It’s now been nearly 50 years since hit children’s drama Grange Hill first hit our screens. The BBC programme was famous in Liverpool and beyond and ran from 1978 until 2008.
Created by Phil Redmond and made by Liverpool company Lime Pictures, the show was set in North London and for three decades, the show followed the lives of those behind the Grange Hill school gates. It was famed for its gritty and contemporary storylines which kept teenage fans gripped to the screens every week.
Grange Hill didn’t shy away from controversy, tackling everything from knife crime to heroin abuse. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find Britbox streaming old episodes complete with warnings about “racist and offensive language”, The Mirror and Derbyshire Live reports.
Like many hit shows, Grange Hill was also responsible for launching quite a few careers – and we wanted to take a look back at some of them. Many went on to to star in other popular soaps and shows, whereas others moved away from the spotlight or are sadly no longer with us.
Here we take a look back at the cast of Grange Hill and where they are now. This list isn’t intended to be comprehensive and features a handful of stars, but you can see how many characters you remember in our list below
Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins – Todd Carty
Todd Carty, one of the most recognisable faces from Grange Hill, got his first acting gig in a Woolworths advert at the tender age of four. He portrayed Tucker for four years before landing a role in the successful spin-off series, Tucker’s Luck, from 1983 to 1985.
He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Mark Fowler in EastEnders, where he was a mainstay for 13 years until his character rode off on his motorbike in 2013. He reprised his role as Tucker in Grange Hill in 2003 for a single episode and made an appearance in the final series in 2008.
Post-Grange Hill, he has been seen on Dancing On Ice, where he became an internet sensation in 2009 after losing control and skating out of the studio. He has since appeared in a variety of TV shows, including comedy A Touch of Cloth, Celebrity 5 Go Caravanning, and short film The Drive.
Terence ‘Tegs’ Ratcliffe – Sean Maguire
Sean was just 11 when he joined the cast of the UK’s most famous TV school. He later starred as Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders and also had roles in The Bill, crime series Scott and Bailey, and Holby City.
In the 90s, Sean launched his pop career with two albums and an impressive eight singles that made it into the Top 30. However, his attempt at a film career didn’t fare as well, with his movie Meet the Spartans being named the worst film of 2008 by The Times.
Despite this setback, Sean bounced back when he landed the role of Robin Hood in the US TV show Once Upon a Time. He has more recently starred in The 100, The Magicians and S.W.A.T.
Samuel ‘Zammo’ McGuire – Lee MacDonald
Fan favourite Zammo, first appeared in Grange Hill at just 12 years old. After leaving the show in 1987, Lee pursued a career as a professional boxer.
Unfortunately, a serious car accident ended his boxing dreams. He suffered severe head injuries requiring 40 stitches and was told it would take at least a year to regain his memory.
After being advised never to box again, Lee found work at a wholesalers before returning to acting with small roles in Birds of a Feather and The Bill. He also worked as a locksmith in Surrey for several years.
In 2019, Lee returned to screens in EastEnders, playing a bus driver who clashed with Danny Dyer’s character Mick Carter. Last year, Lee announced that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Suzanne Ross – Susan Tully
Susan Tully is instantly recognisable for her role as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders. However, she started her acting journey as Suzanne Ross at a certain London comprehensive.
Her character in Albert Square was embroiled in numerous major storylines, including a scandalous affair with her best friend’s father, Dirty Den Watts, and teenage pregnancy. She bid farewell to the square in 1995 and decided to leave acting behind, opting instead to work behind the scenes as a director and producer.
She has directed episodes of EastEnders, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford, The Bill, Line of Duty, Tin Strike. More recently she has directed episodes of Maryland and Strike: The Ink Black Heart.
Benny Green – Terry Sue-Patt
Benny was seen on screen when Grange Hill premiered in 1978. He previously shared with the Daily Mirror: “There weren’t many black actors about on TV at that time.
“I had a great time, getting time off school to play football. It was a bit of a dream come ‘true’, really.” After his stint at the London school concluded in 1982, Terry moved on to star in Channel 4 comedy Desmond’s, set in a Peckham barbershop, and also the 1989 film The Firm.
Sadly, in 2015 Terry was discovered dead at his London home. A statement from the actor’s family disclosed that he’d been battling inner demons prior to his death.
It stated: “Like every artist and creative soul in history, he drew from his demons and they sometimes got the better of him. Terry had his own crosses to bear and he became gripped by a depression he never fully recovered from. Terry’s uccessful and eventful life was tragically cut short. He was our cherished son, brother, uncle and friend and will be sadly missed.”
Roland ‘Roly’ Browning – Erkan Mustafa
Good old Roland, we all took him to our hearts, didn’t we? Our Roly was the unfortunate bullied kid who gradually found the courage to stand up for himself after years of torment from his peers.
