Fans of the classic BBC One children’s show Grange Hill were thrilled when series creator Sir Philip Redmond confirmed a movie reboot.
Although details of the new film have been kept under wraps, the producer, 73, has hinted at the surprise return of some of the dramas much-loved original stars – over 40 years after it first hit our screens.
He also revealed the production will be based on rebellious School Action Group leader Jessica Samuels, who was played by Sara Sugarman.
Among the characters that featured over the years were Tucker Jenkins, played by Todd Carty, Benny Green, Zammo McGuire, Justine Dean, and Norman ‘Gripper’ Stebson.
The BBC announced that the gates of the London-based comprehensive were to close in 2008, claiming the series no longer reflected children’s lives.
Afterwards, some of the stars went on to launch huge careers for themselves – from remaining on screen in soaps for many years, to directing dramas and launching clothing brands.
But some of them haven’t had such an easy ride to success facing everything from battles with alcoholism to criminal convictions and homelessness.
So, what have the stars been up to since? Here, MailOnline takes a look at what the actors have been doing in the four decades since Grange Hill first aired.
Todd Carty as Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins
Star: Todd Carty is well-known for his role as mischievous character Tucker Jenkins and even had his own spin-off, he went on to have a successful career in Eastenders (pictured right in 2018)
Soaps: He played Mark Fowler for 13 years, pictured at Wendy Richards’ funeral, who played his on-screen mother Pauline Fowler
Todd Carty, 57, remains one of the show’s most famous alumni having remained on TV screens since the first series aired in 1978. His Grange Hill character was so popular, he was given his own spin-off show Tucker’s Luck from 1983 to 1985.
He then starred as Mark Fowler in EastEnders from 1990 to 2003, with a groundbreaking storyline when his character was diagnosed with HIV.
But after his departure from the square, he played away from type portraying the villainous PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill.
Plotting a deranged revenge plot on the mother who gave him away involving incest and raping a colleague, psychopathic Gabriel became a serial killer and eventually committed suicide.
As well as continuing to act on stage and screen, he’s also delved into producing and directing and made a memorable appearance on Dancing On Ice in 2009 because of his lack of flair.
His uncoordinated moves became a ratings draw and in one routine he accidentally skidded through the exit.
As well as starring in panto, he appeared on Celebrity Masterchef in 2014 and in 2015, the actor and his eldest son James filmed a documentary, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, for Channel 5 based on the book by Conn and Hal Iggulden.
Carty and his eldest son, James, filmed together in a factual television series for Channel 5, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, based on the book written by Conn and Hal Iggulden
Most recently, he appeared in the film Silver Birches in 2017 about an author struggling to rebuild his life after the untimely death of his wife.
Todd has been with his childhood sweetheart Dina Clarkin since 1990, and they have two sons James and Thomas.
Lee MacDonald as Zammo McGuire
Career: Lee was the star of one of Grange Hill’s most hard-hitting storylines when his character Zammo became addicted to heroin (in the show left)
Now: In April 2019, it was announced that he would appear in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Terry
Lee MacDonald, 52, was the star of one of Grange Hill’s most hard-hitting storylines when his character Zammo became addicted to heroin.
As a result, he became involved in a number of anti-drugs campaigns encouraging youngsters to ‘Just Say No’.
After six years as Zammo, Lee left Grange Hill with critical acclaim for his portrayal of the character.
Lee had always had an interest in boxing and continued to develop his skill to a high level but unfortunately a car accident in the early 1990s left him unable to pursue the sport.
Unfortunately, a car accident in the early 1990s left him unable to pursue with the sport.
Lee has made several TV appearances since leaving Grange Hill, including an episode of The Bill in which his love interest was played by Melissa Wilkes – who also played his girlfriend Jackie Wright in Grange Hill.
However Lee had previously claimed that playing drug addict Zammo in Grange Hill ‘ruined his career’, struggling to find any work afterwards as potential employers didn’t want to be associated with drug use.
