davidb

ive just read in the tv guide that its the last ever episode of grange hill sometime this week .original cast member todd carty is going to make an appearance .does anyone have any fond memories of the show ? coming home from school and watching this while having your tea .a highlight or lowlight depending on your opinion was the "just say no " song they did

bhowells

I didnt watch it on a regular basis I was in my early twenties when it started but I do acknowledge the programmes importance, it broke new ground and changed the face of childrens television.

A lot of future Eastenders cast members started out in Grange Hill as well as Toddy Carty, Susan Tully was in it as well.

MB

I used to watch it from when Todd Carty was in it.

Very sad to think it has gone..but then, neither of my children have watched it. I think it's 'golden age' was probably the Phil Redmond early eighties period.

I think Phil Redmond was a wonderful, innovative man and British TV owes a lot to him pushing the boundaries with programmes such as this and Brookside etc...

I used to like 'Suzanne Ross' (Susan Tully) I was very relieved, at age about 13, to hear her say 'I don't think I can 'do' this 'curse' lark for the next thirty years!'

Very sad, the only teenage programme I have admired as much was 'Heartbreak High'.

davidb

michael sheard was very good as the strict teacher mr bronson .he seemed to specialise in those type of roles ,he was a jobsworthy site manager in auf wiedersehen pet as well .is he still about ?

David Brent

For some strange reason 'Grange Hill' has not been shown in Australia for many years.

I used to think that it was a quality show, which you do not get a lot of in childrens television. The series also touched on many difficult subjects such as drugs and sex.

Dave.

Able Abel

Haven't watched this series for many years. I remember it started when I was in my last year of school. It did seem to portray quite an accurate picture of life in an inner city comprehensive school.

My favourite character was that rotten school bully, "Gripper" Stebson, a character who was always born to be loved to be hated. Stebson was played by Mark Savage, a young actor who seemed to disappear from the tv screen altogether, after his character demised the series. Always wondered what became of Savage?

Steve Crook

No, he died in 2005.
As well as playing strict teachers he also played Hitler & Himmler a few times

Steve

EllyMack

I used to love GH, but judging by the few episodes I've seen recently, it's about time it was put out of its misery. The storylines, such as they are, are just dire. They used to tackle serious issues as well as the lighter side, but the latest crop are ....

Does anyone remember the storyline about the lad who committed suicide in Bronson's car?

davidb

oh thats a shame ,he also played a very serious solicitor in mary millingtons first big screen credited film "erotic inferno " ......so ive been told anyway

BristolUK

I was a fan. It was unmissable for me.

It peaked when Zammo had his heroin addiction, but it was still good after that.

Anyone remember the way that girl said Row - land? Instead of Roland.

Lord Brett

Here are some background details about Mark Savage from the BBC's Film Network site:

Actor since 14 years old.Began career when cast as the infamous school bully "Gripper" Stebson in BBC`s Grange Hill.This character was recently voted one of TV`s Top Ten Villians by C4 viewers.Other credits include Just Good Friends,The Gentle Touch,Miracles Take Longer.Short films The Hitch.Race with the Devil.Billy and Buggs-Two football thugs,playing the part of Mad Dog,wrriien and directed by David Maile.www.billyandbuggs.com Currently in "Outside the cradle" A new play written and directed by Linda Landers,expolring themes of abuse.I play the part of the borstal warden and voiceover of the abusive violent father.Runs from 28th November-10th December 2006 at The Etcetera theatre,Camden high st,London.NW1.Tickets for Concerts, Sports, Arts, Theater, Family, Events, more. Official Ticketmaster site "The Crumps" Written by Dean M Drinkel.A dark comedy exploring themes of cannialbilisim.Playing the roles of DS.Kidd and Father Hanson.Runs at The White Bear theatre,Kennington park rd,Kennington,London.SE11.MySpace.com - THECRUMPS - 36 - Male - - www.myspace.com/thecrumps

Mark Savage is performing in Harold Pinters` "Ashes to ashes" @ the young actors theatre.London.N1.70-72 Barnsbury Rd,on tuesday 6th & wednesday 7th may 2008. at 8pm.Tickets on door at ten pounds 6 cons. A great actor.

MB

It was about as awful as you can imagine it to be.

Why do they all have northern accents now? Apart from Todd Carty?

I think it is another bewildering case of the BBC running something, that could have potential, in to the ground with poor scriptwriting.

The scriptwriter selection process at the BBC was, a few years ago - dismal..unbelievably poor..

The routine was 'Doctors', maybe Casualty (if you can dream..good God..) and individuality stifled purposely.

Considering there were thirty people in my scriptwriting class alone - and quite a few of them with a fair bit of talent - I think it is worrying.

Here, they seem to have shifted from the character based, teenage angst led stories that made teenagers want to watch..teenage 'issues' were touched on, but with no passion or insight..the main focus was a ludicrous story about a bomb.

Perhaps, they will bring it back in a few years a la Doctor Who and focus on the genuine gut wrenching concerns of teenagers that it was supposed to cover in the first place.

CaptainWaggett

They all have Northern accents because it's filmed in Liverpool. I'll be interested to watch it though I don't think you can judge a long-running show from its last episode (the last time I saw it was the first Liverpool-filmed episode which also featured a guest appearance from Carty, taking his nephew to his first day at secondary school).

MB

But 'Grange Hill' was set in London. You can't just move it to Liverpool and not make a mockery of it - can you? They don't all have Liverpudlian accents either..It was a site specific programme..not an abstract concept..

As I wrote, above, I thought the show was ground breaking in it's early years, although it slipped into nonsense when I last watched it - about ten years ago. Complicated storylines...and really naff graphics/'kewl language that would make any self respecting teenager cringe...

It was bad, really bad..there is no excuse for that - teenagers deserve good television as much as anyone else.

davidb

the row-land girl was one of the highlights of the show