Can You Help? - October

ARCHIVE REQUESTS: OCTOBER 2001
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When is Grange Hill back? 31/10/01

P. S. Murrell is missing Grange Hill: "Can you please let me know when a new series is coming on?" Sure can! The new series begins in January on BBC1. No exact date yet but we think it'll start at the end of the month. We'll have more news about Series 25 in the coming months - so keep it here!

Francesca stamps on bigotry 31/10/01

Andrew Startup has been ad-spotting: "I have some news of Francesca Martinez. I spotted her recently in a commercial highlighting how disabled people are treated differently. She plays a young woman in a bar trying to order a round of drinks, but the barman is not really listening to what she is saying and keeps replying with the name of the drinks he thinks she is ordering. Finally she has a go at him and makes him see the errors of his ways. Francesca also shows her sense of humour when the barman ask her if she wants anything else by replying she`d let him know in a way to suggest she fancied him."

Well Andrew, the ad you refer to has actually been running for the last three years! There's another commercial in the same campaign featuring Frederica Stabb, who appeared in Grange Hill towards the end of Series 21. The best time to see Fran and Carol's ads is during the night-time on ITV1, or before closedown on BBC1.

Paula's bid for chart success 27/10/01

Paula Ann Bland (Claire Scott) had another string to her bow, as Vince Oldham tells us: "A brief digression back to Paula Ann Bland. Did you know she released a single in September 1983? Apart from the title "LOCOMOTION"/"GO FOR IT" and the label (the very obscure Kay-Drum label - number KRUM 103) I have no further info on it. Sounds like a disco/New Romantic kind of thing. I don't have a copy of this and I've never seen one either but it was definitely released in the UK. If I find a copy I'll let you know." Thanks Vince! Paula was clearly a busy girl, singing as well as modelling and acting! We've never heard of her single but we'd love to hear it, so if anyone has a copy, get in touch!

Mr Sutcliffe's Christian teachings 27/10/01

David Watson has news of one of Grange Hill's early teachers: "I have just been given the e-mail address of James Wynn (he played Mr Sutcliffe) and I have e-mailed him. He produced the Alpha Christianity course videos and belonged to Holy Trinity Brompton (the place where the ITV series on Alpha is held). I told him about your site and gave him the address to check out. If he gives me any info on GH and other projects I'll e-mail you it." Thanks David - it's great to have tracked down another of Grange Hill's earliest stars. The last we heard about James is that he quit acting in favour of directing; but that's as much as his former agent knew. So it's nice to have some news about him. If you're reading this James, drop us a line!

* James Wynn played Mr Sutcliffe between 1979 and 1982. He was the easy-going English master who had legions of female fans!

GH cartoon lasted into the 90s 27/10/01

Andrew Startup adds to Fraser Watson's memories of cartoon strips: "I remember the Grange Hill cartoon strip in Fast Forward, and have a copy of one. It has Becky Stevens in it and involves a story of the school being closed down. Ironically the writers obviously didn`t watch the series as the strip featured Becky`s father, while in the programme Becky's parents were divorced. On another note the new series of Urban Gothic has started on Channel 5 and will feature Clare Buckfield in an up coming episode as Caitlin." Thanks Andrew. As you say, some cartoons/novels based on TV series do get things wrong - the Grange Hill novels were guilty too! Thanks for the latest info on Claire - a busy girl as usual!

Name those boys - and save our sanity! 25/10/01

Emma McCumiskey wants us to put her workmates' minds at rest: "Help it's driving us all mad at work, we remember most things from really early on in Grange Hill and we all loved the re-runs. Please could someone tell us the name of the character Rene Zagger played and who his girlfriend was in the programme? Also could you tell us the name of Laura Reagan's suave highlighted haired (Not!!) boyfriend in the programme. Cheers much appreciated before we all go bananas!!"

Well Emma, let's save your sanity! Rene played Mike Bentley, an athlete who dated Georgina Hayes (Samantha Lewis). As for Laura Reagan's boyfriend, he was none other than Freddie Mainwaring, played by Simon Vaughan. Not sure about suave, womanising and extremely vain were better phrases to describe Freddie! Click here for our Star File on Simon Vaughan. Hope this puts your minds at rest!