He was working as a locksmith, until his agent told him to concentrate on getting his acting career back.
In April 2019, it was announced that he would appear in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Terry.
He remains in the public eye appearing as himself on shows such as Celebrity Scissorhands and Celebrity Pointless. He also runs a locksmith business in Wallington, Surrey.
Lee got engaged to his long-time love Jess in March 2020, the couple had to delay the wedding due to Covid, but finally got hitched in September 2022.
Susan Tully as Suzanne Ross
Throwback: Susan Tully starred as rebellious school girl Suzanne Ross (seen on the show in 1982) from 1980 to 1984, and was the daughter of Mrs Ross
Albert Square: At the age of 17 she was cast as teenager Michelle Fowler in Eastenders, she stayed in that role for ten years (seen on the show in 1995)
Susan Tully starred as rebellious school girl Suzanne Ross in Grange Hill from 1980 to 1984, and was the daughter of Mrs Ross.
At the age of 17 she was cast as teenager Michelle Fowler in Eastenders, playing the role of a 16-year-old single mother after becoming pregnant with 39-year-old adulterer ‘Dirty’ Den Watts.
Susan rose to fame in EastEnders as Michelle, joining the hit BBC One soap in 1985 and leaving ten years later in 1995.
Susan rejected various offers to return to Eastenders as Michelle, and in 2016 gave the show her blessing to recast her character.
Since her EastEnders exit, Susan has paved a successful career in directing with the likes of The Bill, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her résumé.
The actress even returned to her former home of EastEnders briefly in 1989 to 1999 to direct 12 episodes.
After getting her first taste of directing on EastEnders in the 90s, she went on to direct and produce episodes of Tin Star, The A Word, Britannia, Musketeers and Silent Witness, and more recently Line of Duty.
Talented director Tully was praised for the nail-biting final episodes of Line of Duty.
Taking to Twitter after the show aired, show watchers shared their shock after discovering the show had been directed by the Michelle Fowler star.
One person said: ‘I’ve only just realised that Sue Tully (Michelle Fowler) directs #LineOfDuty She should win an award! @BBC.’
John Alford as Robbie Wright
Actor John Alford played happy go lucky Robbie Wright between 1985 and 1991 he (pictured left in 1986 and right in 2019) he has since had several run ins with the law
Actor John Alford played happy go lucky Robbie Wright between 1985 and 1991.
Little brother to Jaqui, Robbie is best remembered for his romances with Calley Donnington and his friendship with Ziggy Greaves.
After leaving the show, he went on to be a regular on ITV series London’s Burning playing Billy Ray.
He also enjoyed several top 40 hit singles, produced by Stock/Waterman, following his TV success.
But his fortunes turned when he was written out after being caught in a drugs sting in 1999.
The former teenage pin-up was caught by the News Of The World’s Fake Sheikh and then served a six week sentence after being charged.
The actor was found guilty by a jury at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court in 1999 of one count of supplying 2.036 grammes of cocaine to Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood, as well as a similar charge involving 11.9 grammes of cannabis resin.
He struggled to return to his previous success after being released but has had small parts since. He’s appeared in Casualty and CBBC show Mile High and had a long-term relationship with Tina Mahon who played Ronnie Birtles.
In 2016, Mahmood was found guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice and following the case, it was suggested that up to 72 defendants in criminal cases in which he played a role could apply for convictions to be quashed.
In 2019 he was later handed a community order after resisting arrest while yelling at police officers.
Alford developed a ‘siege mentality’ because of the case and struggled with officers who tried to arrest him after he smashed a refuse lorry’s windscreen with a bin, Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard.
The court heard he drunkenly shattered the windscreen after taking a seat at the vehicle’s wheel at about 7.15am on September 1 in York Way, not far from the ex-actor’s home.
