- After Grange Hill, Lee Sparke continued to act in series such as ‘Behind The Bike Sheds’, before moving to Australia. Vincent Matthews who played Jeremy continues to work in the media. Check out our Interviews section for interviews with Lee Sparke, Vincent Matthews and writer Barry Purchese.
- Answer: Gordon Lee Sparke who played Gordon 'Jonah' Jones left 'Grange Hill' in 1983 after he found out that his character was due to be killed off the following year. The character of Jeremy Irvine who had already been seen as Jonah's cousin replaced him in that storyline. 12 What was Tucker Jenkins' real name?
- Lee Sparke was born on February 20, 1969 in London, England. He is an actor, known for Behind the Bike Sheds (1983), Grange Hill Played Gordon 'Jonah' Jones (Years active 1982–83) and Thomas.
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GRANGE HILL ran for 30 years from 1978 and the BBC school drama saw a huge number of spotty trouble-makers and lovesick teens pass through its gates.
For fans, Saturday’s sad news of the death of former child actor Terry Sue-Patt at the age of 50 brought back memories of his character Benny Green, along with many others from the show.
Because they were fictional people, the Grange Hill pupils tended to experience some of the most dramatic school careers ever.
They were occasionally stabbed, were prone to suffering social ills such as heroin addiction and, at worst, were even bumped off by their own teachers. But how dramatic are the former child actors’ lives nowadays?
Here, we look at what happened to some of the most memorable pupils and where they have ended up.
1. Julie-Ann Steel (Diane Cooney)
SHY redhead Diane’s alter ego Julie-Ann appeared in the show for two years from 1983 but then quit and gave up acting to work first for Sky News as a personal assistant and then on American TV’s Weather Channel.
Her interest in alternative therapies led her to start a lifestyle business called Unclutter Your Life, which has taken her to The Ideal Home Show as well as Grand Designs Live.
2. Tim Polley (Steven Banks)
A GRADUATE of the Sylvia Young Stage School, Tim joined the Grange Hill gang as Banksie in 1985 and played the part for two years.
He later appeared in pantomime alongside It Ain’t Half Hot Mum star Melvyn Hayes. But following a struggle over being typecast as a bad boy, Tim ended up moving to Tenerife to start a pool-cleaning business, though he does still belong to a local drama group.
3. Mark Burdis (Stewpot)
MARK started his acting career at the age of six in 1974 in ITV drama Plague of London.
He then trained at the world-renowned Anna Scher theatre school in Islington, North London, before joining Grange Hill in 1981. Since leaving the show in 1985, he has appeared in The Bill as well as TV adverts for Morrisons and the AA.
The 47-year-old former star also regularly acts as a boxing referee in local bouts.
4. Donald Waugh (Joseph Hughes)
ANOTHER original Grange Hill student, Donald was a seasoned child actor who went on to star in many West End shows, appearing in the original cast of Cats.
Sadly, he later fell victim to alcoholism and ended up living on the streets for several years.
Having recovered, he now works for various charities helping people who have also struggled with addiction and homelessness.
5. Lee MacDonald (Zammo McGuire)
LEE was at the centre of one of the most famous storylines when his character “Zammo” became a heroin addict.
But after giving up acting, he trained as a boxer until a car crash in the early 90s left him unable to fight. He has now set up his own successful key-cutting business in Surrey.
He has also made the odd cameo in shows like Birds Of A Feather and competed in BBC3’s Celebrity Scissorhands.
6. Simone Hyams (Calley Donnington)
SIMONE, who starred in the show as Caroline “Calley” Donnington until 1991, became romantically linked to film director Michael Winner after appearing in his 1993 movie Dirty Weekend.
She also appeared in Baywatch as well as long-running ITV police drama The Bill.
Simone, now 43, works as a corporate events manager for the Virgin Group and is signed to the Ordinary People model agency.
7. Todd Carty (Tucker Jenkins)
PROBABLY Grange Hill’s most successful veteran, Todd is best known for playing Mark Fowler in EastEnders until 2003.
But the 52-year-old has Grange Hill to thank for his soap career, because his much-loved character got his own spin-off,
Tucker’s Luck, from 1983 to 1985.
He is also known for playing evil PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill, and skidding off stage in a hilarious gaffe in Dancing On Ice in 2009.
8. Terry Kinsella (Jimmy Flynn)
BEFORE embarking on three years of study at Grange Hill in 1982, Terry appeared in the 1981 Eric Sykes comedy film If You Go Down In The Woods Today.
His troubled Grange Hill character Flynny was written out of the show at the end of 1985 along with several of his classmates.
Like many of his fellow stars, Terry then opted to pursue a more “normal” career and now works as a successful canoe instructor after his acting career tailed off.