Thanks for your acting advice! 25/10/01

Gemma is grateful for Close Up's feature about acting: "Hi, I'm Gemma and I'm 15. Thank you for your web site, it has really helped me a lot. I go to a normal school and I have been in various productions in school, and I'm doing a GCSE in expressive arts. I know what is meant by hard work to get parts as they don't come easy at all. Basically I'm just saying thanks. Bye." Hi Gemma! I'm delighted you've found our acting tips useful, obviously we've given the right advice for hopefuls like yourself. What roles have you auditioned for - have you been on TV? Good luck with your GCSE, stick with it and hopefully you'll get your big break!

Grange Hill comic strips 25/10/01

Fraser Watson has found something worth a mention in Collectors' Corner: "A few weeks ago I suddenly remembered another Grange Hill thing which I have never seen anyone else writing about. This is the comic called School Fun which first came out in about 1982. There was a page or two of strips in each issue called Grange Hill Juniors. The one I always remember without going and looking is a strip about Roly bunking off and Mrs. McClusky coming round to see where he is. Of course he is in the house stuffing his face with cakes. Another story was about Zammo & Jonah being chased by Gripper. Another issue had a Grange Hill quiz in it. Eventually this comic was finally merged into Buster. However, I don't think the Grange Hill strip survived."
Thanks Fraser! Personally I don't remember "School Fun" but I imagine there was a Grange Hill Juniors cartoon somewhere. Mind you, that wasn't the only Grange Hill cartoon strip around - Radio Times had one around 1989 and there was also a GH cartoon in "Fast Forward" magazine. Sadly nothing of the sort nowadays, apart from a one-off Grange Hill cartoon in the BBC Children's TV Annual 2000. If anyone's got any copies of "School Fun", let us know!

Did Patsy star in Grange Hill? 21/10/01

13-year old Kayla Stanley hopes we can settle a dispute: "Hi. Me and my brother keep arguing about if Patsy Palmer was in Grange Hill. He says she wasn't and I say she was. My mum is no help so if she was can you please tell us when and show us a picture to prove who was right? Thank you."

Hi Kayla! You'll be pleased to hear you've won the argument - Patsy did appear in Grange Hill between 1985 and 1987. However, for most of that time she was in the background. Occasionally she did have a few lines and whenever this happened she was listed on the end credits as having played a character called "Natasha". As requested here's a photo of Patsy in Grange Hill - let's hope your brother gives you some peace!

Mr Brisley sends greetings from Oz! 16/10/01

Adam Ray - better known as Mr Brisley - tells us more about life in Australia: "Thanks for the email, and yes I'd love to pop back into GH one day when I'm in the UK... I really miss the show and especially the kids. It's certainly not their fault Mr B disappeared so suddenly - I'd moved over to Sydney between series 21 and 22 (I'd made the promise to my Australian wife that our two kids Jack (8) and Lizzie (4), could grow up in sunny Bronte - near Bondi by the sea) and left the writers no time to do anything when I came back in April and told them "er...I'm afraid I've moved!"

"I'm still very much in touch with everyone at GH - as you know it's like an extended family and Stuart Organ (Mr Robson) just stopped over for a few days en route to a wedding in NZ. (not his - though the next series has quite a few surprises for him!) Jo Ward, who produced GH and also 'See How They Run', is also great at keeping me up to date and Lee Cornes (Hankin) sends the odd hilarious email. Meantime I'm working here as a regular in an ABC TV news comedy show called Backberner as well as playing Doctor Routledge in a show called 'All Saints' - like Casualty with sunshine! I'll keep an eye on the website and let you know any gossip I hear!" Hi Adam; nice to hear you're keeping busy! It's just a shame we can't see your new shows in the UK - unless they're on satellite (does anyone know)? Still, keep in touch and thanks for the gossip!

Missing from Max's CV 16/10/01

Staying with Max, Julie Holt spotted an omission from his Star File: "I noticed that you haven't mentioned that Max Brown is in the new look Crossroads. He plays Mark Russell. Thought you could add this to update your Star File." Thanks Julie - seems we did neglect to mention Max's role in Crossroads, but we've fixed that now! If I remember rightly, we did Max's Star File in February before Crossroads was launched. Still that's no excuse...thanks for telling us!

