Grange Hill first hit our TV screens back in 1978. The gritty drama kept viewers entertained for 30 years until the famous fictional school closed its doors for the last time in 2008.
The series famously tackled a number of hard-hitting and controversial topics during its tenure. Who can forget Zammo's tragic struggle with drug addiction? Or Roland slowly building up the courage to stand up to his tormenters after years of bullying?
Grange Hill left such an impression on popular culture in the UK that its creator Sir Phil Redmond announced earlier this year that the show will be returning as a film. Set for release in 2023, the movie will reflect the realities of modern-day school life and is likely to confront subjects such as social media and cyber bullying.
The real lives of some of the programme's cast members since leaving the show have been as eventful as those of the characters they portrayed on screen. Grange Hill was the starting point in the acting careers of some famous faces who still grace our screens to this day.
Some have sadly passed away, others have experienced mental health problems and one ended up in prison. On a more positive note, other cast members have gone on to carve out impressive careers in some interesting and unusual fields.
Derbyshire Live went though the class register to find out what happened to the cast of Grange Hill...
Peter 'Tucker' Jenkins - Todd Carty
Todd Carty's most famous TV role was Mark Fowler in EastEnders. But he first earned his acting chops playing Tucker for four years in Grange Hill before starring in the spin-off show Tucker's Luck from 1983 to 1985.
Todd starred in EastEnders for 13 years, becoming one of the soap's longest-serving cast members. During that time his character had a number of high-profile storylines, including being diagnosed as HIV-positive. Mark eventually left Albert Square on his motorbike in 2003.
Another notable role in The Bill soon followed for Todd where he played the murderous Pc Gabriel Kent. In a lighter career twist Todd went viral in 2009 when, as a contestant on Dancing On Ice, he lost control on the rink and skated out of the studio.
Terence 'Tegs' Ratcliffe - Sean Maguire
Sean Maguire was another Grange Hill alumnus who graduated to EastEnders. Sean was just 11 when he landed the role of Tegs at the UK's most famous school.
Like Todd before him, Sean secured a role in The Bill after leaving EastEnders along with other TV acting gigs in shows such as Scott & Bailey and Holby City. Sean also tried his hand at singing in the 90s and had eight Top 30 singles and two albums.
Following his pop stardom, Sean took his acting career stateside. He starred alongside Carmen Electra in the 2008 parody movie Meet the Spartans which made it to Number 1 in the US box office chart but was roundly panned by critics.
Samuel 'Zammo' McGuire - Lee MacDonald
Lee MacDonald portrayed cheeky schoolboy 'Zammo' from 1982 to 1987. His character's life was ultimately taken by drug addiction in arguably Grange Hill's most famous ever storyline.
After leaving the show Lee pursued a career as a professional boxer which came to a premature end after he was involved in a serious car crash. He needed 40 stitches to the head, suffered serious memory loss and was left devastated after being warned to never box again.
Lee worked as a locksmith in Surrey for several years. He also returned to acting with small appearances in sitcom Birds Of A Feather and, like Todd and Sean, also bagged roles in The Bill and EastEnders.
Robert 'Robbie' Wright - John Alford
John Alford played Robbie for five years before landing a role in ITV firefighter drama London's Burning. Like Sean Maguire, he achieved brief success as a singer with three Top 30 singles including the aptly titled Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.
Other acting gigs followed including roles in Mike Bassett: England Manager and football comedy What's The Score? His career came to a grinding halt in 1999 when he was jailed for nine months after being convicted of supplying drugs to "Fake Sheikh" journalist Mazher Mahmood.
In January 2006 he was found guilty of drink driving. He was banned from driving for sixteen months and ordered to pay a £150 fine and £100 costs. In January 2019 he pleaded guilty to two counts of resisting an officer and was handed a 12-month community order.
Suzanne Ross - Susan Tully
Susan Tully started her acting career playing Suzanne Ross in Grange Hill. She went on to her most famous role - Michelle Fowler in EastEnders - sister of Mark, played by fellow former pupil Todd Carty.
Her storylines in the soap included teenage pregnancy and Michell's affair with Dirty Den Watts, who was the father of her best friend Sharon. Her character left Walford in 1995 when Susan quit acting altogether.
She switched to working behind the camera as a director and producer. Susan is credited with directing episodes of EastEnders, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford, The Bill and Line of Duty.
Benny Green - Terry Sue-Patt
Terry Sue-Patt made history as the first pupil on screen when Grange Hill first aired in 1978. His character Benny was one of the few black faces regularly appearing on UK television drama at the time.
Following his departure from Grange Hill, Terry appeared in Channel 4 sitcom Desmond's and 1989 film The Firm. Tragically, Terry was found dead at his London home in 2015.
A statement from the actor's family read: "Like every artist and creative soul in history, he drew from his demons and they sometimes got the better of him. 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."
Roland 'Roly' Browning - Erkan Mustafa
Erkan Mustafa played Roland in Grange Hill from 1982 to 1987. He is fondly remembered as Zammo's close friend who was badly bullied for his appearance.
Speaking to the Mirror, Erkan said: “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.'
Erkan has popped up sporadically on our TV screens since leaving Grange Hill. He appeared in Blackadder's Christmas Carol, been a presenter for E4 Music and has more recently appeared as himself on shows such as Pointless Celebrities, Soccer AM and Celebrity Juice.
Tracy Edwards - Amanda Mealing
Amanda Mealing briefly played Grange Hill schoolgirl Tracey Edwards. She's much more famous, however, for her subsequent acting roles in Casualty and Holby City.
Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer days after giving birth to her second son when she was 34 and had 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."
The actress is now cancer-free and has become a director. Her director credits include several episodes of Casualty and a short film.
Gary Hargreaves - Mark Farmer
Mark played Gary Hargreaves during the first three series of the school drama. After leaving Grange Hill he starred in TV drama film Mister Corbett's Ghost and Channel 4 sitcom Relative Strangers.
Mark later swapped his career in acting for one in music. He formed a band called Littlehouse with an old school mate and other friends.
Sadly, Mark passed away in 2016 after having cancer.
Joseph 'Hughsey' Hughes - Donald Waugh
Donald Waugh was an original cast member who stayed with the series for two years. After leaving Grange Hill he went on to struggle with alcoholism and lost all of his money.
Like many in a difficult situation he turned to alcohol and was forced to live on the streets for several years. However, Donald turned his life around and now dedicates his time to helping the homeless.
Speaking about the enterprise Pavement to Catwalk, Donald told MyLondon : "Working with and being homeless for a period of time has opened my eyes to the potential and talent within this un-tapped 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."
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