DESPERATE TO ACT: HOW YOU COULD APPEAR IN GRANGE HILL
• Francesca Martinez: Grange Hill's Comedy Sensation
• Grange Hill For Christmas
• The Gripper Stebson Years
• The Michael Sheard Interview
• Laura Sadler: 1980-2003
• Sportsmaster to Headmaster: 15 Years of Mr Robson
• Flying High with Grange Hill

CLOSE UP SPECIALS
• The Curtain Comes Down: the demise of Grange Hill
• Grange Hill Reunited
• Grange Hill Moves North

























As one of the nation's top-rated children's shows, Grange Hill commands a legion of fans whose dream it is to appear in the programme. In every episode the regular cast are joined by hundreds of supporting artists, or extras, in the background. But how did they come to be there?

Well the truth is, the extras aren't just pulled off the streets by the producer. Like the lead characters, they are actors too and have the same amount of stage and screen experience behind them. So how do you get a part in Grange Hill, or ANY TV drama show?

 WHERE DO I START?
Many GH Online readers have been bitten by the acting bug and we're frequently asked about Grange Hill auditions. So how do you go about working in TV drama? First of all, you need to be interested in acting. ALL ASPECTS of acting - theatre, TV radio etc. It's no good just wanting to appear on television. Get as much experience as you can; join a local drama club, theatre group etc, take part in the school play. It might be a good idea to keep a portfolio - this might include photos, details of productions you've appeared in, etc.

EXTREME COMPETITION
When it comes to television acting, it's extremely difficult to get a part. Competition is intense - sometimes a director will see many children for just one part. Kacey Barnfield, who played Maddie, beat off 250 other girls to win the part of Maddie. If you think that was hard, spare a thought for Belinda Crane. No less than 400 girls were after the part of Lucy Mitchell and Belinda shone through in the end. What's more, there are no open auditions.

Until now, Grange Hill directors have usually approached theatre schools or specialist agencies for child actors. Phil Redmond, however, sometimes favours open auditions and to date six stars of Channel 4's Hollyoaks have been found this way.

But even if you had an exceptional CV it would not be possible for the director to meet you. However, it is not essential to go to stage school to get professional acting jobs. What you do need is an agent. The agent sends you for auditions in TV, theatre, radio etc. And they will usually take a percentage of your earnings (usually 10%).

THEY ATTEND(ED) THEATRE SCHOOL...
Lauren Bunney
Belinda Crane
Paula Ann Bland
Simone Hyams
Charlie McDonagh
Laura Sadler
Jade Williams
THEY GO/WENT TO ORDINARY SCHOOLS
Chris Perry-Metcalf
Chris Crookall
Alison Bettles
Aidan J. David
Lee MacDonald
Colin White
Colin Ridgewell

STAGE SCHOOLS
There are several renowned stage schools in Britain, such as Redroofs. Italia Conti, Sylvia Young and Jackie Palmer. However, many are based in London and competition for places is fierce. There are some theatre schools outside the capital, such as Laine-Johnson in Manchester and Tiptoes in Blackpool. Stage schools are also fee-paying. However, some scholarships are available and those eligible are invited to audition for a place.

WHERE DO I GET AN AGENT?
GH Online cannot supply lists of agents, but The Spotlight can. They publish a book called Contacts which lists theatrical agents. You can purchase Contacts from The Spotlight, 7 Leicester Place, London WC2H 7BP. If an agent takes you on their books, you and your parents will have to sign a contract. You need to get this checked by a solicitor.

DETERMINATION IS THE KEY
When you are sent for auditions, you will be rejected many times before eventually you get work. So a determination to succeed is vital. No actor currently on TV would have got anywhere if they gave up after two or three failed auditions!

OK, SO I WENT TO THE GH AUDITION AND GOT THE PART. WHAT'S IT LIKE ON SET?
Very hard work is the short answer, but you'll know this already if you've got this far. While each GH episode lasts only 25 minutes, it takes days to film. Shooting can take hours (especially if things go wrong!) Leona Kadir, who played Janet until 1999, says there was a lot of waiting around on set. Also, under-16s are required to do three hours' schoolwork per day on set, and this is not easy after you've spent all morning filming a complicated and emotionlly-draining scene. What's more, you may also have to do schoolwork during the summer holidays.

AN ACTOR'S LIFE'S A HARD ONE!
Bear in mind that it is extremely difficult to earn a living as an actor. For every actor currently working thousands more are not. So you must keep up with schoolwork and try to get good GCSEs so you've got something else to fall back on. And there are plenty of other jobs in showbusiness besides acting, too. How about directing, set building, etc?

However, if your heart is really set on a career in acting, please don't be put off by anything you've read here. At the end of the day, if you put in the work, dreams can come true!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ACTING, VISIT THESE SITES:
The Spotlight
Sylvia Young Theatre School
Jackie Palmer Stage School and Agency
Stagecoach