Pointless

BBC’s Grange Hill was essential viewing for children growing up in the 1980s, but in the years since the cast have been hit by everything from homelessness and jail to untimely deaths

Grange Hill was famous for its hard-hitting storylines, but off-screen, the cast have suffered even more dramatic fates.

The BBC’s after-school show was watched by millions of Brits between 1978 and 2008 and was the brain child of Phil Redmond, who also created Brookside and Hollyoaks. It tackled themes such as heroin addiction, rape, alcoholism and teen pregnancy.

But what happened next for the likes of Zammo, Tucker and Roly? Sadly there is a long list of tragedies that have befallen the former stars in real life. While some have gone on to become big names in film and television, two cast members have tragically passed away, while others have battled cancer, faced homelessness and even faced very serious criminal charges. So what became of the child actors once the school bell rang for the last time?

Robert ‘Robbie’ Wright – John Alford

John Alford, who played Robbie Wright, went on to act in nineties show London’s Burning and launched a spin-off career as a singer, landing three singles in the top 30 of the UK charts. He also starred in football comedy What’s The Score? as Mike Bassett, the England Manager.

But the young actor found fame too tough to handle and started drinking heavily. By the time he left Grange Hill at 17 he had reportedly spent up to £80,000 on alcohol and gambling. He later confessed to drinking up to 18 bottles of beer and nine shots of spirits a night.

“When I got ill I went to see somebody. They looked at my liver and told me to stop, which my mum had been telling me for years,” he said.

In 1993, he took his first highest profile adult role as fireman Billy Ray in ITV’s London’s Burning, remaining in the role for five years. He launched a spin-off singing career and scored three top 30 singles in 1996, including Smoke Gets in Your Eyes and Blue Moon/Only You.

In 1999 his stellar success came to an end when he was sacked after being convicted of supplying drugs and was sentenced to nine months in jail. Alford had been lured to a hotel by the News of the World’s Mazher “Fake Sheikh” Mahmood, who was posing as an Arabian prince, and secretly filmed supplying cocaine and cannabis, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

The judge at Snaresbrook said there had been an element of entrapment in the case. Alford told jurors in St Albans he had been “blacklisted” as an actor following that conviction. He struggled to find work after and was reportedly forced to earn cash as a roofer, scaffolder and mini-cab driver to make ends meet. According to the Sunday People, at points he had to live off benefits.

In January 2006, he was banned from driving for 16 months and fined for drink-driving. He had crashed his Rover car into three other vehicles in Islington, north London, on April 2, 2005. He also pleaded guilty to driving a defective vehicle because one of his car’s front wheels was dangerously deflated.

In 2022, Alford sexually assaulted two girls aged 14 and 15 at a friend’s home. Earlier this month he was jailed for eight and a half years after being found guilty on six counts including sexual assault, penetrative sexual activity with a child and penetrative sexual assault. When the verdicts were read out, he placed his head in his hand and said: “Wrong, I didn’t do this!”

Speaking to the Mirror, Senior Lecturer in Policing and Criminal Justice, and a previous Met Superintendent, Nusrit Mehtab, explained that the nature of his crimes would make him a prime target in prison. She said: “A sexual predator is one of the most stigmatised categories within the prison service, don’t forget.”

Samuel ‘Zammo’ McGuire – Lee MacDonald

Rising to fame aged just 12 years old, Samuel gave a powerful portrayal of schoolboy Zammo as he battled heroin addiction.

After leaving the role, Lee set his sights on becoming a professional boxer, but his career was cut short before it could truly begin. His dreams were shattered when he was involved in a horrific car accident that saw him thrown through the windscreen.

The actor needed 40 stitches in his head and was warned it might take a full year to regain his memory, but the most crushing blow was being told he could never step into the boxing ring again. “I was absolutely devastated,” he told The Guardian in 2009. “After the celebrity of being in Grange Hill and the excitement of the boxing, here I was, aged 21, working in a wholesaler.

“I remember thinking, ‘I can’t box any more, I’m not acting and I’m here putting keys in a bag’ and my early 20s were really dark because of that. It took me a bit of time to sort myself out.”

Lee continued to pursue acting, enjoying brief roles in The Bill and Birds of a Feather before landing a part on EastEnders in 2019, portraying a comedic bus driver who had run-ins with Danny Dyer’s character, Mick Carter. “I am absolutely chuffed to bits and so excited to be briefly joining the cast of EastEnders. I can’t say too much yet, but watch this space. Top banana,” he said. He also spent many years to working as a locksmith in Wallington, Surrey.

