CLOSE UP SPECIAL: GRANGE HILL CLASS OF '86 REUNITED!

		GRANGE HILL REUNION • Reunion Index • George Christopher • Who was there? • Photos • OTHER CLOSE UPS
GRANGE HILL'S CLASS OF '86 REUNION It was probably the most explosive series of Grange Hill's 27-year run. Fibreglass, Danny Kendall, the Speaking Wall, Gonch's toast bar, the Terrorhawk Witches and of course, Zammo Maguire's agonising downfall into heroin addiction. Grange Hill's class of 1986 are still fondly as remembered today will no doubt be so for many years to come. On Saturday 19 February, 25 members of the cast from 1986 were brought together for a reunion event at London's SchoolDisco.com, organised by Channel 4. Twenty years since the cameras started rolling, the cast of Grange Hill's 9th series reassembled for a once-in-a-lifetime reunion at London's School Disco.com in Hammersmith. All those famous faces were there including George Christopher (Ziggy Greaves), Lee MacDonald (Zammo), Melissa Wilks (Jackie), Erkan Mustafa (Roland), Ruth Carraway (Helen) and many more besides. The event was organised by Channel 4 and will be broadcast later this month. As a special treat, the cast delighted members of the public with a performance of "Just Say No", the anti-drugs anthem released as a single by Grange Hill in April 1986. GH Online has been instrumental in making this reunion possible. We helped locate various actors and GH Online's Andy Gregson was there providing live coverage from the reunion and we'll be publishing photos here as they become available. So join the party with us and keep your browser on this page throughout the night, as we bring you updates from School Disco. FIRST IMPRESSIONS It's now 5:35pm and our man Andy has arrived at the hotel in London. He'll be meeting up with George Christopher - already an active member of the GH Online forum. So how does it feel just half an hour away from meeting your TV idols? "I have to admit it is going to be weird sitting with the guys I watched on GH when I was at school .... bit mad!", says Andy. "I have decided to wear my old school uniform rather than the GH one as I dont want to look like the lone star trekker! I have to admit to being just a little nervous and anxious .... will be strange!" WHO WAS THERE? The full list of cast members in attendance was Erkan Mustafa (Roland Browning), Lee MacDonald (Zammo Maguire), George Christopher (Ziggy Greaves), Lisa York (Julie Marchant), Fleur Taylor (Imelda Davis), Tim Polley (Banksie), Joann Kenny (Jane Bishop), Alison Bettles (Fay Lucas) and Ruth Carraway (Helen Kelly). Several key cast members C4 were hoping to trace could not be tracked down - these included Simone Nylander (Janet St Clair), Steve West (Vince Savage) and Sara McGlasson (Julia Glover). Do you know any of them? If you do, please get in touch or better still, tell them about GH Online! Grange Hill actors at the 1986 reunion meal. From left: Joann Kenny (?) Lee MacDonald, unidentifiable cast member, Erkan Mustafa (Roland) THE REUNION MEAL An update at 9pm: Andy has got into the reunion meal: "All going great here! Mark Savage is here and he can switch Gripper on just like a switch! Will get some photos for the site. Melissa (Wilks) is here, so is Roland. Amazing night!" Of course Mark did not feature in the 1986 series, but he did appear in the 1985 Christmas special filmed at the same time as Series 9. 9:40pm - around 25 former cast are in attendance - as well as Mark Lee MacDonald, Erkan Mustafa et al are there. No teachers have yet been spotted but rumours abound that Michael Sheard (Mr Bronson) is lurking the corridors somewhere. Just waiting for that battle cry of "You Boy" to confirm this! We're still on the VIP event - the public bash isn't due to begin until 10. Sadly, it turned out Michael Sheard wasn't there at all. But a great time was still had by all. THE PUBLIC EVENT Following the VIP dinner the gathered cast members performed "Just Say No", Grange Hill's 1986 chart-topper, for Channel 4. It will be shown later this month. Erkan took the lead and is being compared to Daniel Bedingfield; others were content to stay in the background! Then it was back to the VIP area for more drinks. THE MORNING AFTER... All good things must come to an end as they say, and Grange Hill's Reunion was no exception. On Sunday morning Andy enjoyed a coffee with George Christopher before heading back to Northern Ireland and Liverpool respectively. George has written his own review of the get-together - click here to read his report. IN HINDSIGHT.... Grange Hill's reunion was a fantastic evening for all who attended. Many of the actors had not seen each other in years and plans were made for another reunion to take place soon. "An amazing night and I have lots to tell you .... it was a very sentimental night for everyone including me and a lot of memories were stirred for all!", says Andy. "I have a fully signed copy of the Companion now! All actors signed it with their real name and character name ... priceless!" George Christopher reviews the get-together Photos from the night Were you in Grange Hill? Quick here!