Sammy Rogers
Samantha "Sammy" Rogers is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Brookside, played by Rachael Lindsay. The character debuted on-screen during the episode broadcast on 7 December 1987. Sammy was introduced as part of the Rogers family consisting of parents Frank and Chrissy Rogers and their three children Sammy, Katie Rogers and Geoff Rogers. Lindsay secured the role in 1987 after she learned that Brookside was auditioning for a new family. Lindsay knew someone already working on the show and they introduced her to his agent who helped secure the role. Sammy is originally characterised as a rebellious and headstrong teenager and animal rights enthusiast. Sammy is Brookside's wild child character who never accepts responsibility for her actions. Producers created a long-running relationship story with Owen Daniels. They begin a romance while at school and writers developed them into a married couple with a child.
The character was used to portray the issue of alcoholism. Sammy becomes an addict after she is involved in a car crash which leaves Owen paralysed. Writers depicted Sammy as an alcoholic throughout her entire duration. They also used Sammy and Owen's daughter, Louise, to provide Sammy with more dramatic stories such as child abandonment and depression. In 1996, producers chose to further explore the issue of child abandonment. Sammy leaves Louise home alone while she goes on holiday abroad and is arrested for neglecting her. The story outraged viewers and the show received numerous complaints. Sammy also has a relationship with an older man Tim Derby and develops an obsession with Max Farnham, after they have a one-night stand. Lindsay decided to leave the role in 1993, but returned in 1996 and again in 2001 and remained until the series was cancelled by Channel 4. Sammy has received a mixed response from critics of the genre. Andy Medhurst from The Observer described Sammy as a "deceitful" and "neglectful slattern" for her parental skills. The Guardian's Stuart Jeffries branded her "the mother from hell" and criticised her characterisation, while other critics have praised her headstrong persona.
Casting
Lindsay secured the role of Sammy in 1987. She had only previously appeared in school productions when she learned that Brookside was auditioning for a new family. Lindsay knew someone appearing in the show and they took her to meet with his agent, who then secured Lindsay an audition. She was successful and was called back to screen test auditions alongside other cast members. Producers then contacted Lindsay to offer her the role, which she accepted. Lindsay was aged fifteen when she won the role and was nervous about joining the cast. She told a Brookside.com reporter that "I'd been up terrified the night before. I knew my lines inside out – backwards! – and I remember getting on set and it was all very daunting, particularly as I was only 15 at the time. And I totally went blank – I couldn't remember one line. It was terrifying."Sammy is introduced as part of the Rogers family consisting of parents Frank and Chrissy Rogers and their three children Sammy, Katie and Geoff Rogers. The introduction of the Rogers family was planned months in advance by the show's executive producer, Phil Redmond who wanted to revamp Brookside. Sammy and her siblings were young characters that producers wanted to appeal to younger viewers. The Rogers children were also created to replace the original character Damon Grant and his friends, who had grown up and left the show. Redmond added that it also allowed the storylines to focus on life at the school again. On 10 August 1987, Redmond revealed that the names and character details of the Rogers family. Non of the roles had been cast but he planned their on-screen arrival for December 1987 episodes. The Rogers' casting details were publicised on 3 October 1987, with a promotional photograph of the Rogers family next to the Brookside Close street sign. They all began filming that month and producers planned their on-screen arrival for December 1987.
Development
Characterisation
In her early years, Sammy is portrayed as a "rebellious and headstrong" teenager. Sammy knows what she wants from her life. Lindsay "really liked" Sammy because she is clever and "she knew what she wanted". She is an animal rights enthusiast and is portrayed as a vegetarian and is interested in animal activism demonstrations. A writer from the show's official website described her as Brookside's "proverbial bad penny, perpetually rolling back into the Close bringing bad news in her wake." In her education, Sammy is portrayed as "a lively school girl who liked a laugh" and has "wily ways". Over her tenure writers transformed her into an alcoholic as she dealt with a life "tinged with tragedy". Sammy eventually becomes a "less than ideal mother" because of the way she treats her daughter, Louise. Despite her flaws, Sammy's father Frank, "thinks the world of her". She is also "confident and attractive with no shortage of boyfriends."Writers often entrusted Lindsay with dramatic storylines such as car crashes and alcoholism. Lindsay told author Geoff Tibballs, in his book Brookside - The First Ten Years, that "Sammy's been through a lot of ups and downs, personally I don't think I could have coped with what she's been through." Lindsay was also humbled that producers often rewarded her with the show's biggest stories. She concluded that in just one role, she experienced things most other actresses do not experience in their entire careers. In July 1996, Lindsay stated "Sammy is wild to play. She's crazy and I love being dramatic." In her later years, Sammy has a more classier look and wears designer clothing. Lindsay revealed that she shopped for Sammy's clothes with the help of the Brookside wardrobe department. Sammy's clothes were not authentic designer garments and Lindsay purchased them from high street stores.