9. John Alford (Robbie Wright)
THE Glasgow-born actor left Grange Hill in 1990 after five years as Robbie and landed a role in ITV series London’s Burning three years later.
After a brief pop career in the mid-1990s he left the firefighting drama in 1998. In 1999 he was jailed for nine months after supplying drugs to an undercover reporter.
John, 43, has since worked as a cab driver, a scaffolder and a roofer and is now trying to relaunch his TV career.
10. Simone Nylander (Janet St-Clair)
HER character’s catchphrase “I just want to help you, Ro-land!” went down in TV history — and actress Simone tried to do the same for womaniser Russell Brand.
The pair had a fling during their student years, but it ended with her throwing his belongings out of her flat in bin bags.
Today she occasionally works as a model and is employed by Simon Fuller’s 19 Management organisation.
11. Sean Maguire (Tegs Ratcliffe)
AFTER his Grange Hill role ended in 1992, heart-throb Sean enjoyed a brief stint in EastEnders playing Aidan Brosnan and had a short-lived pop career.
The handsome 39-year-old has had a range of small TV roles but his 2008 comedy film Meet The Spartans was a bad move.
It became one of the worst-reviewed ever, with a critic calling it “as funny as a burning orphanage”.
12. Susan Tully (Suzanne Ross)
LIKE fellow Grange Hill stalwart Todd Carty, Susan went on to star in EastEnders, playing his sister Michelle Fowler, from the show’s start in 1985 until 1995.
Proving to be just as strong-willed as her original school character, the 46-year-old actress is now one of telly’s most well-known directors, working on a string of popular dramas including Silent Witness and The Bill.
13. Erkan Mustafa (Roland Browning)
VIEWER fave Erkan was behind several recent Grange Hill reunions and is a presenter for his own film website as well as offering a personalised video service for his fans.
His character was bullied, and in real life Erkan has not been much luckier since leaving the show in 1987. As an actor he claims to be an expert at various accents, including Dutch and Turkish.
| Grange Hill | |
|---|---|
| Season 5 | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 5 January – 5 March 1982 |
| Series chronology | |
Next → Series 6 | |
| List of Grange Hill episodes | |
The fifth series of the British television drama series Grange Hill began broadcasting on 5 January 1982, before ending on 5 March 1982 on BBC One. The series follows the lives of the staff and pupils of the eponymous school, an inner-city Londoncomprehensive school. It consists of eighteen episodes.
Cast and characters[edit]
Pupils[edit]
Lee Sparke Grange Hill Series
- Todd Carty as Tucker Jenkins
- George Armstrong as Alan Humphries
- Michelle Herbert as Trisha Yates
- Terry Sue-Patt as Benny Green
- Robert Craig-Morgan as Justin Bennett
- Lindy Brill as Cathy Hargreaves
- Linda Slater as Susi McMahon
- Ruth Davies as Penny Lewis
- Rene Alperstein as Pamela Cartwright
- Peter Moran as Pogo Patterson
- Mark Baxter as Duane Orpington
- Joanne Boakes as Anita Unsworth
- Paula Ann Bland as Claire Scott
- Mark Burdis as Stewpot Stewart
- Lisa East as Christine Everson
- Dulice Liecier as Precious Matthews
- Susan Tully as Suzanne Ross
- Mark Savage as Gripper Stebson
- Nicholas Pandolfi as Matthew Cartwright
- Julian Griffiths as Denny Rees
- Lee MacDonald as Zammo McGuire
- Erkan Mustafa as Roland Browning
- Alison Bettles as Fay Lucas
- Simone Nylander as Janet St. Clair
- Nadia Chambers as Annette Firman
- Terry Kinsella as Jimmy Flynn
- Lee Sparke as Jonah Jones
- Paula Taras as Belinda Zowkowski
Teachers[edit]
- Michael Cronin as Mr Geoff Baxter
- Robert Hartley as Mr Keating
- James Wynn as Mr Graham Sutcliffe
- Brian Capron as Mr Stuart Hopwood
- Lucinda Gane as Miss Terri Mooney
- Susan Porrett as Mrs Hilary Thomas
- Gwyneth Powell as Mrs Bridget McClusky
- Allyson Rees as Miss Lexington
- Timothy Bateson as Mr Thompson
- Fraser Cains as Mr Bill McGuffey
Episodes[edit]
| No. | Episode | Writer | Director | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrival | Alan Janes | Diarmuid Lawrence | 5 January 1982 |
| Six new pupils arrive at Grange Hill. Roland Browning gets off to a bad start when he falls victim to Gripper – and the whole school. Meanwhile, best friends Jonah and Zammo unleash stink bombs onto the school, disrupting Miss Mooney's first lesson. First Appearances: Jonah Jones, Zammo McGuire, Roland Browning and more ... | ||||
| 2 | Settling In | Alan Jane | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 8 January 1982 |
| When Gripper takes bullying to a new level, Roland is pushed over the edge and deliberately cuts himself in woodwork, forcing Mrs. McClusky to summon his mother to school. Meanwhile, Zammo and Jonah ask for Mr. Hopwood's help in teaching Gripper a lesson that he will never forget. | ||||
