day" television feature.


References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rogers, Frank Brookside characters Fictional truck drivers Television characters introduced in 1987 British male characters in soap operas