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The BBC has announced that it is to axe long-running children's drama series Grange Hill.
Grange Hill, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this Friday (nice timing!), will not be recommissioned after the current series ends.
Speaking about the decision, 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 has tackled controversial issues such as teenage pregnancy, racism and, most famously, drug abuse during its 30-year-run.
The Zammo Maguire drugs storyline in the '80s even spawned the infamous charity single Just Say No.
The series also helped launch the careers of the likes of Todd Carty, Susan Tully and Michelle Gayle - and a teenage Naomi Campbell even popped up as an extra.
Last month the show's creator Phil Redmond called for the show to be scrapped over plans to move away from hard-hitting storylines in a bid to appeal to younger viewers. His prayers have been answered!
Will you be sad to see the end of Grange Hill? Who are your favourite characters and what are your memories of the series?
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Posted by: atumaa on Wed Feb 06 07:20PM | Report abuseI have just found my comment on this, and i have also read lots of others and it seems that we all feel the same, very sad. I seems that the 30 somethings and the 40 somethings all have very fond memories of this. If anyone wants to email me, please feel totally free to do so! We could share our memories! x
Posted by: elaine.dawn on Wed Feb 06 07:24PM | Report abuseGrange Hill, especially during the Tucker Jenkins and Tricia Yates ear, (those of us now who are 35+ remember those characters) was at its peak and compulsive viewing. Something to talk about with my peers the next day at school!
Posted by: mayshwillis on Wed Feb 06 07:24PM | Report abuseTucker, Alan and Benny - best characters
Posted by: pmaniatt on Wed Feb 06 07:28PM | Report abuseagsfdgzfd
Posted by: pmaniatt on Wed Feb 06 07:30PM | Report abuseI recommend people buy the dvd's currently available and lobby the bbc to release all the other series up to about 1989, thats about the time the quality began to drop. Tucker Jenkins was best character, and lets face it he pretty much invented the dialogue. And there are interesting similarities between Michael Doyle (Tuckers nemesis) and Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter.
Posted by: barry_bowlwax on Wed Feb 06 07:34PM | Report abuseWhat a shame...I'm a 57 year old nan and still think it's great.. it helped the kids of the day, but maybe todays kids are a bit different, they are not so disciplined. I remember the Zammo storyline very well, script writers were very brave to put that across and the acting was brilliant.Tucker was my all time favourite character.All three of my daughters grew up on Grange Hill and hardly missed an episode, afterwards we would discuss the issues as I always encouraged open discussions. Thanks to Phil Redmond all the writers and the cast for a wonderful 30 years. Pauline Goldstein
Posted by: pauline.goldstein on Wed Feb 06 07:38PM | Report abuseAahh Tricia Yates, my first love LOL! And what about "Mr Hicks", they don't make teachers like that anymore.What a pity!
Posted by: ptaylor404 on Wed Feb 06 07:43PM | Report abuseSad to see such a good program go. I remember when Grange Hill started. Shame to see it go....
Posted by: gazwinnie on Wed Feb 06 07:44PM | Report abuseits a shame to axe such a classic had fun growing up and watching these programes
Posted by: chrisdelboytaylor on Wed Feb 06 07:47PM | Report abuse