Terry Sue-Patt as Benny Green
RIP: Starring as Benny Green, Terry Sue-Patt was the first black character to ever be seen on the show, he was sadly found dead, aged 50, following a battle with alcoholism in 2015
Starring as Benny Green, Terry Sue-Patt was the first black character to ever be seen on the show and became one of the most popular characters.
He was discovered aged 14 by a talent scout while playing football in the park and enjoyed success in 1989 film The Firm, starring alongside Gary Oldman and Phil Davis.
He said: ‘I basically played myself in Grange Hill. 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.’
He also had minor roles in other TV shows including Desmonds, General Hospital and Jackanory.
In October 2015, Terry was sadly found dead at his London home, aged 50, following a battle with alcoholism.
He was found lying face down in bed and reports suggested his body may have lain undiscovered for a month.
Todd Carty said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the sudden death of his Grange Hill co-star.
Taking to Twitter, he said: ‘Deeply saddened by the news of a dear friend Terry Sue-Patt passing away. Thoughts with his family RIP xxx.’
They played best friends Tucker Jenkins and Benny Green. The pair left the show in the early 1980s just four years after joining but remained friends throughout their careers.
Erkan Mustafa as Roland Browning
School drama: Erkan Mustafa found fame in the Eighties as Roland ‘Roly’ Browning who was bullied for being obese (pictured right in 2018)
Erkan Mustafa found fame in the Eighties as Roland ‘Roly’ Browning who was bullied for being obese.
He played the role for six years and became an iconic character in the series, suffering horrific bullying at the hands of Gripper Stebson.
By the time he left Grange Hill six years later, Roland was able to stand up for himself and had developed a talent for foreign languages.
After leaving the school drama in 1987, he went on to act in two series of Chef! with Lenny Henry as well as several episodes of Blackadder.
He still teams up with Lee ‘Zammo’ MacDonald for public appearances and charity events.
Erkan was also instrumental in bringing the cast back together for a 2009 reunion at Sound nightclub in London’s Leicester Square.
Now 52, he continues to act, write and direct according to his Twitter profile.
Speaking in an interview with blog GrangeHillGold, he explained he looks back on his memories of the series and remembers ‘great fun’.
He explained: ‘It made me the person I am today. It gave me some good memories and some bad memories. I never really wanted to be an actor and doing Grange Hill, that made for 10 or 15 years of my life, think I was going to be an actor.
‘Now I know I get more pleasure from writing than acting. But it was all good really. I’ve come out with great experiences.
‘I’ve done things that other people have never done in their life, but most of all, I’ve come out with some good friends. ‘
Donald Waugh as Joseph ‘Hughesy’ Hughes
Blast from the past: Joseph ‘Hughesy’ Hughes actor Donald Waugh starred on the show from 1978 to 1980 after a stint on the west end was eventually forced to live on the streets
Joseph ‘Hughesy’ Hughes actor Donald Waugh starred on the show from 1978 to 1980.
As a child actor, he had starred in several other film and TV series, including Bugsy Malone and Are You Being Served.
After leaving the show, he turned to theatre and launched a successful career, starring in the original West End cast of Cats and La Cage Aux Folles.
However his life began to spiral out of control and he turned to alcohol, and was eventually forced to live on the streets.
Speaking to MyLondon, he explained he ended up ‘sinking all his money into a business deal that went wrong.’
He explained: ‘I felt ashamed and embarrassed and felt like a fool to be honest with you.
‘The more I drank I thought I could just bury all the emotions I had incrued from losing all my money through this bad debt.’
Speaking about becoming homeless to enterprise Pavement to Catwalk, Donald said: ‘Working with and being homeless for a period of time has opened my eyes to the potential and talent within this un-tapped 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.’
He now works to help others who are battling the same problems and attended the 2014 Grange Hill Memories Reunion with his former stars.
James Jebbia as Tommy Watson
While the character would later be played by actor Paul McCarthey, James Jebbia was the original Tommy Watson, he later founded the clothing brand and skateboarding shop Supreme
While the character would later be played by actor Paul McCarthey, James Jebbia was the original Tommy Watson in the first series of Grange Hill.