| 3 | Sex Education | Jane Hollowood | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 12 January 1982 |
| A lesson on human biology is announced, and a letter is sent home to alert the parents of what their children are learning. Mrs. McClusky thinks it's a great idea until her office is filled with angry parents, and Claire's disapproving mother only makes matters worse. Meanwhile, Pogo tries to make money by selling school textbooks that contain pornographic images. Final appearance: Pamela Cartwright | ||||
| 4 | Text Books | Margaret Simpson | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 15 January 1982 |
| With Grange Hill in financial crisis, The Computer Club wants to buy a new computer for £1200, and the PTA tries to come up with some fund-raising ideas. A 'Sponsored Spell' is on the cards. Meanwhile, Gripper sees the text book shortages as a way of earning money, getting his supplies from St. Mary's girls. He ropes in Pogo as an unwilling accomplice to sell them. Unfortunately, Gripper's muggings have not gone unreported – Mrs. McClusky is investigating his latest bullying scheme. | ||||
| 5 | Instruments | Margaret Simpson | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 19 January 1982 |
| Belinda starts learning the clarinet, an expensive instrument that she becomes paranoid about getting damaged. Annette hides it in the boys' changing rooms for a laugh, but Belinda is not amused, and nor is Pogo when she bursts in while he is changing. Annette's joke backfires when they discover the clarinet has disappeared... First Appearance: Janet St Clair | ||||
| 6 | Sports Trials | Margaret Simpson | Christine Secombe | 22 January 1982 |
| Benny inspires Zammo to become an athlete and saves Roland from another beating from Gripper. Even though he escaped Gripper's demands for payment, Roland is having trouble with his other classmates, and desperately wants to gain their friendship by signing up for the School Revue, led by Mr McGuffey. Final appearance: Benny Green | ||||
| 7 | Saturday Job | Barry Purchese | John Prowse | 26 January 1982 |
| Gripper fools Mr. McGuffey into believing he has the wrong room by locking the door and H3 cause havoc for him until Mr. Hopwood arrives. Teachers are noticing that Suzanne Ross is bunking off and Mr. Hopwood discovers why. Mr. McGuffey shows off his performing feet to the amusement of Pogo, who gives a weak comedic performance. The teacher is more impressed with the natural humour of Stewart and Duane. | ||||
| 8 | Scruffy McDuffy | Barry Purchese | John Prowse | 29 January 1982 |
| Pogo is determined to profit from selling tickets for the School Revue. Matthew Cartwright has written a piece for the school magazine, but the editors have doubts about publishing it. Gripper offers Matthew protection against possible damage to his new digital watch. Suzanne comes to school in a chic dress and has an audience with Mrs. McClusky. Mr. 'Scruffy' McGuffey finds himself defending his 'sartorial style', and loses control of his class after an outbreak of humming, and he accidentally antagonises Mrs McClusky. | ||||
| 9 | Stickers | Barry Purchese | John Prowse | 2 February 1982 |
| Jonah comes to school plastered with badges, but Mr. Hopwood insists that they are all removed. Placing yellow stickers on different places and unsuspecting people becomes a new hobby, much to the caretaker's disgust. Who can put a sticker in the most daring place, the boys or the girls? Meanwhile, Roland is seeing an educational psychologist, but Gripper has found out and gives him some grief about it. Things get worse for Roland when he is framed for grassing on Jonah and Zammo, and turned against the whole school. Has Gripper finally pushed Roland too far? | ||||
| 10 | Exploration | Barry Purchese | John Browse | 5 February 1982 |
| Zammo and Jonah have been cleaning up the stickers, including ones mysteriously found on the school trophies. Fay, Annette and Belinda are told tales about the service tunnels by the workmen. Annette has a go at Fay for being too goody-goody. She challenges Fay to go spelunking with her in the service tunnels. After school, the girls have a row, and Fay storms off, but Belinda stays to follow Annette. Once underground, it's Belinda who seems to have taken charge. While the girls get lost, thieves have broken in under Gripper's instructions, in search of the trophy cabinet. | ||||
| 11 | Sponsorship | Jane Hollowood | John Prowse | 9 February 1982 |
