Brigid O' Hagan: Joanne McIntosh

Brigid was first seen around episode 17 of the 1993 series where she was introduced as the second eldest sister of the O'Hagan family. She was first seen watching "Top of the Pops" as she agreed to look after the other kids whilst Angel secretly met up with Noddy and went for a ride on a motorbike.

Brigid exploited the situation by eating all of her mothers expensive chocolates, (perhaps that's why she was so concerned about her diet this year!).

Brigid reappeared in the 1994 series after she was taken to Byker Grove for the first time by Angel. Because of her youth she was virtually ignored by the other Grovers but fortunately made friends with Flora who was also making her first visit to the Grove. Both girls decided that the Grove was "sad" so they stayed away, meeting up in town and at Flora's mother's wedding.

However, on the day of Jemma's funeral they decided to enter the Grove via the cellar window, as there would be no one else there. There, they discovered the music system Marie had restored and they began dancing to Barney and Frew's dance records not realising the other Grovers had come back to the Grove to watch the "Screen Teens Special" which had been especially broadcasted as a tribute to Jemma. The other Grovers were shocked at their apparent callousness and inappriopriate behaviour, but they were saved by Geoff who drew an undeniable parallel between their behaviour and that of Jemma's.

Brigid contributed to the trouble developing between Noddy and Angel unintentionally when she saw Noddy buy flowers for Amanda assuming that they were for Angel. Brigid also attended the talk on family planning at the Grove.

In the 1995 series most of Brigid's problems stemmed from the fact she had a very low self-esteem and self-worth because she was unable to get a boyfriend. In 1996 however, she decided to do something about it.

In 1996, Brigid was convinced that the marriage between Gary and Angel was ill-fated and she more than played a fair role in bringing about its "natural" conclusion. After spending some time with Gary, Brigid became amazed at the attention he was giving her and decided it would be to her advantage if Gary "discovered" that Angel only agreed to marry him after she had been refused the job with the holiday company.

Gary was suitable furious and Brigid did all she could to seduce him, but unfortunately for her, Angel arrived before she could really have her way with him. Brigid met up with Gary later, hoping that Gary would still want her, but he'd realised that he really loved Angel and rather cruelly rejected Brigid as "just a kid". However, Angel refused to take Gary back, realising the marriage had always been a sham, though she haboured no real resentment towards Brigid and left for Ireland.

A terror campaign began at the Grove to punish Brigid for the percieved "adultery" led by Sita and Karen, although Sita later relented especially when Karen won the support of the majority against Brigid.

Relationship woes followed Brigid throughout the 96 series; she eventually found Rob (whom she'd met at the wedding) at the comedy club, only the topic of Frew's jokes were women who stole other women's men made the meeting uncomfortable. As Brigid was still suffering from a guilty conscience she stormed out of the club. Rob followed her and asked for a date, Brigid accepted and they agreed to meet outside the Grove.

Brigid turned up at the Grove carefully made up, eagerly waiting for Rob in whom she placed her highest hopes for a fulfilling relationship after the diaster with Gary. However, Rob did not turn up and Brigid was left waiting alone, leaving herself open to another attack off Karen.

Brigid, however, remained convinced that she hadn't misjudged Rob and went to where he practised Basketball. Rob warmly greeted her and apologised for not turning up before and they went together to Frew's Party.

Brigid's and Rob's relationship was erratic initially because Rob was a diabetic and didn't reveal this to anyone, originally Brigid suspected Rob was a drug addict after Jack found a needle in the toilets, but later discovered about Rob's illness after he collapsed at the Grove.

Brigid's interest in personal fitness started to develop in 1996 when she started jogging.

Later in 1996 Brigid became concerned that perhaps the pace of her relationship with Rob was a little too slow and, still remembering Gary's rejection she decided to do something about it after recieving some poor advice of Flora and Anna. Unknowingly Rob agreed to Brigid's hopes for them to go a little further and was backed into a corner after Brigid bought a packet of condoms. Rob's reaction to the situation was to reject Brigid's advances, and he dumped her.

In 1997 Brigid tried to resolve the situation between her and Rob and she approached him at home. However his pride wouldn't allow him to admit he'd been scared so the situation remained unresolved, although he did confide in her the real events of the night of the Ram Raid. However, the real events became public knowledge at the Grove the same night and Rob, blaming Brigid for this, and needing to vent his anger again hurtfully rejected her and his words stayed with her: "You're a total disaster area."

And indeed, Brigid realised that there was a certain amount of the truth in his words. However, Brigid, ever keen to do a good deed, invited Cher to join her for a pizza as she'd won the first prize in the Toon Pizza raffle at Alfie's Night of a Thousand Balls. The night-out did Cher's morale the world of good, only it did Harry's the world of bad, who became jealous of Brigid's friendship with Cher.

Brigid' burden increased when Leanne came to Newcastle and became her new friend. Brigid, who was still hurting from Rob's latest rejection, ensured she did all she could to stop Leanne from becoming involved with any of the boys from the Grove who she dismissed as "losers". Her attempts were in vain however, as irrespective of her friends advice, Leanne started to go out with Alfie, although they kept their relationship a secret.

To counteract her emotional problems, Brigid became fanatical about her physical state and spent many hours weight-lifting at the Grove and running in the park. She also became obsessed with her food and started on a diet of complex vitamins she had bought from the chemist.

Brigid began to attract Terry's interest in episode 6 who spent some time with her at the Grove after Leanne failed to meet her there for the two to discuss their fasting. Terry managed to get Brigid to admit she still cared for Rob and he arranged a meeting for the pair outside McDonalds. Unfortunately there was a misunderstanding as to which McDonalds was the meeting place and Brigid was left alone waiting outside McDonalds, however Terry turned up to try and explain the situation and walked her back home after Brigid decided she didn't want to see Rob.

Rob tried to explain the situation to Brigid, but couldn't get past Terraise who'd been ordered by Brigid not to let him in. Brigid was disgusted as she overheard Alfie's conversation with the other boys as he elaborated on the activites he and Leanne got up to. Because Leanne had been acting strangely and had denied she was having a relationship with Alfie, Brigid became convinced Alfie must've forced Leanne and told everyone at school he was a rapist.

However, Brigid was totally humialated once the truth had been revealed and she set off on a marathon run to clear her head. But, because she hadn't been eating properly she collapsed and was taken to hospital minutes after Terry, Rob and Terraise arrived on the scene.

On Brigid's return home Terry came to visit her and began showing an interest in her well-being that was above that of concern. After the disastorous party for her at the Grove the two started to have a heart-to-heart conversation but it was interrupted after Terry had to leave after Ben's accident. Rob took over and by the time Terry came back Rob and Brigid had decided to give their relationship another chance.

This, however didn't stop Brigid from inviting Terry to the cinema with them and on the night of the sleepover, Brigid "accidentally encountered" Terry on the roof. After they shared a kiss, it became evident to them that they'd have to sort the situation out.

The pair met frequently and aroused Rob's suspiscion when he saw them together on a bus. Brigid's double relationship came to an end after she realised that Terry was unsuitable for her when he brought Rob along to their arranged meeting at the Newcastle college open day.

Brigid tried hard to build on her relationship with Rob, but was constantly under threat from Terry who threatened to tell Rob about their relationship. Brigid's situation improved after Terry left home to avoid the BMX bikers, eventually admitted her relationship with Terry and they agreed to put it behind them and look to the future.

Joanne McIntosh will be returning in Series 10 of Byker Grove so we can no doubt expect to enjoy more blunders from Brigid for quite some time yet.