Where was Max's school? 16/10/01

Seetha Reddy asks: "Hi, this might sound like a weird question but which high school did Max Brown go to, and which town/city was it in? Thanks." Hi Seetha. Unfortunately we don't know where Max went to school, but we DO know that he was born in Ilkley, Yorkshire. So maybe that's where his school was? If YOU went to school with Max, or you can answer Seetha's question, drop us a line!

Help me find Grange Hill window breaker! 13/10/01

Rebecca Whyte is a BBC researcher for 'The Joy of Gardening': "Hope you can help! I am trying to source a clip of a child kicking or throwing a ball that ended up through a greenhouse window. I am convinced that it must have happened at some stage in Grange Hill and was wondering whether anyone can remember it happening. Fingers crossed!" Hi Rebecca. Now here you've got me - I have to say not once do I remember a football breaking a greenhouse window in 24 series of Grange Hill. There was one occasion in 1992 where a stray football hit the pregnant Chrissy Mainwaring, but no greenhouse I'm afraid. Perhaps you are thinking of another children's series? Sorry we can't be of much help.

* Do YOU recall seeing a football striking a greenhouse in Grange Hill? If so please drop Rebecca a line via the usual GH Online address.

Veena In The Picture 13/10/01

Anand Kapoor hopes we can refresh his memory: "I am was a great fan of Grange Hill and I remember a character in it played by Veena Tulsiani but cannot remember what she looks like. Would you be good enough to send me a picture? Thanks." Consider it done, Anand! Veena played Aichaa Rashim, an Asian sixth former who dated Robbie Wright, for one series in 1990. Our photo is from the Radio Times and shows Aichaa with her screen brother Akik (played by Sundeep Suri). After Grange Hill, Veena played a teenage runaway in "Children's Ward" but has not been spotted on TV since. Glad we could help!

Was Robyn's cousin also a French student? 13/10/01

Staying in Australia, here's David Watson: "Fraser was on your site the other day and he mentioned to me that you discussed the actor who played Robyn Stone's cousin. I just thought that I would ask you another question about him. I have wondered about this since around 1996. Do you think that he is also one of the French students that visit the school that year. There is one particular occassion where the French students are running down the hallway and come into Brisley's class late. There is one student who looks exactly like him but just a bit older. What do you think?" Hi David. The actor who played Jake (Robyn's cousin) was Ricky Wald. I think it's unlikely the French exchange student from 1996 was Ricky, as he was not credited in that episode. Yet sometimes actors do get recycled in Grange Hill - remember Brenda Cavendish, who played Mrs Schubert the PE mistress in 1979? She reappeared in 1993 as Mrs Cresswell, mother of Justine's public school friend Luke. So it could have been Ricky after all!

UPDATE: Brisley moves Down Under 13/10/01

Two months ago Alan Kibby e-mailed to say he'd spotted Adam Ray, formerly Grange Hill's Mr Brisley, in a TV commercial. Well, Adam himself has confirmed this: "Yep that's Mr Brisley growing fat in OZ!" Hi Adam - nice to hear from you; hope you're enjoying GH Online! If you want to see Mr Brisley as you've never seen him before, watch the commercial for RAC Insurance at www.brandagency.com.au and select "work Pages" from the menu. You'll need a Quicktime plug-in though.

Wanted: Recent pics of Grange Hill's Matthew 13/10/01

An anonymous request from a smitten fan: "Help folks! Paul Parris (who played Matthew Pearson) is so gorgeous! Does anyone have any recent pictures of him. He also plays Bruno Di Gradi in 'Renford Rejects'. Email me!" Hiya - we've only got the one photo of Paul here on GH Online - and it looks like it's from the late 1980s. To see it click on JULY in the menu bar above. I'm not sure where you'd get recent pictures of him though - why not search for Renford Rejects sites? Good luck!

Remember me - I was Big Tel! 11/10/01

David Bell fears his role in Grange Hill may have been forgotten: "Back in the days when Gonch, Robbie and Ziggy used to get up to high jinks, I played a character called Terrence Parker, aka Big Tel. There were only 4 or 5 episodes with Big Tel in them, the most memeroble were when I headbutted Gonch and went on a blind date with Mauler. Does anyone apart from my Mum remember me? Love to hear from anyone."

