Marie Jackson
Marie Jackson is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Anna Keaveney. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 8 February 1983 played by Antonia Mallen for a single appearance. Keaveney took over the role from 2 March 1983. Marie is introduced as the sister of Petra Taylor and Michelle Jones. She eventually moves onto Brookside Close with her husband George Jackson and their twin children Gary and Little George, alongside Michelle, forming the show's Jackson family. Keaveney was originally only intended to appear as Marie in a few episodes but the role was expanded and she joined the show's regular cast. Marie is characterised as strong "battling" character with a "hard as nails" persona. Keaveney believed Marie's personality gave her the ability to take over the scenes she featured in, though she felt all Marie did was moan and complain. In her backstory, Marie endured a tough upbringing and was left to look after her younger sisters after her mother died and her alcoholic father, Davey Jones was absent. Marie's initial storylines revolve around the disappearance of Petra and Marie's search to bring her home. Writers killed-off Petra in a suicide storyline and Marie inherits her house on Brookside Close.
Writers created feuds for Marie with the characters of Barry Grant and Sheila Grant. Writers created a "famous" fight scene between Marie and Sheila, who brawl on Brookside Close. Another story showcased Marie's tenacity as she fights for her children's rights to be enrolled in a private school. Show creator, Phil Redmond recalled the story seemed boring but resonated with viewers who were fighting to better the lives of their family. One of Marie's most prominent storylines occurs when George is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Marie begins a campaign to secure his release from prison, which gained traction as the "Free George Jackson" campaign. The plot generated additional interest with viewers and helped bolster Brookside's audience share. Channel 4 supported the storyline with a real life publicity campaign to free George. Posters were put up around the UK, complete with a telephone number that viewers could call to receive fictional updates about the progress of Marie's campaign. The storyline continued with its uptrend in popularity but was ended when both Keaveney and Howells decided to leave the series. In her final storylines, she moves to Leeds to be closer to George and sells her house. She returned for two episodes to accommodate Jay's departure as Michelle. Keaveney made her final appearance as Marie during the episode broadcast on 18 June 1985.
For her performance as Marie, Keaveney was considered for a BAFTA in their shortlists. The character became popular with television critics who favoured her strong characterisation. She has been branded a soap opera "battleaxe" character by numerous critics and many profiled her tough persona. Keaveney's departure surprised journalists because she had been developed into a pivotal character within Brookside. However, one critic "hated" the character for being an unbearable neighbour and "hideous nag".
Development
Introduction and characterisation
She was first played by Antonia Mallen in a brief non-speaking role, which occurred during episode twenty-nine. Marie was seen supporting her grieving sister Petra Taylor following the death of her husband, Gavin Taylor. Anna Keaveney played the role following Marie's full introduction from 2 March 1983. Marie is introduced as the sister of Petra and Michelle Jones. She eventually moves onto Brookside Close with her husband George Jackson and their twin children Gary Jackson and Little George Jackson, alongside Michelle, forming the show's Jackson family. Keaveney was originally only supposed to appear as Marie in a couple of episodes. The role was expanded and Keaveney joined the show's regular cast for eighteen months. Keaveney did not sign long-term fixed contracts with Brookside because she did not want to be restricted by a single role. Keaveney lived in London while she appeared in the series and commuted to Liverpool twice a week. She was born in Runcorn and developed the local Cheshire accent, but she was schooled in Liverpool which helped Keaveney put on a Scouse accent for the role.Marie's appearance is a woman of short height with short legs but characterised by her short-temper. She is a "battling" character with a "fighting spirit" and "hard as nails" persona, who has endured a "tough life" and "learned to cope with tragedy". In the book, "Phil Redmond's Brookside - Life in the Close", author Geoff Tibballs describes Marie as "Petra's pit-bull terrier of a sister." In the later book, "Total Brookside: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Soap", Tibballs described Marie as "short in temper and stature" and "nothing if not a fighter". He added she is "a graduate from the school of hard knocks" and a character who enjoys arguing with others. In her backstory, Marie had been left to care for her two younger sisters since they were children. Their father is an alcoholic and their mother died when Marie was twelve forcing her to become a substitute mother. Marie is also portrayed as superstitious and in one storyline asks a clairvoyant, Mrs O'Rourke for life advice. Writers also added in the quirk of Marie believing she has physic powers and believed in reading tea leaves. Keaveney knew that when she took on the role, she did not want Marie to be portrayed as an "easy-going neighbour" to the other Brookside characters. Keaveney believed that writers used Marie to disrupt the peaceful dynamic that they had created amongst the established characters. She told Eleanor Levy from Record Mirror that "I think Marie Jackson brought in conflict because everyone was being very nice to each other." Keaveney told Brian Hancill from Daily Post that "Marie was such a strong character, taking over every scene she appeared in." She added that Marie is able to get "her own way" by "shooting her mouth off" at other characters. She also believed that Marie was often portrayed as moaning and complaining during scenes. She told Roy West from Liverpool Echo that "with poor Marie it was moan, moan, moan all the time!"
