Grange Hill forged: Where are they now?

Picture the scene – a squalid public toilet, its filthy urinal the grim focal point as a drug-addled teen slumps to the floor, glassy eyes staring vacantly into space as he savours the effects of his latest fix. 

No, it isn’t Trainspotting, although one could be forgiven for thinking of Irvine Welsh and his harrowing depiction of the heroin crisis that gripped inner-city Edinburgh in the 1980s. 

Somewhat surprisingly, the gritty tableau comes straight from the annals of BBC children’s TV show Grange Hill, as those of us with long enough memories well know. 

Filmed in 1986, the scene formed part of a groundbreaking storyline that highlighted the dangers of drug abuse through Zammo McGuire, a popular student who develops a secret addiction to heroin. 

Played by Lee MacDonald, Zammo would inevitably alienate friends and family as he battled his addiction to the Class A drug, before finally turning his life around.  

The storyline and its subsequent Just Say No anti-drugs campaign turned MacDonald, now 56, into a household name – despite the actor later claiming his portrayal of Zammo ‘ruined his career.’  

But MacDonald’s recent admission that he is battling skin cancer has brought it back into the spotlight, and drawn attention to the mixed fortunes of his former co-stars. 

So where are they now? Open your exercise books and sharpen your pencils… MailOnline has all the answers. 

Stuart Organ – played Peter Robson 

Stuart became a fan favourite for playing Peter Robson, a PE teacher in the drama, going on to become the longest-serving member of staff at the school.

The actor’s passing was confirmed on Friday morning, he died aged 72.

He also played a geography teacher who later got promoted as the headteacher in the show, which ran from 1978-2008.

Organ appeared in Brookside, Doctor Who and medical dramas Casualty and Holby City.

He also acted in several films, including 1990’s Those Glory Glory Days, Present Spirits in 1994 and Fork In The Road in 1997.

In his last years, Stuart appeared as a voiceover artist on Star Wars: The Old Republic and his voice can also be heard on train station announcements. 

Born in 1956, he started his professional career at the Leeds Playhouse in 1975 in a performance of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead. 

As well as appearing in TV, he continued to work in the theatre throughout his career appearing in plays such as An Englishman Abroad, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf and The Comedy of Errors. 

Todd Carty – played Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins 

Todd Carty, 57, remains one of the show’s most famous alumni having remained on TV screens since the first series aired in 1978. His Grange Hill character was so popular, he was given his own spin-off show Tucker’s Luck from 1983 to 1985.

He then starred as Mark Fowler in EastEnders from 1990 to 2003, with a groundbreaking storyline when his character was diagnosed with HIV.

But after his departure from the square, he played away from type portraying the villainous PC Gabriel Kent in The Bill.

Plotting a deranged revenge plot on the mother who gave him away involving incest and raping a colleague, psychopathic Gabriel became a serial killer and eventually committed suicide.

As well as continuing to act on stage and screen, he’s also delved into producing and directing and made a memorable appearance on Dancing On Ice in 2009 because of his lack of flair.

His uncoordinated moves became a ratings draw and in one routine he accidentally skidded through the exit.

As well as starring in panto, he appeared on Celebrity Masterchef in 2014 and in 2015, the actor and his eldest son James filmed a documentary, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, for Channel 5 based on the book by Conn and Hal Iggulden.

Carty and his eldest son, James, filmed together in a factual television series for Channel 5, Dangerous Adventures For Boys, based on the book written by Conn and Hal Iggulden

Most recently, he appeared in the film Silver Birches in 2017 about an author struggling to rebuild his life after the untimely death of his wife.   

Todd has been with his childhood sweetheart Dina Clarkin since 1990, and they have two sons James and Thomas. 

Susan Tully – played Suzanne Ross 

Susan Tully starred as rebellious school girl Suzanne Ross in Grange Hill from 1980 to 1984, and was the daughter of Mrs Ross. 

At the age of 17 she was cast as teenager Michelle Fowler in EastEnders, playing the role of a 16-year-old single mother after becoming pregnant with 39-year-old adulterer ‘Dirty’ Den Watts.

Susan rose to fame in EastEnders as Michelle, joining the hit BBC One soap in 1985 and leaving ten years later in 1995. 

Susan rejected various offers to return to EastEnders as Michelle, and in 2016 gave the show her blessing to recast her character. 

Since her EastEnders exit, Susan has paved a successful career in directing with the likes of The Bill, Silent Witness, Lark Rise to Candleford and Secret Diary of a Call Girl on her résumé. 

The actress even returned to her former home of EastEnders briefly in 1989 to 1999 to direct 12 episodes. 

After getting her first taste of directing on EastEnders in the 90s, she went on to direct and produce episodes of Tin Star, The A Word, Britannia, Musketeers and Silent Witness, and more recently Line of Duty. 

