Grange Hill

Daisy Steiner · 05-11-2005, 08:46 AM

There was some programme on C4 last night about Grange Hill circa 1986 and it magically transported me back to my childhood. So, I think some Hill love is overdue.

Were you allowed to watch it (a lot of my friends were not!)? If so, what era? Who were your faves (pupils and teachers)?

I was 12 in 1986 so Zammo, Ziggy and Ro-land were all a part of my formative years (I was very disappointed to see Gripper Stebson at the reunion last night looking like a pasty-faced IT consultant - I had a huge crush on him and his bad-boy ways..........). And of course, who could forget evil Mr Bronson and his equally nasty ginger toupe?!

Even the opening credits were ace (with the big sausage!) and don't get me started on the theme music. So come on in and share the Grange Hill love.

By the way, has anyone else noticed how Justin Lee Collins looks like he could be Evil Pete's hyperactive big brother?

**Pete!** · 05-11-2005, 10:06 AM

Who's my what now?

Daisy Steiner · 05-11-2005, 10:35 AM

This chap, for some reason, reminds me of you young man. Must be the beard. I don't think it's the broad west country accent.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/050416/356/fghcv.html

**Pete!** · 05-11-2005, 11:30 AM

Oh. Right. Umm. Okay. Thanks.

stubacca · 05-11-2005, 12:28 PM

I watched that programme last night it was pretty funny, how pretentious was that guy who insisted on making his own wee viedo??

I was 2 in 1986 so I don't remember that era, I watched around 1994-96 sorta, 96 was when i left primary school so i probably became too cool to watch it after that!

But im ashamed to say I dont remember any of the characters form then, except a vagure recolection of a couple and of course the janitor!

mymble · 05-11-2005, 01:22 PM

Call me stupid

*hears Daisy yelling 'STUPID!!!'*

but I didn't know Grange Hill was an actual place in London until seeing it on a Tube map 3 weeks ago.

Daisy Steiner · 05-11-2005, 02:33 PM

Is it really? I didn't know that either.

Can anyone remember what the rival school was called?

Daisy Steiner · 05-11-2005, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stu_mcgrew

I was 2 in 1986 so I don't remember that era,

I hate you, Stu. I hate you with the force of a thousand suns.

Just kidding (and yes, that bloke was so far up his own bumhole he was coming back out the other end)

Daisy Steiner · 05-11-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evil Pete

Oh. Right. Umm. Okay. Thanks.

Oh now, don't pout. It was said with love.

Laurence · 05-11-2005, 06:54 PM

I like it when they showed the 1978 version back in the 90s as part of a retro thing. The School Uniform rebellion episodes cracked me up - especially this very butch ringleader (Jess)....

Was good seeing Imelda - I had forgotten all about her.

**Mongsdrew** · 05-11-2005, 08:31 PM

I'm a nu-school Grange Hill person obviously. Last time I watched was a few years ago, since I love dipping into kids TV randomly - Lizzie Maguire is so deep! Anyway, when I last watched it, some nice kids had gone into the basement to get their ball or something, and then there was a fire and the school was evacuated. Except for them and they died. It was a bit severe.

The best Grange Hill things are definitely the references in Spaced.

I also ocassionally watched Byker Grove! Grange Hill x chavs - school = Bykah Groooove

**Pete!** · 05-12-2005, 04:02 AM

Yeah, and Ant (or was it Dec?) got shot in the face with paintballs and went blind!

Sarah. · 05-12-2005, 06:54 AM

Being 22, I think I probably watched it most from 1990-1996. At the time I didn't really think about it, but for a kids programme they really touched on sensitive issues, for example I remember one character getting pregnant when 16 (I learned at age 8 that you can get pregnant the first time you have sex thanks to Grange Hill) and another storyline about a 12 year old kid taking some kind of hallucinagenic drug and trying to jump off the top of the school. It was actually a lot like my school, come to think of it.

My favourite characters were the two twin boys whose names I forget, but after being in Grange Hill they went their separate ways and one of them was in 2.4 Children, the other was/is Tony in Hollyoaks.

I think I liked Byker Grove more, actually. I remember being really upset when Ant/PJ got shot in theyes with a paintball and went blind. I have never been paintballing, perhaps as a result of this.

ami t · 05-12-2005, 12:12 PM

Aw I missed it! I knew there was something on last night I was supposed to watch! Damnit!

I haven't watched Grange Hill in years. Those were the days eh?

JonBcn · 05-12-2005, 06:35 PM

Daisy, I'm with you on those mid-80s Grange Hill moments. Zammo's drug hell was responsible for the anti-drug stance of my youth (well, at least until I found out how much fun they could be). Remember 'Just Say No'? It may well have been the best charity single of that year (tough year mind you, with Ferry Aid's Let it Be to compete with).

I watched it until the years of Robbie (who I think I may have fancied) and Gonch - remember them?