| Miss Mooney announces a scheme of collecting 'Minto bar' wrappers to raise money for science, but some are cynical about the chocolate bar's promotional gimmick. It's girls versus boys. Roland's father owns a firm that sells Minto bars. Will Roland's determination to fit in amongst Grange Hill force him to steal from his father? | ||||
| 12 | Zoo | Jane Hollowood | Diarmuid Lawrence | 12 February 1982 |
| A trip to the zoo gets off to a bad start when Roland can't fit through the turnstiles. Even Miss Mooney is finding the loud teacher from a rival boys' school hard to bear. Annette chats up Carrots Garvey, a pupil of Westerfield School, and a friendly little war breaks out, and Zammo finds himself targeted by a new student, while Jonah goes for an unexpected swim... | ||||
| 13 | Girl Gangs | Margaret Simpson | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 16 February 1982 |
| Claire can't believe her eyes when she witnesses Suzanne demanding money off Roland Browning. She is horrified to discover Suzanne has become Gripper's latest partner in crime. Can she save her friend from going off the rails? Meanwhile, it's time for rehearsals for the School Revue. The School Council meeting seems unsatisfactory – Mrs. McClusky won't even discuss censorship of the School Magazine. First Appearance: Christine Everson Final appearance: Justin Bennett | ||||
| 14 | Diary | Margaret Simpson | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 19 February 1982 |
| Claire seems to be hanging around Mr. Hopwood a lot. The student biology teacher has difficulty controlling the third formers, what with Duane's laughter box and Pogo's bleeping watch. Claire is writing a diary, in which she fantasizes situations with her heartthrob Mr. Hopwood. Her mother finds the hidden diary and reads the romantic entries, and becomes convinced something is going on. Claire's father arrives at Grange Hill, confronts Mr Hopwood in front of pupils and makes a complaint to Mrs McClusky. Will a schoolgirl crush result in the end of a teacher's career? | ||||
| 15 | Despair | Alan Janes | John Prowse | 23 February 1982 |
| Roland has a session with his educational psychologist and is told he has to go and see a dietician. At the rehearsals for the School Revue, Janet tries to talk to him, but in backing away from her evil clutches, Roland steps through the scenery. Gripper tries to see if Roland really can roll, and then Roland gets grief from his mum over the state of his clothes. Gripper's demands for cash have now reached the point beyond Roly's means. He tries to fight the bully, but his blows are ineffective. Someone writes a message about Roland's meetings with a shrink, and it proves to be the final straw when Roland goes missing... | ||||
| 16 | School Revue | Barry Purchese | Diarmuid Lawrence | 26 February 1982 |
| Pogo is appointed as a replacement for one of Suzanne's team in the School Revue – but is lacking what Mr. McGuffey calls 'Elegance'. Tucker and Alan buy some cheap champagne, paying in small change, for a prize in a raffle – Mr. McGuffey's not entirely happy about this, but it does seem to have boosted ticket sales. Everyone is playing a role in the School Revue. But will it be enough to impress Mrs. McClusky? Final appearance: Tucker Jenkins (as a series regular), Alan Humphries, Trisha Yates, Cathy Hargreaves and Penny Lewis | ||||
| 17 | Aftermath | Alan Janes | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 2 March 1982 |
| Mrs. McClusky announces that Roland's out of danger, but won't be back for a while. She suggest that N1 creates a get-well card and Annette is appointed artist. Belinda tells Fay and Annette that she has to leave, because she's going back to Canada, and Fay decides that they'll buy a present for her. Everyone is forced to make a donation for both Roland and Belinda, and Gripper plots to steal it. Can Jonah and Zammo stop his reign of terror reaching a new low? Final appearance: Belinda Zowkowski | ||||
| 18 | Exams | Alan Janes | Anthea Browne-Wilkinson | 5 March 1982 |
| It's nearing the end of term, and Mrs. McClusky antagonises everyone by bringing exam week forward. Pogo resorts to cheating to pass his exams. But Gripper is keen to cause trouble for him. Will he ruin Pogo's future at Grange Hill just for some fun? Meanwhile, Mr. Sutcliffe and Miss Mooney's engagement is in jeopardy when they come to blows about the date of the wedding, And, Suzanne clashes with Claire's strict mother. Final appearance: Mr Sutcliffe | ||||
Lee Sparke Grange Hills
DVD release[edit]
The fifth series of Grange Hill was released by Eureka Entertainment on 19 November 2018. This series includes English subtitles on all 18 episodes on three DVD discs, with format of 4:3 and total running time of 443 mins. (7hrs 23min)
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
Lee Sparke Grange Hill High School