THE 'for sale' signs are going up outside the houses in Brookside Close now that Channel 4 has confirmed the Liverpool-set soap will end after 21 years in November. The axing won't just leave a gap in the schedules, but put dozens of actors out of work.

For them, it will be a return to the cold reality of auditions and role-seeking. The shock will be greater for those who've been part of the series for many years and some who've worked in little, or maybe nothing, else in their careers.

Early cast members, like Amanda Burton and Ricky Tomlinson, have found success in other TV series and films. The current bunch will be wondering if they can do as well. They need to cash in on Brookside's profile, which has always been higher than its ratings. The audience reached seven million during the soap's peak some years ago, although Coronation Street and EastEnders regularly get almost double that figure.

But creator Phil Redmond's ability to whip up a controversy with tough storylines previously untouched by other soaps - domestic violence, homosexuality, rape, drug abuse and religious fanaticism - ensured people were always talking and writing about Brookside even if they never watched it. The body under the patio, Beth and Margaret's kiss and an incestuous relationship all grabbed headlines.

That was good for the actors. Many used Brookside as a stepping stone to greater things. The first episode on November 2, 1982 featured Ricky Tomlinson (Bobby Grant), Sue Johnston (Sheila Grant) and Amanda Burton (Heather Haversham), all of whom have gone on to bigger things and a degree of stardom.

Others from the opening cast are still around - Paul Usher (Barry Grant) is on the beat in The Bill, where he's been joined by another Brookie refugee Bernie Nolan (Diane Murray). Simon O'Brien (Damon Grant) still acts and presents. Another actress, Katrin Cartlidge (Lucy Collins), found success in European films, including several for Mike Leigh, before her tragic death earlier this year.

Others who've appeared over the years have done well. Playing lesbian Beth Jordache did the career of Anna Friel no harm whatsoever, and Nicola Stephenson (Margaret), with whom she puckered up, has been seen in a series of TV roles, including Clocking Off.

So too has Gillian Kearney, who played Damon's schoolgirl lover Debbie. Her most recent TV role was in The Forsyte Saga. Claire Sweeney (Lindsey Corkhill) moved into the Big Brother Celebrity House and her career moved up a notch, including a stint in the musical Chicago in London's West End.

Some ended up as regulars in other soaps or series. David Easter transferred to Family Affairs, Shirley Stelfox to Emmerdale, Mark Moraghan to Holby City and John McArdle to Mersey Beat. Michael Starke has moved from window cleaning as Sinbad to hospital porter in nostalgic hospital drama The Royal.

Those still left in the Close, the ones there when the credits roll for the last time, face a difficult time in a profession where 90 per cent of actors are out of work. The adjustment to life outside will be particularly hard for the long-serving survivors and the younger cast members who've grown up on Brookside.

In criminal and activist Jimmy Corkhill, Dean Sullivan has created one of the soap's most memorable characters. He remains one of the few links with the Brookie heyday when it was regularly in the news. After nearly 20 years he's closely identified by the public with the character, which was originally only scheduled to appear in six episodes. At least he has something to fall back on - Sullivan taught in primary schools in Liverpool for six years before moving into the Close.

Steven Pinder, alias Max Farnham, has already had experience of being in an axed soap. He was mechanic Roy Lambert when motel soap Crossroads was given the chop in 1988. Two years later he resurfaced in Brookside Close. He's found time to return to the stage during his long stint in the soap, and will be seen in Trap For A Lonely Man as part of Darlington Civic Theatre's summer rep season.

For some, the end of Brookside will mean their first experience of looking for work. Diane Burke was 12 when she took over the role of Katie Rogers at the end of 1988. Since then her character has had quite a time of it including school bullying, her parents' break-up, falling in love with a religious cult leader and alcoholism. She first became interested in acting while appearing in a school production of Cinderella, was encouraged by a drama teacher and invited to audition for Brookside.

Alexandra Fletcher arrived as 15-year-old Jacqui Dixon - a year older than the actress in real life - in 1990, saying that "getting the part was a dream come true". Previously, she'd appeared in the children's programme Why Don't You? and satellite channel show Cool Tube.

Tiffany Chapman, 23, was attending Oldham Theatre Workshop when she won the role of Rachel Jordache. She featured in one of Brookside's most notorious storylines - abused by her father, she was involved in his murder and the burial of the body under the patio. Compared to that traumatic time, marriage and a baby with layabout Mike Dixon was light relief.

Paul Byatt, alias Mike, continued the family tradition when he successfully auditioned for the soap in 1990. He became the fifth member of his clan to appear on the show, joining after completing his A-levels.

Jennifer Ellison, who was Emily Shadwick/O'Leary, has already left to pursue other things. But what will become of her Close companion, Timothy O'Leary, better known as Tinhead? Philip Olivier will probably be first in line for auditions to play Scouse scallies.

Young Raymond Quinn, at the centre of a storyline about bullying and the killing of the bully, won a soap award for his performance as Anthony Murray. Of all the young cast, he seems the one with the talent to find that there is life as an actor outside Brookside Close.