Then in June 2004, the now 54 year old noticed an “unusual spot” on his face and was diagnosed with skin cancer. Appearing on Good Morning Britain last year, he said: “I booked an appointment just for the doctors. I’ve got a little rash. It turns out it’s a keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous spot. I’m going to have it burnt out.”

Warning others to ditch the sunbeds, Lee added: “Before I went to nightclubs years ago, I would lay on the sunbeds for an hour a week. I’d do a Tuesday and Thursday from about 17 until I was around 26 (years old). That’s what the doctor said it is; it’s probably the sunbeds rather than the sun; I don’t go out in the sun much because of being aware of the risks.”

Benny Green – Terry Sue-Patt

An ‘OG’ cast member, Terry said he “basically played [him]self in Grange Hill”. Recognising the lack of “Black actors about on TV at that time,” he said the gig was “a bit of a dream come true”. After his role ended in 1982, he starred in Channel 4’s Desmond’s and in the late eighties film, The Firm. Following this passion for the Arts, Terry began to explore his talent in graffiti and photography.

Tragically, Terry was found dead at his London home in May 2015, at just 50 years old. A family statement revealed that he had been struggling with “demons” and deep depression.

“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.”

It sadly later emerged that Terry may have been dead for up to a month before his body was discovered. Grange Hill co-star Lee MacDonald previously told the Sunday Mirror: “I’ve heard that he’d been lying dead in his flat for a month before they found him.” Lee added that he’d grown concerned after noticing Terry had been quiet on Facebook.

Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins – Todd Carty

After starring in a Woolworths commercial aged just four, Todd portrayed Tucker for four years before becoming the lead in the spin-off show Tucker’s Luck from 1983 to 1985.

His most celebrated role came as Mark Fowler in EastEnders, taking over from original actor David Scarboro in 1990 following his tragic death. Todd remained one of the soap’s longest-serving performers for 13 years until Mark departed on his motorbike in 2013, dying off-screen 12 months later.

It later emerged that Todd had terminated his EastEnders contract a year prematurely to join The Bill as PC Gabriel Kent. Todd actually made a comeback to Grange Hill in 2003, returning as Tucker for a single episode, before appearing again in the programme’s final series in 2008.

The actor became an internet phenomenon while competing on Dancing on Ice in 2009, where he lost his footing and accidentally slid straight out of the studio. Rather fittingly, Todd was performing to The Beatles’ classic Help when he sheepishly made his way back onto the ice.

Nowadays, the 62-year-old remains active in the world of theatre. He took on the iconic character of Captain Hook in Peter Pan at Watersmeet Theatre in Rickmansworth from December 2019 to January 2020, and last spring made an appearance in Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap at the Lowry Theatre in Salford, alongside fellow EastEnders star, Gwyneth Strong.

Suzanne Ross – Susan Tully

Susan Tully began her career as Suzanne Ross in Grange Hill, though she’s undoubtedly best recognised for portraying the original Michelle Fowler in EastEnders. Her character featured in numerous major plotlines, including an underage pregnancy and that scandalous relationship with her mate’s father, Dirty Den Watts.

Susan left Abert Square in 1995 and ditched acting to pursue work behind the scenes as a director and producer. She has helmed episodes of Silent Witness, Stella, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Strike, and Too Close, as well as the hit BBC police drama, Line of Duty.

Michelle made a comeback to EastEnders, but this time she was played a different actress – Jenna Russell. Susan had declined opportunities to return and endorsed the decision to recast the part. When bringing Michelle back in 2016, then executive director Sean O’Connor confirmed Susan, now 58, had given the team her blessing to move on without her, with her acting career now a “closed door”.

He explained: “Of course, if you’re considering bringing back Michelle Fowler, you’d have to consider talking to Susan Tully about it. But she is now a well-respected, hugely experienced TV director. Her acting career is part of her past, really a closed door for her.”

Roland ‘Roly’ Browning – Erkan Mustafa

Roly was the tormented youngster who found the strength to defend himself following years of cruelty from his classmates. Erkan Mustafa, who played Roly from 1982 until 1987, explained: “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.”

After his departure from the show, Erkan featured in Blackadder’s Christmas Carol and took on a presenting role for E4 Music. In 2009, Erkan, now 55, hosted a Grange Hill cast reunion at a nightclub in Leicester Square, and he has also made appearances on Celebrity Juice, Pointless Celebrities and Soccer AM.