His American father was formerly in the United States Air Force, while his English mother was a former teacher, with his parents moving him to the UK when he was just one.
He appeared as the original Tommy in the series in 1978, starring in five episodes of the programme when he was fourteen-years-old.
Aged 19, he moved back to the US and settled in New York where he began working at a skate shop and clothing store located in SoHo.
In 1989, he managed the streetwear store, Union NYC, which carried a mix of mostly English clothing brands.
Its first store opened in 1989 on Spring Street in Manhattan, and later closed in 2009.
From 1991 to 1994, he partnered with Shawn Stussy, the founder of the clothing brand, Stüssy.
In 1994, Jebbia founded the clothing brand and skateboarding shop Supreme, and opened its first store on Lafayette Street in Manhattan. Among his earliest designs was a cut-and-sew pair of tiger-stripe cargo pants.
As of 2021, Supreme has 13 locations worldwide, one each in New York City, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, and six in Japan (Harajuku, Shibuya, Daikanyama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka).
In 2017, Supreme collaborated with Louis Vuitton, with their debut collection unveiled during Paris Fashion Week.
Jebbia has collaborated with high-profile artists, such as Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince.
He rarely gives interviews and, according to Vanity Fair, Supreme currently generates over $500m annually, 60 per cent of which comes from online orders.
Simone Nylander as Janet St Clair
Talent: Actress Simone Nylander played kind school girl Janet St Clair from 1982 to 1986 and in 2020, she launched SN VOICES, a voiceover specialist for diverse voices
Actress Simone Nylander, born in London, played kind school girl Janet St Clair from 1982 to 1986. Her character was known for trying to get her friend Roland to fit into Grange Hill.
The actress left the show after four years, and ended up living with university and celebrity pal Russell Brand for a time.
It was through her experience on the show that she developed an interest in production work, and it was there she realised this was where her future was.
Simone also worked for Simon Fuller’s 19 Management organisation and does modelling work.
Since 2011, she has been in voiceover work and remained involved with television, working extensively in production and development for documentaries to series producing for Channel Four and the BBC.
According to her website, she has cast for radio, theatre, film and commercials.
In 2020, she launched SN VOICES, a voiceover specialist and management agency for diverse voices.
In a description online, she describes her passion for her work, saying: ‘I’ve always loved nurturing artists of all calibre and I am passionate about finding fresh, marketable voice talent.
‘With the experience I’ve notched up over the years, it only made sense that I start an agency, a home to a diverse range of collective voices.’
Alison Bettles as Fay Lucas
Series six: Alison Bettles, now 51, played Fay Lucas from 1982 to 1987, she is now married with four children, she is a qualified beauty therapist
Alison Bettles, now 51, played Fay Lucas from 1982 to 1987 in six series of the show.
Bettles was one of the cast members to take part in the famous Just Say No single, to promote an anti-drugs message after the programme’s controversial storyline with Zammo McGuire who became hooked on heroin as a child.
The single reached number five in the charts in 1986.
In 1988, Alison appeared in an Eastenders spin-off called Civvy Street, set during the second world war, playing a young Ethel Skinner.
She continued acting with small roles in The Bill and No Strings in the Eighties and Nineties and last appeared on British TV screens in London’s Burning in 2001.
Now married with four children, she is a qualified beauty therapist and has reportedly set up a freight business.
Meanwhile two of her sons have followed in her acting footsteps, clinching roles in Doctor Who and EastEnders.
Paula-Ann Bland as Claire Scott
Actress, entrepreneur and PR boss Paula-Ann Bland played edgy Claire Scott in the hit show, who had a crush on teacher Mr Hopwood (left). She’s a mother-of-two and is also an ambassador for the Good Grief Trust (right)
Paula-Ann’s edgy character Claire caused a stir by fantasising about teacher Mr Hopwood in her diary, who was then attached by her overprotective father.
