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Post by ManicKangaroo on Feb 6, 2008 14:28:18 GMT 1
The BBC is axing children's TV school drama Grange Hill after 30 years.
CBBC controller Anne Gilchrist said: "The lives of children have changed a great deal since Grange Hill began and we owe it to them to reflect this."
The series began on 8 February 1978 and featured some tough storylines about social issues including drugs and teenage pregnancy over the years.
There will be one more series this year, in which producers want to focus on the younger children of Year Six.
The show's creator Phil Redmond was reportedly unhappy with the strategy and felt the programme was losing its gritty purpose.
"I don't like keeping things going when the point has been lost," he told the Observer recently. "I do now think the point of Grange Hill has been lost, and 30 years is a nice time for it to hang up its mortar board."
The show's most controversial story was in 1986 when Zammo Maguire began taking drugs. It led to the Just Say No campaign and a top 10 single.
Jon East, head of CBBC Drama, said: "For 30 years, Grange Hill has become a byword for realistic and contemporary children's drama.
"It's now time to apply what we've learned over the years to some of the new ideas we're exploring."
It was also a nurturing ground for young talent. Among its stars were Todd Carty, Susan Tully and John Alford.
Ms Gilchrist added: "Part of CBBC's reputation for reflecting contemporary Britain back to UK children has been built upon Phil Redmond's brilliantly realised idea.
"Of course it's sad to say goodbye to such a much loved institution."
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Post by wonderwall on Feb 6, 2008 14:31:24 GMT 1
ah !Grange hill 5 o clock on bbc back in 80s rememember it well used to watch it while i was having my tea.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2008 16:32:14 GMT 1
I think the BBC ruined it in recent years, first by moving its location to Liverpool, then moving it the CBBC channel last year, when a lost of people didn't realise it was on and missed it. And recently the decision to focus soley on 'juniors'.
I reckon the BBC planned this all along and it was their intention to axe it.
R.I.P. Grange Hill
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Post by S1m on Feb 6, 2008 19:18:00 GMT 1
That Gilchrist woman was on Newsround just a bit ago saying they've decided to axe it as "31 years is enough" and something to do with children's lives not revolving around school anymore. What bizarre reasons!
Oh and I agree that it seems to have been deliberately killed off, in the same way TOTP was.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2008 2:47:01 GMT 1
That Gilchrist woman was on Newsround just a bit ago saying they've decided to axe it as "31 years is enough" and something to do with children's lives not revolving around school anymore. What bizarre reasons! Oh and I agree that it seems to have been deliberately killed off, in the same way TOTP was. I agree, i mean school isn't relevant anymore? Hello! What do kids do 5 days a week? School is as relevant as it always was. It's probably good they've axed now, if the plans for this last series is as bad as it looks. Perhaps another channel should buy it and make it good again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2008 2:47:26 GMT 1
Mrs McClusky remembers her school Source: bbc.co.uk
The BBC has announced children's TV series Grange Hill is ending after 30 years. One of the programme's most memorable characters was not a pupil but headmistress Mrs McClusky.
Gwyneth Powell joined the programme in 1981 and was the school's figurehead until 1991. Here she remembers her time in charge.
I'm sad obviously and nostalgic, but I think creator Phil Redmond has said it's had its day and maybe it has.
I know it was relocated to Liverpool and set in a technical college, so it really had ceased to be Grange Hill as I knew it. It was of its time and ground-breaking.
But I don't think Grange Hill was just about issues; it was about characters. There was lots of humour in there and I think it was a very entertaining show. Most people watched it for the fun.
At first Mrs McClusky was written as a 'twin set and pearls' role but I was quite young at the time and didn't want to play it like that. We started with the clothes and she was quite fashion conscious and chic.
I was told by lots of people she was a great fillip to young women teachers who started applying for headships. The show had repercussions in all kinds of ways and the character did too. My period did coincide with the Thatcher years. I think Mrs McClusky became memorable because we had a prime minister like that.
The irony is I trained as a teacher but never taught. I went into theatre but I had the teaching practice. Some of the children were very young and they probably saw me as a teacher. I was fond of them and still am. It's nice to see them growing up.
I got on very well with Michael Sheard who played Mr Bronson. We didn't on-screen obviously. It was very sad when he died. He was a very nice man in reality.
Probably the episode I will never forget was the introduction of Roland. He locked himself in the lavatory and had to be got out with stick bombs. Then he joined the cross country run to get back to his mum for more food. It's an absolutely beautiful episode and stands alone as a play.