Talented director Tully was praised for the nail-biting final episodes of Line of Duty, and more recently worked on the ITV Thriller Too Close. 

John Alford – played Robbie Wright 

Actor John Alford played happy go lucky Robbie Wright between 1985 and 1991. 

Little brother to Jaqui, Robbie is best remembered for his romances with Calley Donnington and his friendship with Ziggy Greaves. 

After leaving the show, he went on to be a regular on ITV series London’s Burning playing Billy Ray.

He also enjoyed several top 40 hit singles, produced by Stock/Waterman, following his TV success.

But his fortunes turned when he was written out after being caught in a drugs sting.

The former teenage pin-up was caught by the News Of The World’s Fake Sheikh and then served a six week sentence after being charged.

The actor was found guilty by a jury at London’s Snaresbrook Crown Court in 1999 of one count of supplying 2.036 grammes of cocaine to Fake Sheikh Mazher Mahmood, as well as a similar charge involving 11.9 grammes of cannabis resin.

He struggled to return to his previous success after being released but has had small parts since. He’s appeared in Casualty and CBBC show Mile High and had a long-term relationship with Tina Mahon who played Ronnie Birtles. 

In 2016, Mahmood was found guilty of plotting to pervert the course of justice and following the case, it was suggested that up to 72 defendants in criminal cases in which he played a role could apply for convictions to be quashed. 

Alford’s case was among those taken up by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Benny Green – played Terry Sue-Patt 

As Benny Green, Terry Sue-Patt was the first black character to ever be seen on the show and became one of the most popular characters.

He was discovered aged 14 by a talent scout while playing football in the park and enjoyed success in 1989 film The Firm, starring alongside Gary Oldman and Phil Davis.

He said: ‘I basically played myself in Grange Hill. 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 also had minor roles in other TV shows including Desmonds, General Hospital and Jackanory.

In October 2015, Terry was sadly found dead at his London home, aged 50, following a battle with alocholism.  

He was found lying face down in bed and reports suggested his body may have lain undiscovered for a month.

Todd Carty said he was ‘deeply saddened’ by the sudden death of his Grange Hill co-star, writing on Twitter: ‘Deeply saddened by the news of a dear friend Terry Sue-Patt passing away. Thoughts with his family RIP xxx.’  

They played best friends Tucker Jenkins and Benny Green. The pair left the show in the early 1980s just four years after joining but remained friends throughout their careers.

Erkan Mustafa – played Roland Browning 

Erkan Mustafa found fame in the Eighties as Roland ‘Roly’ Browning who was bullied for being obese. 

He played the role for six years and became an iconic character in the series, suffering horrific bullying at the hands of Gripper Stebson.

By the time he left Grange Hill six years later, Roland was able to stand up for himself and had developed a talent for foreign languages. 

After leaving the school drama in 1987, he went on to act in two series of Chef! with Lenny Henry as well as several episodes of Blackadder.

He still teams up with Lee ‘Zammo’ MacDonald for public appearances and charity events.

Erkan was also instrumental in bringing the cast back together for a 2009 reunion at Sound nightclub in London’s Leicester Square.

He continues to act, write and direct according to his Twitter profile, and has made appearances on Soccer AM and Celebrity Juice.

Speaking in an interview with blog GrangeHillGold, he explained he looks back on his memories of the series and remembers ‘great fun’.

He explained: ‘It made me the person I am today. It gave me some good memories and some bad memories. I never really wanted to be an actor and doing Grange Hill, that made for 10 or 15 years of my life, think I was going to be an actor. 

‘Now I know I get more pleasure from writing than acting. But it was all good really. I’ve come out with great experiences. 

‘I’ve done things that other people have never done in their life, but most of all, I’ve come out with some good friends.’

Donald Waugh – played Joseph ‘Hughesy’ Hughes 

Joseph ‘Hughesy’ Hughes actor Donald Waugh starred on the show from 1978 to 1980.

As a child actor, he had starred in several other film and TV series, including Bugsy Malone and Are You Being Served. 

After leaving the show, he turned to theatre and launched a successful career, starring in the original West End cast of Cats and La Cage Aux Folles.

However his life began to spiral out of control and he turned to alcohol, and was eventually forced to live on the streets. 

Speaking to MyLondon, he explained he ended up ‘sinking all his money into a business deal that went wrong.’

He explained: ‘I felt ashamed and embarrassed and felt like a fool to be honest with you.

‘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.’ 

Speaking about becoming homeless to enterprise Pavement to Catwalk, Donald said: ‘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.’ 

He now works to help others who are battling the same problems and attended the 2014 Grange Hill Memories Reunion with his former stars. 

James Jebbia – played Tommy Watson (series one) 

While the character would later be played by actor Paul McCarthey, James Jebbia was the original Tommy Watson  in the first series of Grange Hill. 

