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Why are there few pictures of the current cast on GH Online?
 Didn't
some Grange Hill actors appear in the show before getting lead roles?There have been one or two. John Drummond (Trevor Cleaver) first appeared in Series 6 as Barry, a Rodney Bennett boy. Mark Savage (Gripper Stebson) was an extra a year before landing the part. Likewise with Fiona Wade (Joanna) and Amanda Fahy (Shannon). Two years before playing Nigel Flavin, Gary Hailes popped up as part of a gang playing Space Invaders in 1982. Kelly George, who quit last year as Ray, first appeared in 1987, as a St Joe's boy out to make trouble for Ant Jones.
How
many Grange Hillers went onto EastEnders?Loads of them! The most famous being Todd Carty, who became the second actor to play Mark Fowler in Albert Square. His screen sister was Susan Tully, aka Suzanne Ross. Then there was Sean Maguire (Tegs/Aidan), John Pickard, Gary Hailes, Ashvin Luximon (Asif) and now Joseph Kpobie (Juley). Belinda Crane, aka Lucy, played Teresa di Marco's friend Ally in early 1998. Other EastEnders had minor roles in Grange Hill. Extras included Patsy Palmer, Letitia Dean, David Scarboro, Daniella Westbrook and Sophie Lawrence. Oliver Elmidoro turned down the part of Jamie Mitchell in EastEnders to concentrate on Grange Hill! However, Kacey Barnfield (Maddie) is rumoured to have lost out to Louisa Lytton for the role of Ruby Allen.
Have
any Grange Hill actors dated in real life?Yes! John Alford and Tina Mahon, Robbie and Ronnie in the 1980s, got together on set and are believed to still be together. Laura Sadler (Judi) dated Iain Robertson who ironically played her screen attacker Sean in the late 1990s. In 2002 there were rumours of a liaison between Charlie McDonagh (Lisa) and Rob Stuart (Matt). Sadly there was never anything between Lee MacDonald (Zammo) and Melissa Wilks (Jackie), even though Lee fancied the pants off her!
Have
any lead actors been substituted?Once only, as far as we know. Tucker's mate Tommy Watson was played by James Jebbia in Series 1. Two years later, the character returned with Paul McCarthy playing him. Paul appeared in the first series playing a boy called Underwood.
Are
any Grange Hill actors no longer with us?Sadly yes. Robert Hartley, who played gruff deputy head Mr Keating in the early years, died in the 1990s. Two years later we lost Anne Kristen, who played strict Miss Clark in Series 6. David Scarboro, EastEnders' original Mark Fowler who had a non-speaking role in Series 7, took his own life in 1988. Laura Sadler, who played Judi Jeffreys, died from severe head injuries after falling from a second floor balcony in 2003. The circumstances of her death were cruelly similar to how her screen character died. The legendary Michael Sheard, who made Mr Bronson the most famous teacher in Grange Hill's history, lost his battle with cancer in August 2005. He was 65. Six weeks later Lucinda Gane (Miss Mooney) succumbed to the same affliction. |
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