Alcoholism
Writers used Sammy to portray the issue of alcoholism. Lindsay was happy to be chosen to portray the issue because it exhibited that anyone can develop an addiction. She told Tibballs that "I was particularly glad we did the alcoholism story because it can happen to anyone - like you'd have thought Sammy was too sensible to have got in a mess like that." Lindsay chose not to research alcoholism with real life alcoholics because she believed it to be an invasion of their privacy. She branded her portrayal "a real challenge" without the extra research. Lindsay still wanted to depict the issue authentically and realistically, and was loath for it to be comedic. She added that she did not want viewers to laugh at Sammy while she is "giggling and falling off stools".Writers used the trauma of a car accident as a catalyst for Sammy's descent into alcohol addiction. Sammy blames herself for her boyfriend, Owen Daniels' injuries sustained in the crash. Writers chose the alcoholic beverage cider to get Sammy addicted. She then starts buying gin and her behaviour spirals out of control. Sammy gets drunk and visits Owen in the hospital where she causes disorder and Chrissy is forced to take her home. In another episode, Sammy agrees to babysit Jessica Choi and steals the contents of the Choi's alcoholic drinks cabinet. Michael Choi and his girlfriend Alison Gregory return home to a drunken Sammy. Alison is a scientist and Sammy begins to argue with her over animal rights. Sammy retaliates by vandalising Alison's car, spray-painting it with the slogan "murderer".
Chrissy becomes concerned about Sammy's excessive drinking, intervenes and sends her to visit Dr. Joseph O'Rourke for counselling. This causes problems with Frank who is in denial about the severity of Sammy's addiction. When Sammy discovers that Owen may be permanently paralysed she begins drinking more frequently and ends up urinating in her bed. In 1996, Lindsay branded it "one awful scene" and "incredibly embarrassing to do - in fact it still makes me cringe just thinking about it." In 2001, Lindsay recalled that wetting the bed was one of the most difficult scenes she had ever filmed at Brookside. She cited that the majority male film crew made the experience "quite embarrassing".
Relationship with Owen Daniels
In 1989, Producers created a long-running romance story between Sammy and Owen, a fellow high school student in the year above her. Owen is Sammy's first serious boyfriend. The story begins when Owen realises that he is attracted to Sammy and creates a plan to spend time with her. Owen visits Sammy's home and accuses her of sending him a Valentine's Day card which caused his girlfriend to break up with him. Owen is actually single and lies about receiving a card. His plan works and he and Sammy begin dating. McCall told Graeme Kay from TV Guide that Owen "fancies her like mad. He's very sure of himself and goes about chatting her up in a ridiculous manner." Sammy enjoys the attention from Owen and begins playing along. McCall added that "she quite likes him, and it becomes a game of cat-and-mouse." Frank and Chrissy did not agree on much but they were united on their approval of Owen. In their early years, jealousy became an issue for their relationship. Sammy becomes convinced that Owen and her best friend Nisha Batra are flirting at a decorating party. Owen is jealous when Sammy goes on holiday and has photographs taken with another man. Owen is further angered when Sammy and Nisha socialise with Anthony "Tony" Hampson and Francis "Kav" Kavanagh at a nightclub.Writers created the couple's first major storyline when they steal a car to go joyriding. Sammy convinces a reluctant Owen to get into the stolen vehicle alongside their friends Nisha, Kav, Tony and Ronnie Williams. The police find the group in the stolen car and a police chase occurs. They lose control of the vehicle and it crashes, killing Kav and Tony instantly. Nisha and Ronnie escape unharmed but Sammy and Owen are rushed to hospital and are both in comas. Sammy regains consciousness first and when Owen awakes he is told that he is temporarily paralysed and is given a wheelchair. The story attracted praise and the Home Office singled out Brookside's portrayal of the consequences that arise from joy-riding for special commendation. Footage from the accident was also used in a public information film. After this Sammy becomes addicted to alcohol writers used the opportunity to break up the pair. Sammy begins drinking because she blames herself for Owen's injuries. She stays with Owen out of pity but continues to avoid spending time with him favouring getting drunk. Sammy's behaviour causes Owen to behave out of character and he smashes the Rogers front door in and tries to force Sammy to drink a bottle of gin. His outburst causes Sammy to end their relationship.
