Many soap stars go on to greater things after they’ve had a few years on the small screen.
However, plenty of Emmerdale, Coronation Street, EastEnders and Hollyoaks regulars found fame before they became part of the serial drama world.
It is a little known fact that some Soapland favourites used to entertain millions of younger viewers back when back in the day.
Several television personalities had their first taste of stardom on shows such as Grange Hill, T-Bag, The Worst Witch and Children’s Ward.
Daily Star has put together a list of just a few famous faces who appeared on children’s TV before becoming a soap star.
Kellie Bright
(Image: Fremantle Media/REX/Shutterstock)
Kellie is known to EastEnders fans as Walford resident Linda Carter.
She first appeared in the BBC One soap back in 1986 as a bridesmaid for one episode.
She later returned as the wife of Danny Dyer’s character Mick Carter in 2013.
However, before she stepped foot in Albert Square Kellie played Sally Simpkins in 80s kinds’ show T-Bag, a TV series about an eponymous witch-like character and her sister, T-Shirt.
The show was originally intended to be educational; however, this aspect was dropped after the first series in favour of simple adventure plots.
(Image: BBC, BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
As well appearing in TV shows, Kellie has appeared in her fair share of movies.
In 2002, she played Julie in Ali G Indahouse and she portrayed the role of Stefania in How (Not) to Make a Short Film a year later.
The actress also tried her luck on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 with professional partner Kevin Clifton.
They came runners-up alongside Georgia May Foote and Giovanni Pernice after Jay McGuinness and Aliona Vilani were crowned winners.
Georgia May Foote
(Image: BBC)
Kellie’s Strictly co-star Georgia is best known for playing Katy Armstrong in Coronation Street.
She played the character from 2010 until 2015 and later went on to appear on the BBC dancing competition.
In the same year, she came 98th in FHM’s Sexiest Women of 2015.
In 2017, Katy’s sister Izzy received a phone call from their dad Owen to say Katy had been killed instantly in a car crash off-screen.
(Image: TV Grab)
However, Georgia appeared in Grange Hill as series regular Alison Simmons before finding fame on the ITV soap.
The children’s drama series portrayed life in a typical comprehensive school.
The show began its run in 1978 and was one of the longest-running programmes on British television when it ended in 2008 after 31 series.
The show was cancelled having run every year for 30 years. It was felt by the BBC that the series had run its course.
Todd Carty
(Image: PA)
Todd played the role of Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins in Grange Hill from 1978 until 1982 and went on to become a household name in EastEnders.
The actor took over the role of Mark following the death of original actor David Scarboro.
He played the role for 13 years from 1990 until 2003, becoming one of the longest-running male cast members.
(Image: BBC)
The BBC announced Mark was being written out of the serial in 2002 in a mutual decision between the producers and Todd.
He made his final appearance as Mark in February 2003, riding out of the Square on his motorbike.
The character subsequently died off screen in 2004.
After leaving EastEnders in 2003, Carty went on to play PC Gabriel Kent, in ITV’s The Bill from 2003 to 2005.
Chris Bisson
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Chris has appeared as major characters in two of the biggest soaps in Britain.
He famous played Vikram Desai in Coronation Street from 1999 until 2002 and currently plays Jai Shama in Emmerdale.
However, before he became a regular face in Soapland, Chris appeared as J.J in Children’s Ward.
The children’s TV series was broadcast on the ITV network as part of its Children’s ITV strand on weekday afternoons.
The programme was set – as the title suggests – in Ward B1, the children’s ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital (known as Sparky’s), and told the stories of the young patients and the staff present there.
Aimed at older children and teenagers, Children’s Ward ran from 1989 until 2000.
Chris has also appeared in movies such as East Is East, Understanding Jane, Izzat and Death of a Socialist.
Jessica Fox
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Jessica is best known for playing Nancy Hayton in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks
Before she landed the role, she portrayed the role of “naughty but nice” Enid Nightshade in three series of The Worst Witch.
Previously Speaking to Metro, Jessica reminisced on her time at Miss Cackle’s Academy For Witches.
She said: “It was a really, really fun thing to film. We had such a good time doing it. There was always something mad happening.
(Image: Channel 4)
“I loved it when anything got blown up, I found that really exciting.
“Enid was very naughty, she was always getting into trouble and doing naughty things.
She then moved into soaps playing Belle Wise in Crossroads and made a guest appearance in children’s show Powers.
In 2005, she was cast as Nancy and she currently plays the role.
Robert Kazinsky
(Image: BBC)
Robert is recognised by soap fans for playing Sean Slater in EastEnders.
He is also known for his role as Casper Rose in Sky One drama Dream Team, Chuck Hansen in Pacific Rim and Macklyn Warlow in HBO’s True Blood.
However, fans may not know that Robert played Sven Garley in The Basil Bruch Show in 2005 before he got his big break in Soapland.
(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
The British children’s television sitcom series, starring the glove puppet fox Basil Brush, was produced for six series and ran from 2002 until 2007.
It was a spin-off from the original 1960s BBC television series, but without any of the original cast.
Robert made his EastEnders debut as Sean in 2006 and played the role until 2009.
He has since returned to Walford for special episodes in 2019, 2021 and 2022.
Derek Griffiths
Derek appeared in Coronation Street as Freddie Smith from 2016 until 2017.
He famously worked as a presenter on the pre-school TV show Play School from 1971 to 1981.
He also appeared in Play Away. In the 1980s the TV personality starred in SuperTed and voiced the main character of the same name.
Freddie was the widowed husband of Sadie Smith, an old and valued customer of Audrey’s salon.
(Image: ITV)
When Sadie died unexpectedly, Freddie asked for Kylie Platt to do her nails for the funeral.
Not knowing this was the reason for the appointment, when Kylie arrived at his home she was horrified to see Sadie’s dead body lying in the coffin in the living room.
After running out of the house, Freddie spoke to the young girl who then convinced herself to do Sadie’s nails.
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
