YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE FINAL SERIESSeries 31 continues every Monday on BBC1, with a repeat on the CBBC Channel the following Saturday. Let us know what you think of it and here are your thoughts so far:
Where are the lessons?
Malcolm Neale liked "Schmutts", but Grange Hill is still in the doghouse: "I enjoyed episode 10. Although I am not a doggy person (I prefer cats), I thought it was probably the best episode so far; much better than episode 9 which, in my opinion was rubbish. I still find it difficult to understand how a school can spend so much time, money and effort on outside activities when we never see any actual lessons or teachers. Any children watching this who are starting comprehensive school in September must think it will be like a holiday camp. What would Mr Bronson think?? I am pleased to see that the broadcast time is back to normal next week, although I wonder what may happen when the Olympic Games start."Michael is warming to the new series: "I think the new series (though it is the last) is not as bad as I thought but we seem back in 2003 teacher-wise is my only moan really, as if there is just McDonnell, Mrs Rawlinson (nice to know her name is Hilda though, it's become irregular to know a teacher's first name), but then that only leaves Miss Bettany and Kathy (who is not really a teacher in essence, though I guess she is a member of staff). I suppose I'm fairly okay with the new series - though it will never be Grange Hill as we knew!
Brian Mattocks writes: "What kind of a response are you getting from GH viewers for this series? I think it is pretty dire now and looks like the Beeb want to be shut of it by making it so bad. It's so sad when I've been a viewer for the whole 30 years to see it be degraded like this."
Where are Georgina and Jackie?
Glen Suttie asks: "Can you tell me the real life names of the characters Georgina and Jackie? I have tried to find them on the website but have had no luck and what are they doing now?" Hi Glen. Samantha Lewis (Georgina) was last heard of working as a chaperone to young actors for Little Britain, a job which left its star Matt Lucas starstruck as he was a huge fan of Samantha in Grange Hill. Melissa Wilks (Jackie) continues to act, though mainly on stage these days and she now has a teenage daughter of her own. Samantha's Star File can be found here, sadly there is no Star File for Melissa since we do not have enough information to make one up.Mike Bentley's dad
Hello again to Michael: "What other acting jobs has the actor who played Mike Bentley's dad (who was in Series 13 and 14) had as well as the part of Jim Bentley? Is his name by any chance - Christopher Ellison or a similar name? This is something I've often thought about - what acting jobs - the actor who played Jim has had. I seem to think he has also been in The Bill and a small irregular part in Bread in the early days. If you did have any info on the actor it would be good to know as I've always rated the skills of the guy who played him, thanks." David Cann was the actor who played Jim Bentley, Mike's overbearing dad. David continues to be a regular face on TV and film, and was most recently seen as DCI Fuller in The Commander. Go here for David's page on the Internet Movie Database.
What Andy did next
Andy Turner may have been swiftly exited from Grange Hill last year, but the actor who played him has a hectic schedule: "It's Chris Crookall here, I hope you are doing well, its is such a shame to hear of the demise of Grange Hill. As you know I am a big fan of the show myself and after being apart of it, it was quite sad to hear on the news that the show was not returning.
"I am writing to you to inform you that since leaving Grange Hill, I have been attending a film course at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, however as much as I have enjoyed time in front of the camera, I have had just as much fun learning about the film and TV industry. It was this experience and knowledge from filming Grange Hill which has encouraged me to further my own career, I have taken this experience an applied it to my own Theatre Company 'The Little Acorns' which I'm happy to be able to announce that a Theatre company that myself and two old Drama School friends have created, are debuting our brand new sketch comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from August 4th-9th at Venue 36 @ The Thistle Hotel on Leith Street in Edinburgh City Centre. I am apart of a Fringe line up which includes headliners such as Jimmy Carr and Bill Bailey, our show is a variety of comedy sketches that myself and comedy writing partner Nick Jackson have devised together. I have attached a flyer of the show in case you or any of the Grange Hill fan base might be interested in seeing my own written and performed comedy sketches."If you have any questions about the show or my time in Grange Hill please feel free to e-mail me and if you think that this might be able to go on the Grange Hill website, it would be much appreciated. After all if it wasn't for Grange Hill, I would not have even thought of undertaking a Theatre Company, so I have a lot to thank Grange Hill for. P.S. Keep up the good work with the website." Hi Chris and many thanks for letting us know what you're up to now - click on the poster for an enlarged version and if you can get to Edinburgh to see him than do go along! Thanks for doing a Star File for us - we will get this online very soon and thanks for your kind comments.