His American father was formerly in the United States Air Force, while his English mother was a former teacher, with his parents moving him to the UK when he was just one. 

He appeared as the original Tommy in the series in 1978, starring in five episodes of the programme when he was fourteen-years-old.

Aged 19, he moved back to the US and settled in New York where he began working at a skate shop and clothing store located in SoHo.

In 1989, he managed the streetwear store, Union NYC, which carried a mix of mostly English clothing brands.

Its first store opened in 1989 on Spring Street in Manhattan, and later closed in 2009.

From 1991 to 1994, he partnered with Shawn Stussy, the founder of the clothing brand, Stüssy.

In 1994, Jebbia founded the clothing brand and skateboarding shop Supreme, and opened its first store on Lafayette Street in Manhattan. Among his earliest designs was a cut-and-sew pair of tiger-stripe cargo pants.

As of 2021, Supreme has 13 locations worldwide, one each in New York City, Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, and six in Japan (Harajuku, Shibuya, Daikanyama, Nagoya, Osaka, and Fukuoka).

In 2017, Supreme collaborated with Louis Vuitton, with their debut collection unveiled during Paris Fashion Week.

Jebbia has collaborated with high-profile artists, such as Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince.

He rarely gives interviews and, according to Vanity Fair, Supreme currently generates over $500m annually, 60 per cent of which comes from online orders. 

Simone Nylander – played Janet St Clair 

Actress Simone Nylander, born in London, played kind school girl Janet St Clair from 1982 to 1986. Her character was known for trying to get her friend Roland to fit into Grange Hill. 

The actress left the show after four years, and ended up living with university and celebrity pal Russell Brand for a time. 

It was through her experience on the show that she developed an interest in production work, and it was there she realised this was where her future was. 

Simone also worked for Simon Fuller’s 19 Management organisation and does modelling work.

Since 2011, she has been in voiceover work and remained involved with television, working extensively in production and development for documentaries to series producing for Channel Four and the BBC. 

According to her website, she has cast for radio, theatre, film and commercials. 

In 2020, she launched SN VOICES, a voiceover specialist and management agency for diverse voices. 

In a description online, she describes her passion for her work, saying: ‘I’ve always loved nurturing artists of all calibre and I am passionate about finding fresh, marketable voice talent.

‘With the experience I’ve notched up over the years, it only made sense that I start an agency, a home to a diverse range of collective voices.’

Alison Bettles – played Fay Lucas

Alison Bettles, now 51, played Fay Lucas from 1982 to 1987 in six series of the show.

Bettles was one of the cast members to take part in the famous Just Say No single, to promote an anti-drugs message after the programme’s controversial storyline with Zammo McGuire who became hooked on heroin as a child.

The single reached number five in the charts in 1986. 

In 1988, Alison appeared in an EastEnders spin-off called Civvy Street, set during the second world war, playing a young Ethel Skinner.

She continued acting with small roles in The Bill and No Strings in the Eighties and Nineties and last appeared on British TV screens in London’s Burning in 2001.

Now married with four children, she is a qualified beauty therapist and has reportedly set up a freight business. Meanwhile two of her sons have followed in her acting footsteps, clinching roles in Doctor Who and EastEnders.

Paula-Ann Bland – played Claire Scott 

Paula-Ann’s edgy character Claire caused a stir by fantasising about teacher Mr Hopwood in her diary, who was then attached by her overprotective father. 

She also enjoyed a romance with Stewpot, before discovering he was seeing Annette Firman behind her back.

Because of her success on the small screen record company bosses eyed Paula-Ann as a potential British Kylie and she even released a cover version of The Locomotion. 

She left the series in 1985 and continued to act, appearing in TV series such as Spender and Only Fools and Horses. 

In 1988, she caused a stir by posing topless for men’s magazine Mayfair. 

During the ’90s she turned her back on acting and opened shoe shops called Paola in Knightsbridge and Chelsea before starting her own PR company.

She’s a mother-of-two and is also an ambassador for the Good Grief Trust.

Paul McCarthey – played Anthony Underwood and Tommy Watson

Actor Paul was a member of the original cast of the series, playing Anthony Underwood, having been invited to audition by his drama school.

In an interview with GrangeHill.Tumblr.com, he explained that he ended up leaving the show before realising how big it was going to be. 

He later returned to play Tucker’s friend Tommy Watson in series three, before he went on to star in the spin off show Tucker’s Luck for three series.

He explained he was ‘totally the same’ as his character and there was ‘no acting required.’

Since leaving the show, he went on to star in a series of different films and TV series, including Through The Looking Glass’ in which he played the lead and an episode of The Bill. 

He now lives in Spain and runs a wedding entertainment company.

