THE FUTURE OF GRANGE HILL

Following last week's news that Grange Hill is being re-worked to fit CBBC's new 6-12 target audience, with younger characters and fantasy sequences, several fans have expressed their concerns. Matthew Turner writes: "Thanks for your swift reply! I don't suppose you know how to get hold of a copy of Series 30? I read the latest news about the 6-12 remit and the resulting effect on series 31 with great horror. What on earth are they thinking?"

While Greg Cooper writes: "I've just been reading the news about what might be in store for Grange Hill in its 30th anniversary year, and I'm a little bit worried for the show's future - removing the focus from the older students and introducing primary school-aged characters into the show, as well as fantasy sequences sounds like a bad idea in my personal opinion. If they wanted to make a school drama for that age-group, why didn't the BBC simply make a spin-off style show focused around a primary school, maybe a primary school that feeds INTO Grange Hill? If they go down this road, they *could* risk not getting the younger fans' attention and simultaneosuly alienating their existing fanbase. Not saying they will, but they could... I think this is exactly the same sort of thing that led to the demise of another long-running children's BBC drama (Byker Grove). I really hope GH doesn't end up going the same way."

Thanks for writing guys! Basically, the changes to Grange Hill are happening so the programme can continue to be shown under the CBBC banner. Under the new rules, teenage shows can no longer be broadcast in the weekday CBBC slots, these are confined to the new Saturday strand for teens, BBC Switch. As owner of the Grange Hill format, Phil Redmond wants Grange Hill to remain a CBBC show and in fact part of the reason he took back control of the show in 2003 was because he felt it was aiming for "too old an audience". However, GH Online is very much aware of how the show's fans consider it to be for teens. More details of the planned changes can be found on the Series 31 Page. If you wish to make your views known to CBBC, please e-mail its head of department: richard.deverell@bbc.co.uk

From feisty Fran to pie and mash

Starting off December is a familiar face from the 1990s: "Hi there, this is Rebekah Gilgan and I used to play Fran Williams 1991-3. I'm interested in finding out more about the site. I now run a pie and mash shop I run now, if your ever in the area pop in for a pie!" Hi Rebekah! Check out the Grange Hill Reunited page for details of services we offer former cast members. What are you up to now - saw you under that train in Casualty a few years back! Thanks again for writing, our good wishes and I'll certainly pop in should I ever be in Yorkshire!

* Rebekah has kindly offered to do an interview for GH Online - but we need your questions! What would you like us to ask her? E-mail with your suggestions at the link on the page footer!

Carrots feeds us gossip about the Zoo

Dave Jewell appeared in one of Grange Hill's most memorable episodes from 1982: "Hi, just stumbled across your site whilst looking for footage of episode 12 series 5, filmed in 1982 as I appeared as Carrots Garvey, a member of another school who met up with Zammo and Jonah etc at Chessington Zoo. It would be great to get a copy of the episode if possible? If I can be of any help to you please don't hesitate to contact me." Hi Dave - welcome to GH Online! We'll sort out a DVD of your episode for you. Any backstage gossip as ever would be most interesting - and you also got to work with Naomi Campbell - any early signs of the diva we're all familiar with today? Lovely to hear from you and happy memories!

Any more DVDs planned?

Fleur hopes more Grange Hill DVDs will follow: "Can you tell me if you will be releasing anymore DVDs after these ones? Please say yes, the Zammo, then Ziggy years were so cool. Thanks." Hi Fleur! Unfortunately we can't say whether or not any later series of Grange Hill will be released - this will be decided by BBC Worldwide and will all depend on how successful the first two box sets are. You need to ask BBC Worldwide about their future plans, if any, their website is www.bbcworldwide.com. Incidentally, Ziggy did not arrive until series 9 (1986) so any release of this series is potentially a long way off!