Mike Dixon (Brookside)

Byatt began playing Mike in 1990. Byatt's brother and three sisters had previously appeared in Brookside playing recurring roles. Of this Byatt stated that "turning out cast members for Brookside is a family industry." When Byatt finished his A levels, he followed the family tradition of auditioning for Brookside. Unlike his siblings, Byatt secured a regular role on the show. ==Development==

Mike is characterised as a "streetwise but likeable youth" with a keen interest in music and forming his own band. A writer from the official Brookside website wrote that Mike "didn't waste anytime in ruffling the neighbours' feathers" upon his arrival. They assessed that later in the character's tenure he had become a family man "finding life a struggle". In the book 20 Years of Brookside, author Graham Kibble-White described Mike as "one of life's losers with a succession of dead end jobs and constant money worries." She defended the affair noting that Lindsey was young, her husband was elsewhere and their connection means "there's really nothing she can do about it, even though she's being unfaithful to Gary." He added "Mike feels convinced that what they've got going is the real thing because of the instant attraction they both felt when they met. She was fed up with her useless husband and then she met Mike, who is sensitive and understanding, and everything Gary isn't." Jackie decides help Mike, Lindsey and Kylie flee the United Kingdom and start a new life in Australia. Mike Jackie accompanies the trio to the airport and ensures they depart safely. However, Jackie does not realise that Gary discovered her plan and has already planted the drug heroin in Kylie's soft toy. Producers wanted to make the story authentic but struggled create a Thai airport set. The scenes were not scheduled to be filmed at Bangkok airport and researchers could not find any photos of the interior or information in aviation magazines. Producers contacted the managing director of the Airport Authority of Thailand for help, who provided them with photographs, brochures and newsletters to help them recreate the setting. The pair then enlist the help of neighbour David Crosbie (John Burgess) and their local member of parliament and travel to London. They secure meetings with foreign office ministers and members of the Thai embassy, which have a positive effect on the case. Bel invites Mike into her home for a drink. She begins to complain about her sex life with husband Ollie Simpson (Michael J. Jackson). This prompts Mike to attempt to leave but Bel kisses him and they have sex. Writers intended it to be a one time encounter with ensuing drama. Byatt told Steven Murphy from Inside Soap that Mike sees Bel as "another notch on his bedpost" and Bel is "totally paranoid about the whole thing." Mike discusses their affair with Ben O'Leary (Simon Paul), which upsets Bel who wants to keep it a secret from Ollie. Byatt assessed that Mike is worried that Ollie will find out and violently confront him. He added "I don't think he wants to be a marriage breaker either" because Mike had already destroyed Lindsey and Gary's marriage. Byatt believed that the story put Mike back into the forefront of the show's dramatic stories after having a quiet time writing a book. He concluded "I'm pleased he's got that silly idea of the book out of his head and he's getting out and about and up to mischief, after all the stuff he's been through over the last year, with Bangkok and Lindsey, he deserves to have a good time." ==Storylines==

He is the eldest son of Ron (Vince Earl) and "DD" Dixon (Irene Mariot), and the brother of Tony (Gerald Bostock, later Mark Lennock) and Jacqui (Alexandra Fletcher). Mike was involved in two major storylines in 1993, the most significant of which was his relationship with stepmother Bev McLoughlin (Sarah White) that resulted in the birth of their son Josh, who was originally believed to have been his brother. This resulted in the break-up of his father and stepmother's relationship. 1993 was also the year that Mike's younger brother Tony (then played by Gerald Bostock) was left in a coma after a car crash which claimed the life of neighbour Frank Rogers (Peter Christian) in November. Tony died three months later having never regained full consciousness, and at the funeral Jimmy confessed that he was the driver of the other car which had caused Frank's car to crash. Mike later married Rachel Jordache (Tiffany Chapman) and their daughter Beth was born in early 2000. But another tragedy struck in December that year when Mike was badly injured in a car crash involving a stolen car being driven by Tim O'Leary (Philip Olivier). Clint Moffat (Greg Pateras) suffered a broken arm in the collision, while Robbie Moffat (Neil Davies) and Tim fled the scene uninjured. Mike had suffered a major spinal injury and used a wheelchair for six months after the crash, and even after leaving his wheelchair he spent several more months on crutches. Mike's father Ron received a nine-month prison sentence for firearms offences in December 2001 (although he was cleared of alternative more serious charges of manslaughter and murder), and by the time Mike left the Close in 2003 he was rarely featured in significant storylines. Mike later landed a job at Brookside Comprehensive as a teacher. After splitting up with Rachel, he witnessed the birth of his son, Michael Jr. When Ron and Bev became engaged, Josh asked Ron if he would adopt him. Ron was flattered by the offer and agreed. Ron and Bev then got a solicitor to finalise the arrangements. Mike however refused to give his permission, preventing the adoption from taking place. ==Reception==

In 2003, Frances Traynor from the Daily Record named the Mike and Lindsey being arrested for drug trafficking in Thailand one of ''Brookside's "most controversial plotlines". Inside Soap'' reporter Jon Peake branded it "one of soap's hardest-hitting storylines" and emphasised that the issue was a common occurrence in the 1990s. Lorna Hughes from the Liverpool Echo said that Brookside was known for its controversial stories. However she believed that Mike and Lindsey's arrest in Thailand was a less well remembered storyline. Merle Brown (Daily Record) ridiculed Mike and Rachel's relationship. They questioned: "what's she doing hanging about with him anyway and, from his point of view, how could you listen to her whingeing voice day in, day out?" A critic from The Guardian included Mike in an article written to ridicule soap characters. Of Mike they wrote "Mike Dixon is feared brain-dead (as usual)." A writer from Inside Soap branded Mike a "beardy-weirdy" and "the hairiest, unluckiest bloke in soap". They added that "Mike's track record in the romance department leaves a great deal to be desired." Their colleague Victoria Ross branded Mike "Brookside's best looking resident". ==References==