Grange Hill cast now – from EastEnders to a boxing promoter and tragic young deaths

With its hard-hitting storylines and no-hold-barred depiction of teenage struggles, Grange Hill was always the edgier choice when it came to kids’ TV back in the day.

The titular fictional secondary school formed the backdrop for some rather intense storylines, ranging from heroin addiction to knife crime. And times have certainly changed over the years, with Britbox re-runs of the series featuring a “racist and offensive language” warning.

The show started in 1978 and continued throughout the 80s, 90s and noughties before finally hanging up its school blazer in 2008.

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Former Grange Hill kids have both enjoyed – and unfortunately endured – varying fortunes. Two have tragically passed away while others have been faced with homelessness and another thrown in jail. On a lighter note, there’s heartening success on the silver screen while another runs a casino.

Following the untimely death of George Armstrong, who played Alan Humphries on the show, we’ve looked at where all the cast are now, and what they’ve been up to since that school bell rang for the last time…

Samuel ‘Zammo’ McGuire – Lee MacDonald

We all liked cheeky ragamuffin Zammo, who was just 12 years old when he first pulled on the Grange Hill uniform. Staying in the show from 1982 until 1987, the teenager then pursued a career as a professional boxer. Sadly his aspirations were cut short when he was involved in a bad car crash that threw him through the windscreen. He required 40 stitches to the head and was told it would take at least a year to regain his memory.

He was warned to never box again, leaving him devastated, and he later found work at a wholesalers. Lee eventually returned to acting, making small appearances in sitcom Birds of a Feather and police drama The Bill. He also spent a number of years working as a locksmith in Surrey.

Fate smiled on Lee in 2019 when he ended up in Albert Square in EastEnders as a cheeky bus driver who didn’t get on with Danny Dyer’s no-nonsense Mick Carter.

Suzanne Ross – Susan Tully

We all instantly recognise Susan as Michelle Fowler in EastEnders, but she began her acting career as Suzanne Ross at a certain London comprehensive. Her Albert Square character was involved in a myriad of massive storylines including that controversial affair with her best friend’s dad, Dirty Den Watts, and teenage pregnancy.

She left the square in 1995 and turned her back on acting altogether, instead favouring work behind the camera as a director and producer. She has directed episodes of EastEnders, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford, The Bill and Line of Duty.

Terence ‘Tegs’ Ratcliffe – Sean Maguire

Another very popular character, little Tegs was just 11 when he landed the role at the UK’s most famous TV school. Actor Sean went on to star as Aidan Brosnan in EastEnders and also enjoyed roles in The Bill, crime series Scott & Bailey and Holby City.

In the 90s, Sean released two albums and an impressive eight singles which landed in the Top 30. His decent stab at pop stardom was sadly not replicated with his unfortunate swing at the movies, where his Meet the Spartans was voted the worst film of 2008 by The Times. Unperturbed, Sean bounced back when he was cast as outlaw Robin Hood on US TV show Once Upon a Time.

Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins – Todd Carty

One of the most recognisable faces of Grange Hill, the likeable Todd Carty got his first acting break in an advert for Woolworths when he was just four. Todd played the role of Tucker for four years before starring in successful spin-off series Tucker’s Luck from 1983 to 1985.

Of course, Todd went on to become best known for his role as Mark Fowler in EastEnders and became one of the longest-serving cast members over 13 years until he rode off on his motorbike in 2013. Todd returned to Grange Hill in 2003, resuming the role of Tucker in just one episode before appearing in the last ever series in 2008. Since his time in one of the country’s most fondly-remembered kids’ shows, Todd has enjoyed appearing on Dancing On Ice. In 2009 he became an internet sensation when he lost control on the frozen surface and skated out of the studio.

Alan Humphries – George Armstrong

George Armstrong sadly died at the age of 60 following a long battle with leukaemia, but before that he lived a life away from the spotlight.

George landed a couple of acting gigs after Grange Hill, including a stint on The Bill, but he later left the world of showbiz all together and worked as a Technical Theatre Manager at a school in his area.

He was beloved by fans and following his death tributes poured in for the actor, branding him a “legend” for his role on the famous show.

Roland ‘Roly’ Browning – Erkan Mustafa

Good old Roland, we all took him to our hearts, didn’t we? Our Roly was the poor bullied kid who slowly worked up the mettle to stand up for himself after years of abuse from his peers.

Actor Erkan Mustafa starred in the show from 1982 to 1987. He told the Daily Mirror: “I was just a normal child attending school. The national press were advertising the fact that they couldn’t find a fat child at stage school to appear in Grange Hill. A teacher put me up for the role and said “Go on. You can do it.”

Since departing Grange Hill, Erkan appeared in Blackadder’s Christmas Carol and has also worked as a presenter for E4 Music. He compèred a Grange Hill cast reunion in a nightclub in Leicester Square more than a decade ago.

Most recently he has appeared as himself on Pointless Celebrities, Soccer AM and Celebrity Juice.

Robert ‘Robbie’ Wright – John Alford

Actor John played wayward Robbie for five years before going on to appear in immensely popular firefighter drama London’s Burning. John had a very brief but modestly successful singing career in the mid 90s where he scored three Top 30 hits.

You may remember him cropping up in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager and also in footy comedy What’s The Score? Sadly, his career was derailed after being convicted of supplying drugs to “Fake Sheikh” journalist Mazher Mahmood in 1999, and was jailed for nine months.