After briefly working in a catering business, Erkan returned to the world of television, this time as a writer and director. He has also continued to work in minor roles, including in the 2018 short film, The All-Nighter.

In a televised Grange Hill reunion in 2022, Erkan set the record straight over a persistent rumour that he’d been “stoned” while attending a “Just Say No” anti-drugs event with Nancy Reagan at the White House.

Erkan revealed: “Another cast member, who isn’t here today, said, ‘Wouldn’t it be funny if you said one of us was stoned?’ And I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it.’ And like a mug I did it, and the story just snowballed and snowballed and snowballed.” He added: “I was like ‘It’s done now, I can’t do nothing about it.”

Tracy Edwards – Amanda Mealing

Amanda Mealing joined the show in its second series, portraying Tracy Edwards. Despite her relatively short stint on the show, she would later secure longer roles on Holby City and Casualty. At 34, Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer – just days after giving birth to her second son. Desperate to care for her newborn child, Amanda had an emergency mastectomy.

She told The Express: “I didn’t wallow in self-pity; the anger I felt made me very proactive. 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 given the all clear, and later went on to run the 2012 London Marathon on her 45th birthday for Breast Cancer Care. The actress has since moved behind the scenes, helming three episodes of Casualty and a short film, as well as episodes of Coronation Street.

In 2022, Amanda shared that she had joined Waterloo Road as a director, showing off her lanyard in an Instagram post. However, in March of this year, the actress made headlines for a very different reason, after she admitted to drug driving after a collision that left a nurse with serious injuries, the Manchester Evening News reports.

The former Grange Hill star admitted to driving under the influence of cocaine and driving without due care and attention during the incident in January 2024, with the court hearing that Mealing had 18mcg of cocaine in her blood, which exceeded the legal limit of 10mcg. She was banned from driving for 22 months and also ordered to pay £485 in fines.

Eric ‘Ziggy’ Greaves – George Christopher

George portrayed Scouse comedian Ziggy from 1986 to 1989, but found it difficult coping with stardom after joining the programme aged 15. He later appeared as drug addict Little Jimmy Corkhill in Channel 4 soap Brookside before pursuing theatre work.

In 1989, George tragically lost his grandmother and then witnessed the Hillsborough disaster, which he never believed he could discuss because he wasn’t directly affected, as he was seated in a separate stand. In January 2020, George revealed how he spent years privately fighting an undiagnosed mental health condition, which resulted in him being hospitalised on numerous occasions.

George was only diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 43 and never discussed his troubles with any of his co-stars. Recalling the precise moment George suspected something serious, he revealed: “On the Isle of Wight, I just started crying for no reason. I’m not a person who cries a lot, but I just found myself breaking down doing scenes, and I would just walk away and hide behind a rock. It sounds mad, but just to get composed.”

After securing his role in Grange Hill, George relocated to London with his family, but after roughly four years, the strain began taking its toll. George elaborated: “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.”

Reflecting on watching the old episodes back during an interview with the Grange Hill Gold website, George said: “I laugh a lot as I see things I’d forgotten… all the hidden and sly things me and the boys (ie Trev and Robbie) threw in. I also cringe at some of the lines and stuff I did. I wore some terrible jumpers and a terrible suit jacket for some reason at Ronnie’s party. Not to mention my mullet when I first started!”

He added, “I loved my four years on there. They were the best four years of my life, and I’ve never had an acting job to compare with them. Never had as many laughs as I did back then.”

Gary Hargreaves – Mark Farmer

Mark Farmer portrayed football-mad Gary during the opening three series of Grange Hill. He subsequently appeared in Channel 4 comedy Relative Strangers and television drama film Mister Corbett’s Ghost. After his acting days ended, Mark established a band called Littlehouse alongside his schoolmate and other pals, and also served as guitarist for ska icons Bad Manners for a time.

Tragically, Mark died following a brief journey with cancer in April 2016, at just 53. His death was confirmed on a Grange Hill Twitter account, which shared: “It is with great sadness we report that Mark Farmer, aka Gary Hargreaves, died earlier today. RIP.”

Speaking with the Hackney Gazette at the time, Mark’s friend and former housemate Derek Chandler shared: “He was such a character – quite a laugh. He was a bit of a comedian, which is probably why he got on on the stage. He was on some good programmes, so he must have impressed people. He impressed me when I met him.”

