X-Nico

5 unusual facts about Grange Hill


Grange Hill, County Durham

The town is known for its scale model of the Sydney Opera House, erected by an unknown Australian, who lived in the village for just under a year.

Luís Boa Morte

Boa Morte made a guest appearance on an episode of the BBC Children's Drama Series, Grange Hill.

Phil Redmond

He is well known for creating several popular television series such as Grange Hill (BBC One, 1978–2008), Brookside (Channel 4, 1982–2003) and Hollyoaks (Channel 4, 1995—).

Rownd a Rownd

Phil Redmond, creator of Grange Hill, Brookside and Hollyoaks, acted as a consultant to the series on its launch in 1995, and again on its tenth anniversary.

The Ghost Hunter

There were three separate series, each of six half-hour episodes The BBC television series was a major success, achieving the number one rating in the Radio Times poll of favourite children's programmes, coming ahead of Blue Peter, Grange Hill and a host of other programmes of the time.


Al Matthews

He has also worked in British television, appearing in Grange Hill as the father of Benny Green, as well as in theater and radio; for the latter, as both an actor (on BBC Radio 4) and a presenter (on BBC Radio 1 and Capital Radio).

Anna Quayle

Other television work includes the comedy drama Mapp and Lucia, the children's science fiction series The Georgian House and Grange Hill where she played the role of Mrs Monroe from 1990–94.

Chris Perry-Metcalf

Christopher "Chris" Perry-Metcalf (born 11 January 1989 in Liverpool) is a former child actor who is best known for playing a Year 11 pupil at Grange Hill, called Togger Johnson.

Christopher Bramwell

He appeared in several TV dramas including Grange Hill, Enemy at the Door, Tales of the Unexpected, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (in a brief appearance as the adult Peter Pevensie) and Van der Valk.

Jo Kendall

Among her television roles, she played Mrs. Bardell in The Pickwick Papers (1985), Anne Stanhope in The Six Wives of Henry VIII and had a semi-regular part in Grange Hill in the 1980s as the mother of regular character Roland Browning.

John Godber

Before venturing into plays, he was head of drama at Minsthorpe High School, the school that he attended as a student, and later wrote for TV series Brookside and Grange Hill.

Paul Jerricho

His best known roles include Robert Hastings during the final series of Howards' Way, violent P.E. teacher Mr. Hicks in Grange Hill and the Castellan in two Doctor Who stories, Arc of Infinity and The Five Doctors.

Sarah Daniels

She has also written episodes of the soap-operas Grange Hill, EastEnders and Holby City.


see also

Acland Burghley School

Tina Mahon, actress, Veronica 'Ronnie' Birtles in "Grange Hill"

Alison Bettles

Bettles was one of various Grange Hill actors to feature in the UK's Just Say No anti-drug campaign.

Ben Freeman

After leaving Grange Hill, when Emmerdale decided to recast the character of Scott Windsor from incumbent Toby Cockerell in 1998, Freeman won the role of the womanising car mechanic Scott.

Rachel Victoria Roberts

She starred in a Ford Fiesta commercial in which she portrayed a secretary who drives to Paris to deliver a set of slides to her employer, and played numerous parts in Agony; a Grange Hill-themed agony slot which aired on the now defunct L!VE TV.

Rene Alperstein

After leaving Grange Hill, she spent some time in theatre, and toured alongside Derek Nimmo in There's a Girl in My Soup.