Actor Erkan Mustafa featured in the show from 1982 to 1987. He previously told the Daily Mirror: “I was just a normal child attending school. The national press were advertising the fact that they couldn’t find a fat child at stage school to appear in Grange Hill. A teacher put me up for the role and said, ‘Go on. You can do it.'”
After saying goodbye to Grange Hill, Erkan Mustafa graced screens in the festive special Blackadder’s Christmas Carol and went on to charm music lovers as a presenter on E4 Music. He hosted a nostalgic throwback when he compered a Grange Hill cast reunion at a nightclub in Leicester Square over ten years ago.
Erkan hasn’t strayed too far from the limelight. He has appeared as himself on hit shows like Pointless Celebrities, Soccer AM, and Celebrity Juice.
Tracy Edwards – Amanda Mealing
Amanda had a brief spell on Grange Hill but found greater success with her roles in Casualty and its sister show Holby City. A shock came Amanda’s way when, at 34, she was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after giving birth to her second child.
In defiance of her health challenges, Amanda had an emergency mastectomy, recounting to The Express: “I didn’t wallow in self-pity, the anger I felt made me very pro-active. I decided I would do everything I needed to do to fight the cancer and I wouldn’t let it take over my life.”
Determined not to be overwhelmed by cancer, she said: “It had taken my health and my time but that was it. In the seven months of chemo, plus three weeks of daily radiotherapy, I tried to live as normally as I could. “
Amanda triumphed over the disease, receiving an all-clear, and has since switched gears to directing. She’s helmed several episodes of Casualty, as well as Death in Paradise, The Dumping Ground, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.
Eric ‘Ziggy’ Greaves – George Christopher
Loveable rogue Ziggy Greaves was on Grange Hill from 1986 to 1989. The young actor, just 15 at the time, struggled to cope with the pressures that came with early fame.
George’s journey didn’t end with his portrayal of the drug-addled Little Jimmy Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap Brookside; he also hit the stage. The year 1989 marked a dark chapter for George as he was present during the Hillsborough disaster, which left him deeply traumatised.
It’s only recently that George has begun to open up about his battles with mental health, which saw him hospitalised on several occasions. Diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder at 43, he confesses he never once confided in his fellow actors about his struggles.
The weight of fame began to press down on him after his four-year stint on Grange Hill. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he previously shared: “Things build up. I’m not saying fame is a bad thing, because it can be a good thing, but sometimes it can be a bad thing – you can meet the wrong people. Being recognised everywhere you go was starting to get to me a bit at that age.”
Gary Hargreaves – Mark Farmer
Mark played the football enthusiast who graced the first three series of Grange Hill before venturing into roles in the TV drama film Mister Corbett’s Ghost and the Channel 4 sitcom Relative Strangers.
Eventually, he turned his back on acting to pursue music, forming the band Littlehouse with a school friend and others. Tragically, Mark Farmer succumbed to cancer after a brief illness in 2016.
Joseph ‘Hughsey’ Hughes – Donald Waugh
Donald Waugh, a Grange Hill original, played the role of Hughsey until 1980, when his life took a downward turn into alcoholism and homelessness. However, he made an admirable recovery and now dedicates himself to supporting the homeless.
Discussing the initiative Pavement to Catwalk with the Daily Mirror, Donald previously shared: “Working with and being homeless for a period of time has opened my eyes to the potential and talent within this untapped society. In this I have learned that the secret to helping yourself is to help others. I still hold this very close to my heart today.”
Fay Lucas – Alison Bettles
Alison was part of the show from 1982 to 1987. Her character’s shocking affair with a teacher remains a memorable plotline.
After leaving Grange Hill, Alison appeared in the EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet, as well as London’s Burning and The Bill, before pursuing a career as a qualified beauty therapist in the 90s.
Caroline ‘Calley’ Donnington – Simone Hyams
Simone was on Grange Hill from 1985 to 1991. She went on to appear in popular shows like Baywatch and The Bill, as well as the 1993 film Dirty Weekend.
However, she eventually became disenchanted with acting and transitioned to a role as a corporate events manager at Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.
Trisha Yates – Michelle Herbert
Michelle left Grange Hill in 1982 after five series. She later relocated to Dundee in the 1990s where she operates All Glass and Glazing with her husband.
Unfortunately, Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. She has since been given the all-clear.
Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener – John Holmes
John starred in the show for four years from 1985 before wisely returning to education. He dedicated himself to his studies at the University Of East Anglia where he served as president of the student union for several years.
According to The Daily Star, John left acting to manage a casino.
Christopher ‘Stupot’ Stewart – Mark Burdis
Mark exited the school drama in 1985 after four years. Mark made appearances in the first feature-length edition of Only Fools And Horses and A Touch Of Frost.
He later played Gary Rawlings, a rival fruit and veg stall holder to Mark Fowler in EastEnders, as well as appearing in The Bill. Mark is now a boxing announcer.