Writers wasted no time pairing the duo with other characters in the series. Though off-screen Lindsay and McCall began a relationship together. Sammy begins a relationship with an older man, Tim Derby. Tim had divorced his wife and has a daughter the same age as Sammy. Their relationship causes problems with Frank who cannot accept their age difference. Their feud causes Sammy to become estranged from her family and she moves in with Tim. Frank warns Tim that he will get revenge if he hurts his daughter. Tim decides to introduce Sammy to his children Chloe and Adam but the evening ends awkwardly. He realises that Sammy is immature and he breaks up with her. She refuses to leave and he takes her back to Brookside Close and throws her belongings over the pavements. Sammy tries to win Tim back but he throws water over her. She then pretends to be pregnant but Tim is aware of her lies. Sammy retaliates by throwing a house brick through Tim's home window. McCall told Tibballs that it was "horrendous" to watch Sammy move on with another man. He added, "It made me sick to watch this old man with Owen's girlfriend." McCall noted that when he met Blake, he "felt no venom" towards him because he was completely different from Tim.
Owen begins dating Grace and Sammy becomes jealous. She tries to seduce Owen and Grace responds by confronting Sammy and throwing a drink over her. Owen eventually reconciles with Sammy and they have sex inside the Sullivan's house. Sammy discovers she is pregnant which makes Owen angry. He decides to be honourable and asks Sammy to marry him. Sammy's father Frank begins meddling in their relationship and forces Owen to quit studying and find a job to support his new family. In 1991, Sammy's mother Chrissy was written out of the show. Chrissie and Frank had been arguing and decided to separate in the lead up to her departure. The decision to axe the character was made by Brookside's executive producer Mal Young. He was unhappy with the Rogers family dynamic and thought their stories were "going round in circles". Young told Browne that she had to leave to save the remainder of the Rogers family from being axed the following year. Young's research for the show found that there was an increasing number of families with children splitting up in the United Kingdom. He concluded that he wanted to reflect this scenario with the Rogers family. Writers decided to coincide Chrissy's departure with Sammy's wedding episode to heighten the drama. Chrissy had felt trapped in her marriage to Frank and believes that history is repeating itself. She resents Frank for forcing Sammy and Owen to marry and decides to leave her family. While Sammy and Owen host a wedding reception at the Rogers family home, Chrissy sneaks upstairs and packs up her belongings and leaves for good.
Sammy gives birth to a daughter during episodes broadcast on 5 June 1992. Owen secures a new job selling conservatories and misses the birth. The events lead Sammy into depression and she struggles to cope with Louise. Sammy rejects Louise and leaves her outside the maternity ward in her pram. Owen is furious with Sammy's behaviour and demands a divorce. He takes Louise and moves into his mother's house. Frank decides to meddle in their relationship once again and forces them to reconcile. Owen forgives Sammy and the decide to look for their own home away from Brookside close.
Off-screen Owen became popular with female viewers of Brookside. McCall believed that his character's popularity was attributed to when Sammy treated Owen badly and they felt sorry for him. McCall felt sympathy for Owen and added that he would not tolerate Sammy's behaviour towards Owen. In addition, he disliked Sammy's interfering father Frank, adding "I certainly could never have lived under the same roof as Frank." In 1993, Lindsay and McCall decided to leave Brookside to pursue other acting opportunities. In their absence, Sammy and Owen had been renting a small flat. Owen worked for an insurance company but the couple wanted to buy their own family home.