Well fear not David, we remember Big Tel! And I'm sure lots of other people do as well. But if you don't remember David's character, Big Tel was the school hardman who appeared in a few episodes in 1988/89. Gonch was running a spare PE kit service and when Gonch had no kit for Big Tel, Mr Parker headbutted him! The following year Gonch's latest scam was computer dating. Mauler McCaul and Big Tel signed up for dates, only to discover they'd been set up with each other! Great to hear from you David, everyone please e-mail your memories of Big Tel!

Desperate to star in Grange Hill 07/10/01

Natalie Sharpe hopes we can help: "My name is Natalie I am 15 years old from East London and I really want to be on Grange Hill. I have an agent and she's not all that good. My friend Fabio is going to be on the show in January and has finished filming a main part. If you do have auditions please could you e-mail me I wrote to Grange Hill a while ago to see if there was any parts and described myself."

Hi Natalie. Sorry you feel let down by your agent and I know how awful it feels when your friend's in the show and you aren't! However, GH Online is a mere fan site and we wouldn't know about auditions. As a rule Grange Hill usually approaches theatre schools/agents for its actors and does not hold open auditions. Check out Close Up's feature on acting for more information. If you feel your agent isn't much use than perhaps it might be an idea to get another one. Many actors change agents regularly!

In the meantime, tell us more about Fabio's character in the new series - we look forward to seeing him!

Dai Hard in the picture 07/10/01

Val Jones asks: "Is there a picture of Dai-Hard Jones anywhere?" Indeed there is Val - right here! Hope you like the photo of Clive Hill - who plays him - below.

Vintage Grange Hill media 05/10/01

Hello now to Vince Oldham: "Best wishes to you. As with many others I grew up with GRANGE HILL over the years too (I'm a not-so young 34 now!) and remember the early days particularly well. You may already know some of this but I'll submit it anyway....PAULA ANN BLAND (Claire Scott) appeared briefly as a nurse in the bizarre horror film I BOUGHT A VAMPIRE MOTORCYCLE in 1990 (and was bisected about 2 mins after appearing!) Also, I once had a copy of Alan Hawkshaw's GRANGE HILL/STONED 45 on BBC. Now a pretty hard item to find and sells for around £15-20.

"I've enclosed a scan of the first GRANGE HILL video (which despite its cover photo only features the best of season 1). It's not a great pic as the box and the cover were the same unit rather than separate but you may want to use this on your site." Hi Vince! Thanks for sharing your memories; I imagine the original GH single must be a collector's item now. But £20? Flippin' eck! Anyhow, we didn't know about Paula's film role so thanks for telling us! We'll definitely be using the video scan (left) - much appreciated!

A question of dates 05/10/01

Here's Keith the Tucker fan again: "A lot of people say that Grange Hill started in 1978 but I seem to remember that the first series was 1977, with a pilot run of 9 episodes. Does my memory serve me correct? Also, did Tucker and Gripper Stebson ever do a scene together?" Well Keith, yes and no to your first question. Grange Hill goes out in January each year, so what seems like that year's series was actually filmed the year before! So the first series was filmed in 1977, but not actually shown until Wednesday 8th February 1978.

And yes, Tucker and Gripper appeared together at least twice. In the final programme of Series 4, Tucker sends Gripper packing for annoying his classmates. And in the first episode of Series 5, Tucker saves Zammo from Gripper - only to steal Zammo's chocolate bar as payment!

Mr Llewelyn gets his own site! 03/10/01

Back in August, Sarah Thomas was looking for Grange Hill episodes featuring Sean Arnold as Mr Llewelyn. Since then she's been busy: "Just to let you know that the address for my Sean Arnold website is: http://surf.to/seanarnold It's not completely finished yet but most of it is done. Thanks again." Hi Sarah! We've had a look at you site and it's a good one, so we'll add it to our Links page. Nice to hear from you again!

Tucker fan seeks videos of hero! 01/10/01

Starting off the new month, here's Keith: "Hi there, thanks for taking the time and trouble to creat this site which is definitely the best on the web. Anyway, my name is Keith and I am a 30-year old fan from Blackpool (well, up until 1981 when Tucker left) and was wandering if anyone could supply me with copies of any episodes with Tucker in; whether they be the pudding-basin head early days or the biker jacket heydays. If anyone can help please e-mail me at mr001a7006@blueyonder.co.uk Thanks very much." Hi Keith! Glad you like the site. There are loads of Tucker fans out there so I'm sure someone will be in touch soon. Good luck!

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