She also enjoyed a romance with Stewpot, before discovering he was seeing Annette Firman behind her back.
Because of her success on the small screen record company bosses eyed Paula-Ann as a potential British Kylie and she even released a cover version of The Locomotion.
She left the series in 1985 and continued to act, appearing in TV series such as Spender and Only Fools and Horses.
In 1988, she caused a stir by posing topless for men’s magazine Mayfair.
During the ’90s she turned her back on acting and opened shoe shops called Paola in Knightsbridge and Chelsea before starting her own PR company.
She’s a mother-of-two and is also an ambassador for the Good Grief Trust.
In 2019, she told Lorraine Kelly she sobbed for 24 hours after finding out she had stage three triple negative breast cancer.
The actress told how everything else ‘paled’ in comparison after receiving the cancer diagnosis as she talked about her ‘tough’ Christmas, but is now cancer free.
Paul McCarthey as Anthony Underwood and Tommy Watson
Sunnier climes: Actor Paul was a member of the original cast of the series, playing Anthony Underwood. He now lives in Spain and runs a wedding entertainment company
Actor Paul was a member of the original cast of the series, playing Anthony Underwood, having been invited to audition by his drama school.
In an interview with GrangeHill.Tumblr.com, he explained that he ended up leaving the show before realising how big it was going to be.
He later returned to play Tucker’s friend Tommy Watson in series three, before he went on to star in the spin off show Tucker’s Luck for three series.
He explained he was ‘totally the same’ as his character and there was ‘no acting required.’
Since leaving the show, he went on to star in a series of different films and TV series, including Through The Looking Glass’ in which he played the lead and an episode of The Bill.
He now lives in Spain and runs a wedding entertainment company.
Michelle Herbert as Trisha Yates
Michelle played bad girl Trisha Yates in the school drama from 1978 to 1982 but after leaving Grange Hill, Michelle gave up acting and worked for a major sweet manufacturer (left and right)
Michelle played bad girl Trisha Yates in the school drama from 1978 to 1982 but after leaving Grange Hill, Michelle gave up acting and worked for a major sweet manufacturer.
She made a brief return as Trisha in the final episode of Tucker’s Luck, a Grange Hill spin-off based on Todd Carty’s character Tucker.
Michelle moved to Dundee in the early 1990s to bring up her family, where she works alongside her husband running their family glazing business.
She noticed a small dimple on her breast while on holiday in Rome in May.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer and following a mastectomy was given the all-clear.
Michelle is now trying to raise awareness of the lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer and is urging women to check their breasts for dimples.
Amma Asante as Cheryl Webb
Well done: Cheryl Webb first appeared in 1986, alongside her sister Louise keeping their terminally ill father a secret, she won a BAFTA in 2004 (right) for her feature film A Way Of Life
Health conscious Cheryl Webb first appeared in 1986, alongside her sister Louise keeping their terminally ill father a secret.
Unknown to their friends, the girls lost their dad and then brought up their two brothers on their own.
Amma Asante who played Cheryl continued to act, with roles in series such as Birds Of A Feather and also worked as a children’s presenter for a year.
However, Amma has made a highly successful career for herself as a writer and director, with her 2004 feature film A Way Of Life winning the Carl Foreman award at the BAFTAs.
Her series Brothers And Sisters ran for two series on BBC2. Amma is married to Soren Kragh Pedersen, a former chief of media at Europol in the Netherlands.
In 2014 the film she directed the film Belle, about Dido Elizabeth Belle – an illegitimate mixed race daughter of an enslaved African woman and a British navy captain – who was placed with her great uncle and his wife in late 18th-century London.
She also directed ‘A United Kingdom’ with David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, which she filmed in Botswana.