Michelle Herbert – played Trisha Yates

Michelle played bad girl Trisha Yates in the school drama from 1978 to 1982 but after leaving Grange Hill, Michelle gave up acting and worked for a major sweet manufacturer. 

She made a brief return as Trisha in the final episode of Tucker’s Luck, a Grange Hill spin-off based on Todd Carty’s character Tucker.

Michelle moved to Dundee in the early 1990s to bring up her family, where she works alongside her husband running their family glazing business.

She noticed a small dimple on her breast while on holiday in Rome in 2015..

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in and following a mastectomy was given the all-clear. 

Michelle is now trying to raise awareness of the less-known symptoms of breast cancer and is uring women to check heir breasts for dimples.

Amma Asanta – played Cheryl Webb 

Health conscious Cheryl Webb first appeared in 1986, alongside her sister Louise keeping their terminally ill father a secret.

Unknown to their friends, the girls lost their dad and then brought up their two brothers on their own.

Amma Asante who played Cheryl continued to act, with roles in series such as Birds Of A Feather and also worked as a children’s presenter for a year.

However, Amma has made a highly successful career for herself as a writer and director, with her 2004 feature film A Way Of Life winning the Carl Foreman award at the BAFTAs. 

Her series Brothers And Sisters ran for two series on BBC2. Amma is married to Soren Kragh Pedersen, a former chief of media at Europol in the Netherlands.

In 2014 the film she directed the film Belle, about Dido Elizabeth Belle – an illegitimate mixed race daughter of an enslaved African woman and a British navy captain – who was placed with her great uncle and his wife in late 18th-century London.

She also directed A United Kingdom, with David Oyelowo and Rosamund Pike, which she filmed in Botswana. 

Michael Cronin – played Mr ‘Bullet’ Baxter 

Michael Cronin has had a prolific acting and writing career since starring as teacher Mr ‘Bullet’ Baxter.

He was already working as a character actor and had appeared in Fawlty Towers, but it is the role of the no-nonsense PE teacher he’s best known for.

Michael joined Grange Hill in 1979 and saw his character promoted to Deputy Head, before eventually leaving to run a leisure centre. 

Since leaving Grange Hill in 1987, Michael has continued to act, taking on a range of television and theatre roles, including parts in a touring production of Hamlet and ITVs The Mayor Of Casterbridge.

Michael reprised his role as Mr Baxter in the ITV sitcom The Grimleys during the late 1990s, and has appeared in shows including fantasy family drama Merlin, detective show Vera and the daytime soap Doctors as well as Law And Order: UK.

He’s also appeared on stage and become a writer with three children’s novels and a number of screenplays to his name.

George Christopher – played Ziggy Greaves 

Popular Scouser Ziggy Greaves arrived at Grange Hill in 1986 and spent four years on the show, with his character compared to original scamp Tucker in the first series.

He went on to appear in Brookside as Little Jimmy Corkhill.

George has also appeared in numerous theatre productions, including some he’s written himself and is currently working on a stage version of Papillion.

He reunited with some of his Grange Hill class mates for Channel 4’s Bring Back Grange Hill and also works for a taxi firm.

John Holmes – played Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener  

Luke ‘Gonch’ Gardener stepped into the shoes of Pogo Patterson as Grange Hill’s ‘ginger entrepreneur’, joining the cast in 1985. 

Always full of money making schemes, Gonch was a wheeler dealer who ran a toast bar, a dating agency, a homework service and a PE kit lending scheme all from the classroom. 

In 1989, during Gonch’s last series, he fell in love with Mandy Freemont. 

Actor John Holmes left the show to complete his education and studied at the University of East Anglia, where he eventually became president of the Student Union for several years. 

John gave up acting after Grange Hill and now works as the manager of a casino.

Lucinda Duckett – played Ann Wilson 

Ann Wilson, played by Lucinda Duckett, was part of Grange Hill’s original female cast however ended up leaving the school after just one series.

After leaving school, Lucinda trained as a journalist, working in Fleet Street before moving to Sydney in 1988. 

She now works as Director of Corporate Affairs for GB News, having joined the company in December 2020.

George Armstrong – played Alan Humphries

Alan Humphries became one of Grange Hill’s key original characters between 1978 and 1982.

Played by George from the first episode until Series 5, the character joined Todd Carty’s Tucker Jenkins for three series of the spin-off ‘Tucker’s Luck’. 

Grange Hill Gold was fortunate enough to chat to George about early auditions, on set friendship, favourite moments and much more, in this exclusive interview.

After his time on Grange Hill, George continued to pursue acting opportunities and took on the role of PC Driscoll in The Bill in 1989.

Since giving up acting, George – who lived in Waltham Abbey – had become a Technical Theatre Manager at a public school.

In July 2023 it was revealed he’d died at the age of 60, after a ‘long battle with leukemia’.