Caroline ‘Calley’ Donnington – Simone Hyams

Simone Hyams is most recognised for playing Calley in Grange Hill, appearing from 1985 until 1991. She subsequently featured in The Bill and Baywatch, and secured a part in the 1993 film Dirty Weekend.

In a dramatic career shift, Simone, now in her 50s, was previously reported to be working as a corporate events manager for Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.

Joseph ‘Hughsey’ Hughes – Donald Waugh

Donald Waugh portrayed Hughsey on Grange Hill from 1978 to 1980. Following his departure from the programme, he battled with alcoholism and witnessed his life descend into chaos. The actor was ultimately forced onto the streets for several years – an ordeal which he claims ‘opened his eyes’.

Donald explained: “I had sunk all my money into a business deal that went wrong. I felt ashamed and embarrassed, and felt like a fool to be honest with you.” Detailing how he turned to booze for solace, Donald continued: “The more I drank I thought I could just bury all the emotions I had incrued from losing all my money through this bad debt. But of course, the drinking made everything worse.”

He now devotes his time to assisting the homeless, MyLondon writes. Waugh explained: “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

Alison Bettles was part of the Grange Hill family from 1982 until 1987, playing Fay Lucas, who had an affair with one of her teachers. Following her exit from the programme, Alison featured in EastEnders spin-off CivvyStreet set during the Second World War, as a young Ethel Skinner.

She also appeared in The Bill and London’s Burning, but abandoned acting in the 90s and trained as a beauty therapist. Her son Albert portrayed the eerie gas mask child in that episode of Doctor Who that had us all cowering behind sofas.

Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener – John Holmes

After portraying Gonch from 1985 to 1989, actor John Holmes departed Grange Hill to pursue further education. He studied at the University of East Anglia and spent several years serving as president of the Student Union. According to The Daily Star, John has now abandoned acting and works as a casino manager.

Terence ‘Tegs’ Ratcliffe – Sean Maguire

Sean Maguire was just 11-years-old when he shot to stardom playing Tegs. The actor later appeared in EastEnders as Aidan Brosnan and secured roles in Holby City, The Bill and Scott and Bailey. Throughout the 90s, Sean shifted his focus to music, releasing two albums and eight singles, which climbed into the top 30 in the UK singles charts.

He went on to feature in the film Meet the Spartans, which was branded Worst Film of 2008 by The Times. His career received a significant lift when he landed the role of Robin Hood on the US television series Once Upon a Time. More recently, the now 49-year-old went on to appear in the action series S.W.A.T. as Joe.

Trisha Yates –

Michelle, who portrayed troublemaker Trisha Yates, left the programme in 1982 after five series. Leaving acting behind, she moved to Dundee to start a family. She previously worked for a major sweet manufacturer and went on to run her own glazing business, Dundee Glaziers All Glass and Glazing, alongside her husband, with whom she shares two daughters.

The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and underwent a lumpectomy and mastectomy to remove the breast. Following the operations, she also developed a haematoma – a blood clot triggered by a burst blood vessel within the breast tissue. Michelle told The Mirror: “I was really ill and they had to drain blood from my breast. There was even talk of me needing a blood transfusion, but thankfully, I recovered.”

Michelle has since received the all clear and has used her platforms to urge other women to look out for dimples on their breasts – a lesser-known symptom.

Christopher ‘Stewpot’ Stewart – Mark Burdis

Mark Burdis, who portrayed Christopher ‘Stewpot’ Stewart from 1981 to 1985, went on to appear in A Touch Of Frost and the first feature-length episode of Only Fools And Horses after leaving the school drama. He also had roles in The Bill and EastEnders, where he played Gary Rawlings, a rival fruit and veg stall holder to Mark Fowler.

You might remember him from that slightly irritating ‘Kev, BEV’ AA advert from the ’00s alongside now national treasure Olivia Coleman. In a previous interview with The Mirror, BAFTA award winner Olivia admitted that the annoying ad almost ruined her career.

She claimed: “I thought they were going to run that for about a week but they ran it for what felt like four times a day for a year. They ran it for a year, having just given me a buy-out. It was really annoying. I lost some jobs.”

These days, the now 57-year-old’s career has taken a different path as he’s been working as an announcer for boxing matches for several years.

Lisa York – Julie Marchant

Lisa York, who was portrayed by Julie Marchant for five series of Grange Hill from 1983 to 1987, did a bit more acting before moving to Australia, she revealed to Grange Hill Gold after her stint on the show. In 2018, the Mail Online reported that mum of two Julie was working as a stockbroker, and had “fond memories” from her time on the legendary set.

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