Family and feuds
Marie's first prominent storyline was searching for her missing sister, Petra. The Jacksons move into Petra's house while their own home was being refurbished and Petra never returned. Marie spent months trying to locate Petra and put advertisements for her return in the local newspaper. In the show's Christmas episodes on 1983, Marie is depicted setting up an extra place for Petra at the dinner table, convinced she could return home. Marie's optimism appears to be successful when she receives a Christmas card from Petra and she discovers Petra has been cashing cheques in Southport. In January 1984 episodes, Marie is informed that Petra is dead having committed suicide. Marie asks her clairvoyant, Mrs O'Rourke if she should remain at number 10 Brookside Close because she feels a coldness to the premises. She advises Marie to remain and moves back into the house. Roger Huntington later informs Marie that Petra has left Marie the house in her will plus £2500 every year. This prompts their absent father, Davey Jones to arrive and ask about the will. Hendry was cast by Brookside producer Chris Clough who thought he was ideal for the role of Marie's father. Marie is portrayed as estranged from Davey, makes him feel unwelcome and vows to rid of him. Davey later steals Michelle's catalogue money. In his final scene he is ordered to leave Marie's house and he leaves Brookside Close. Writers created a feud between Marie and Barry Grant, who she blamed for causing Petra to have a miscarriage and her later disappearance. Writers included Barry's mother, Sheila Grant in the feud which results in a "slanging match" between the two on Brookside Close. Writers portrayed Sheila as needing to protect Barry from "Marie's vitriol". Keaveney addressed the scenes during an interview with Alan Hulme from Manchester Evening News, stating "Marie caused quite a stir", adding that Marie and Sheila's fight became "famous". Keaveney revealed that she and Johnston had fun working together on the story. Other stories in her early tenure include meddling in Michelle's relationship with Terry Sullivan. She disapproves of their romance because Terry is best friends with Barry. In another story, Marie believes that her children will be better of attending a private school. The plot explores Marie trying to convince a headmaster to allow her sons to attend the school. Despite her newfound wealth, Marie's lower-class background is at odd's with the schools cliental and she struggles to convince him. The storyline resonated well with viewers who had similar aspirations to Marie's and the show received letters praising the story. Show creator, Phil Redmond told Roy West from Liverpool Echo that the response surprised him. He added "I had thought it was a bit boring, but the letters showed people were intrigued by the conflict facing working class people who have aspirations.""Free George Jackson" campaign
In her most prominent storyline, Marie supports her husband when local gangster, Tommy McArdle frames George for a robbery. George had innocently drawn a plan of a warehouse he attended a fire at on a napkin. Tommy commits a robbery at the warehouse and steals cigarettes and alcohol. George is arrested for the crime and the map he drew is used as evidence against him. Writers added optimism to the story when Marie and George have a day out together at the park. George saves a boy from drowning and George is hailed as a hero in the local newspaper. Keaveney told Levy that Marie and George's relationship worked well because the two are "very much in love" and Marie is "a nag" which George needed. She added that "although George was very kind and straight and good, there was a kind of emotional weakness in him that needed someone as strong as Marie to keep him going." George is sent to trial, found guilty and sentenced to eighteen months in prison. Marie begins a campaign to prove her husband's innocence called "Free George Jackson". She enlists the help of a local journalist, Rick Sexton and her friend, Betty Hughes. Keaveney described "a lonely Christmas" for Marie as she continues family life without George.Brookside's publicity officer Paul Kerr revealed that the show were organising a real life campaign for to add more interaction with viewers. He told Carolyn Taylor from Liverpool Echo that "everyone knows he doesn't exist, it's just a bit of fun. Hopefully we'll get everyone watching Brookside." The campaign generated "enormous interest" with viewers and Channel 4 decided to back the off-screen campaign publicity stunt to capitalise on the story's success. It was the most expensive publicity campaign created by a British broadcaster at the time. They printed more than one thousand posters, complete with a photograph of George in prison with the "Free George Jackson" slogan. It also featured a telephone line which viewers could call to receive storyline updates about the campaign. The posters were distributed nationwide and were placed in shopping centres and bus stations. Badges and T-shirts with the slogan were also produced and distributed. In addition, the Blazing Saddles released an official music single, on vinyl record, titled "Free George Jackson" to generate further interest. The show was averaging at six million viewers per episode and producers hoped the campaign would bolster their viewership. By January 1985, the show's publicity office had received more than five thousand telephone calls from viewers about the storyline. Howells was also upset with the publicity stunt because he believed it led people to think he had also been in trouble with the law. Howells involved the actors union, Equity, who threatened the campaign in its early stages. A Birmingham pub also ran a campaign event on their premises. It became part of popular culture to the extent that the British singer Boy George also became a supporter of the campaign. Carolyn Taylor from Liverpool Echo stated that the "Free George Jackson" campaign was gained such notoriety that it was "spreading like wildfire around the country." Keaveney told Stuart Gilles from Manchester Evening News that the storyline became "quite a cult", especially in Liverpool. She added that she was "glad" when the story was over.
In the subsequent episodes, Marie's campaign causes disruption during an MP's visit to Liverpool when "Free George Jackson" is painted near the runway at Speke Airport. During the 12 February 1985 episode, Marie and Betty travel to London and visit 10 Downing street with a petition to free George. Her efforts aggravate Tommy who threatens the Jackson family. Little George is shot with a pallet gun in the eye. Marie then begins receiving hate mail brick is thrown through the Jacksons window. Marie also is conflicted when Little George and Gary start being harassed about George at school and get into trouble for fighting. Rick allows a newspaper report to be published in his newspaper portraying Marie as a neglectful mother and the cause of Little George being shot. Marie then begins to receive hate mail from angry parents. Writers continued to add turmoil for Marie's campaign when George temporarily escapes from prison. Tibballs assessed that "Marie began to wilt" and "for once in her life Marie Jackson was beaten" in the face of these issues. Marie reassesses the campaign and later decides to move to Leeds to be closer to George's prison.