I'm sure Grange Hill did have social impact because people were talking about it. It was the first series that dealt with real problems in a real way without being patronising. I'm not saying it would change society, but maybe it helped a lot of young people.
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Morag
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Post by Morag on Feb 7, 2008 9:23:19 GMT 1
They were still MAKING Grange Hill??
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Feb 7, 2008 13:44:12 GMT 1
That Gilchrist woman was on Newsround just a bit ago saying they've decided to axe it as "31 years is enough" and something to do with children's lives not revolving around school anymore. What bizarre reasons! I saw that too and agree, did seem strange. I often watched it with my parents, but stopped watching it soon after the move to Liverpool because it stopped being as relevant. I always remember when Ben Freeman joined, someone who I was at school with for 4-5 years (few years at primary school, one year at secondary school) and who my parents both taught, his family were also friends of the family. I think my parents were more shocked than I was when they saw him on the show. In fact my mum didn't recognise him at first! We had moved away from the area before he joined the show but I imagine it would have been pretty big news at secondary school.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Feb 7, 2008 14:00:12 GMT 1
Forgot to add the news itself didn't come as a surprise. There were rumours on DS last year that the show was going to end after the next series.
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Post by o on Feb 7, 2008 14:01:32 GMT 1
They were still MAKING Grange Hill?? My thoughts as well, thought it had gone ages ago, was great in it's first few years, we all watched it!
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Post by wonderwall on Feb 7, 2008 14:44:31 GMT 1
I remember it back in the mid 80s used to get huge viewing figures its just not the type of program kids like anymore is it?
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Becca
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Post by Becca on Feb 7, 2008 16:09:27 GMT 1
i never ever watched it i dont think so its no loss to me really
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2008 2:04:52 GMT 1
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Post by S1m on Feb 8, 2008 2:20:33 GMT 1
I always remember when Ben Freeman joined, someone who I was at school with for 4-5 years (few years at primary school, one year at secondary school) and who my parents both taught, his family were also friends of the family. I think my parents were more shocked than I was when they saw him on the show. In fact my mum didn't recognise him at first! We had moved away from the area before he joined the show but I imagine it would have been pretty big news at secondary school. Wow, I've met him once or twice on the autograph front, but that's interesting you were at the same schools! Care to comment on his current status? eg. Ooh, I lived next-door to him and he was always a bit weird etc.
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Tom
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Post by Tom on Feb 8, 2008 17:19:52 GMT 1
I always remember when Ben Freeman joined, someone who I was at school with for 4-5 years (few years at primary school, one year at secondary school) and who my parents both taught, his family were also friends of the family. I think my parents were more shocked than I was when they saw him on the show. In fact my mum didn't recognise him at first! We had moved away from the area before he joined the show but I imagine it would have been pretty big news at secondary school. Wow, I've met him once or twice on the autograph front, but that's interesting you were at the same schools! Care to comment on his current status? eg. Ooh, I lived next-door to him and he was always a bit weird etc. Thought you would be interested Sim Sorry to disappoint but there isn't a lot to say, not from a personal perspective anyway! I didn't really know him that well. He was two years older than me at school and at secondary school it was rare that I even saw him around. I only have two abiding memories of him at primary school. Asking him where my dad was in the school lol, and seeing him in a school play, memory is sketchy but I think it may have been Sweeney Todd. Always came across as friendly (he would always say hello on those rare occasions i saw him at secondary school) and my parents both liked him, and although the family didn't live in the same residential area as us they lived in the same village (ish) no more than 5 mins drive away. There were some disgusting things said about him though by someone on the Slough football forum last year ahead of his rape trial (where I believe he was found innocent). Disturbing because the guy said he was at school with him, so i may have known him, at least by name anyway..
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Post by S1m on Feb 8, 2008 18:50:07 GMT 1
Ah, cheers Tom. He seemed really nice when I met him after a charity football match in Sheffield. I hate today's "trial by media" society, it nearly wrecked Craig Charles' career when he was falsely accused, just hope all turns out well for Ben too.
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Post by S1m on May 23, 2021 22:30:38 GMT 1
Wow Mark - blast from the past eh?
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Mark
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Post by Mark on Jan 6, 2022 12:54:44 GMT 1
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Post by Whitneyfan on Jan 6, 2022 16:10:03 GMT 1
Ooh, Grange Hill the movie - that should be very interesting. I hope they manage to get some of the early cast back.
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Post by S1m on Jan 7, 2022 16:16:57 GMT 1
Quite a surprise comeback!
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