Michael Cronin as Mr ‘Bullet’ Baxter
Michael Cronin from Bedfordshire has had a prolific acting career since starring as teacher Mr ‘Bullet’ Baxter (left) He’s also appeared on stage and become a writer with three children’s novels and a number of screenplays to his name (right)
Michael Cronin from Bedfordshire has had a prolific acting career since starring as teacher Mr ‘Bullet’ Baxter.
He was already working as a character actor and had appeared in Fawlty Towers, but it is the role of the no-nonsense PE teacher he’s best known for.
Michael joined Grange Hill in 1979 and saw his character promoted to Deputy Head, before eventually leaving to run a leisure centre.
Since leaving Grange Hill in 1987, Michael continued to act, taking on a range of television and theatre roles, including parts in a touring production of Hamlet and ITVs The Mayor Of Casterbridge.
Michael reprised his role as Mr Baxter in the ITV sitcom The Grimleys during the late 1990s.
He has appeared in shows including fantasy family drama Merlin, detective show Vera and the daytime soap Doctors as well as Law And Order.
He also appeared on stage and became a writer with three children’s novels and a number of screenplays to his name.
Michael sadly passed away in January 2022, aged 83, he died in his sleep and had not been ill, his family said.
A statement paying tribute to Mr Donnelly described him as ‘marvellous company and a privilege to know’.
His family said: ‘He was a gracious, kind and lovely man, a wonderful father and grandfather.
‘He was also very funny and brilliant at telling stories, acting out all the characters, marvellous company and a privilege to know. He loved nothing more than offering hospitality and making people feel welcome.’
George Christopher as Ziggy Greaves
Actor: Popular Scouser Ziggy Greaves arrived at Grange Hill in 1986 and spent four years on the show, he has since appeared in numerous theatre productions
Popular Scouser Ziggy Greaves arrived at Grange Hill in 1986 and spent four years on the show, with his character compared to original scamp Tucker in the first series.
He went on to appear in Brookside as Little Jimmy Corkhill.
George has also appeared in numerous theatre productions, including some he’s written himself and is currently working on a stage version of Papillion.
He reunited with some of his Grange Hill class mates for Channel 4’s Bring Back Grange Hill and also works for a taxi firm.
In 2020, he revealed how finding fame as Ziggy Greaves at 15 and witnessing the Hillsborough disaster, triggered his Bipolar breakdown.
He opened up about being diagnosed with the disorder in 2011, after years of trauma ‘eventually came to climax’, on This Morning.
George was hospitalised twice after ‘out of control’ breakdowns after suffering years of ‘frightening delusions’ caused by the pressures of child fame and witnessing the tragic disaster at Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield, in April 1989.
He told how after he left the show the age of 18, he was forced to step out of the spotlight as acting jobs dried up, had began to have vivid nightmares about Hillsborough, and was devastated when he lost his nan.
John Holmes as Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener
Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener stepped into the shoes of Pogo Patterson as Grange Hill’s ‘ginger entrepreneur’, joining the cast in 1985 (seen left in 1985 on the show) John gave up acting after Grange Hill and now works as the manager of a casino (right)
Luke Gardener stepped into the shoes of Pogo Patterson as Grange Hill’s ‘ginger entrepreneur’, joining the cast in 1985.
Always full of money making schemes, Gonch was a wheeler dealer who ran a toast bar, a dating agency, a homework service and a PE kit lending scheme all from the classroom.
In 1989, during Gonch’s last series, he fell in love with Mandy Freemont.
Actor John Holmes left the show to complete his education and studied at the University of East Anglia, where he eventually became president of the Student Union for several years.
John gave up acting after Grange Hill and now works as the manager of a casino.
Lucinda Duckett as Ann Wilson
Ann Wilson, played by Lucinda Duckett, was part of Grange Hill’s original female cast however ended up leaving the school after just one series.
After leaving school, Lucinda trained as a journalist, working in Fleet Street before moving to Sydney in 1988.
She now works as Director of Corporate Affairs for GB News, having joined the company in December 2020.
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