Twenty years later he admitted two counts of resisting an officer and was slapped with a 12-month community order.

Benny Green – Terry Sue-Patt

Actor Terry “basically played himself” on screen as Benny – the first pupil seen on screen when Grange Hill debuted in 1978.

“There weren’t many black actors about on TV at that time. I had a great time, getting time off school to play football. It was a bit of a dream come true, really,” he told the Daily Mirror.

After his time at the London school ended in 1982, Terry went on to appear in Channel 4 comedy Desmond’s, about a Peckham barbershop, and also 1989 film The Firm. Tragically, in 2015 Terry was found dead at his home in the capital. A statement by the actor’s family revealed that he’d been fighting demons before his death.

“Like every artist and creative soul in history, he drew from his demons and they sometimes got the better of him,” it read.

“Terry had his own crosses to bear and he became gripped by a depression he never fully recovered from. Terry’s successful and eventful life was tragically cut short. He was our cherished son, brother, uncle and friend and will be sadly missed.”

Tracy Edwards – Amanda Mealing

Actress Amanda’s time on the show was relatively meagre, but she went on to have more satisfying roles in Casualty and its spin-off Holby City. At just 34, Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer days after welcoming her second son.

Desperate to care for her newborn baby, Amanda underwent an urgent mastectomy. She told The Express: “I didn’t wallow in self-pity, the anger I felt made me very pro-active. I decided I would do everything I needed to do to fight the cancer and I wouldn’t let it take over my life.

“It had taken my health and my time but that was it. In the seven months of chemo, plus three weeks of daily radiotherapy, I tried to live as normally as I could.”

Fortunately, Amanda was later given the all-clear and has since moved behind the camera, directing a trio of Casualty episodes and one short film.

Eric ‘Ziggy’ Greaves – George Christopher

Scouse prankster Ziggy was a hit with viewers during his time on the show from 1986 to 1989. But the actor found dealing with his fame at just 15 years old a tough gig.

Nevertheless, George went on to portray drug addict Little Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap Brookside before treading the boards. In 1989, George was left traumatised after witnessing the Hillsborough disaster. He never felt able to open up about it as he wasn’t directly involved as he sat in a different stand.

But recently he has started to discuss his mental health struggles, which left him hospitalised multiple times. The actor was eventually diagnosed with bipolar affective disorder at the age of 43, and he admits to never speaking to any of his co-stars about his problems.

After four years of being in Grange Hill, he started to feel the pressure. He told the Daily Mirror: “Things build up. I’m not saying fame is a bad thing, because it can be a good thing, but sometimes it can be a bad thing – you can meet the wrong people. Being recognised everywhere you go was starting to get to me a bit at that age.”

Joseph ‘Hughsey’ Hughes – Donald Waugh

Old Hughsey was with Grange Hill from the off until 1980, where his life unfortunately unravelled into alcoholism and homelessness. He admirably clawed his way back to health and now dedicates his time to helping the homeless.

Speaking about the enterprise Pavement to Catwalk, Donald told the Daily Mirror: “Working with and being homeless for a period of time has opened my eyes to the potential and talent within this untapped society. In this I have learned that the secret to helping yourself is to help others. I still hold this very close to my heart today.”

Fay Lucas – Alison Bettles

During her five-year stint on the show from 1982 to 1987, Fay shocked us all when she embarked on an affair with one of her teachers. After departing the Hill, actress Alison starred as a young Ethel Skinner in EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet, which was set during the second world war

She also appeared in London’s Burning and The Bill, but gave up acting in the 90s to concentrate on becoming a qualified beauty therapist.

Gary Hargreaves – Mark Farmer

Football-mad Gary appeared in the first three series of Grange Hill before he went on to star in TV drama film Mister Corbett’s Ghost and Channel 4 sitcom Relative Strangers. He later ditched acting acting in favour of music and formed a band called Littlehouse with his school classmate and other mates.

Sadly, in 2016 Mark passed away following a short battle with cancer.

Caroline ‘Calley’ Donnington – Simone Hyams

The friendly and caring Calley was a well-liked character in the school drama, which she starred in from 1985 to 1991. Actress Simone went on to appear in top rated American lifeguard show Baywatch, UK police drama The Bill and a 1993 film called, er, Dirty Weekend.

After growing disillusioned with acting, Simone then started working at Richard Branson’s Virgin Group as a corporate events manager.

Christopher ‘Stupot’ Stewart – Mark Burdis

After leaving the school drama in 1985 after four years, actor Mark appeared in the first feature-length edition of Only Fools And Horses as well as A Touch Of Frost. He later played Gary Rawlings, a rival fruit and veg stall holder to Mark Fowler in EastEnders, as well as appearing in The Bill. Mark is now a boxing announcer.

Trisha Yates – Michelle Herbert

Michelle played bad girl Trisha Yates who departed Grange Hill in 1982 after five series. She later moved to Dundee in the 1990s where she runs business All Glass and Glazing with her husband.

Sadly, the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and had to endure a lumpectomy and a mastectomy. She has since been given the all-clear.

Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener – John Holmes

Good old Gonch starred in the show for four years from 1985 before sensibly going back into education. He knuckled down and studied hard at the University Of East Anglia where he spent a number of years as president of the student union.

John abandoned acting in favour of managing a casino.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk