Series 19 summary – part 2

In part 1, we covered the major plots – relationships between sixth-formers and teachers, bullying, guns, religion. This part covers all the other stuff.

Jessica Arnold pretty much defined the 1994 series, and was a leading light in 1995. Even her absence made waves in 1996; exiled to California after the first recording block, Jessica still loomed as Joe’s erstwhile girlfriend. Lucy and the others fought for Jessica in her absence, in the same way Jessica fought for them in their presence.

Cécile is another slightly missed opportunity; we could have used a little more interaction between Mme. Lefevre and her daughter, and we needed to see her – with or without Joe – somewhere between episodes 2 and 11. In retrospect, we can’t help but wonder if Cécile and the whole Grease storyline was inserted fairly late in development, after some other plot was kyboshed.

Perhaps they were going to spend more time on the “who is Shine” mystery. The graffiti tagger gave up for many weeks, and we assumed they’d let the plot go hang. Perhaps they were going to do more on the split science lessons; Mr. Hankin spent a lot of effort building up that idea, and then it drifted off, never shown on screen. Perhaps they were going to show more of Josh’s drug-taking, and condensed it to one episode. Whatever happened, it felt like this series lacked coherence.

The French exchange worked as a self-contained double episode, we could stick these two episodes on BBC4 next week as a standalone double bill, taking the gentle plot progression for granted. By comparison, Chris and Anna’s escapade doesn’t work in isolation; the emotional heft comes from the character development, and for that to work we need to know both backstories.

There were some slight style changes for this series: pop music was used both as background and to re-inforce the plot. Particularly effective when Jessica plays “Stay another day” on a loop, and when Josh is revising to the hippest Britpop sounds of Oasis and Radiohead. Nothing carbon-dates the episode more accurately.

For this series, we reckon plotlines were agreed in late 1994, filming in spring and summer 1995, transmission in early 1996. Hollyoaks had begun in October 1995, also created by Phil Redmond. Initially commissioned for 26 episodes, it could – and very nearly did, and perhaps should – have finished in April 1996. Glossy and pop-infused, we’ll see more of the influence in later series of Grange Hill.

Other children’s shows of 1996

In addition to The Demon Headmaster, CBBC made The Biz, about youngsters at a performing arts school. Out of Tune, a comedy about a rubbish choir, featuring a young James Corden. Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde was billed as a comedy, we found some little nuggets of character growth through the series, as we did on the import Clarissa Explains It All. CBBC’s Saturday show Live and Kicking was in its Andi-and-Emma pomp, and Rugrats was the hottest thing on telly.

Childrens’ ITV still made an effort to show drama for teenage viewers – spooky anthology Are You Afraid of the Dark? on import, Children’s Ward made in-house. A reboot of The Famous Five might have been for the grannies, not the children.

On other channels: Heartbreak High began its residency on BBC2 in autumn 1994, it’ll run almost unbroken until 1999. My So-Called Life and Party of Five went out on Channel 4 in the summer and autumn, attracting the older part of the CBBC audience.

Leaving now

Leaving showbiz with no significant further work: Jamie Lehane (Jacko Morgan) and Natalie Poyser (Becky Stevens). Natalie Tapper (Jodie Abadeyo of the Fifth Form) got no farewell scene, she’s just quietly dropped into the background and a very similar character replaces her next year. Jenny Long (Anna Wright of the Third Form) wasn’t seen after the trip to Scotland, and left the acting profession around this time.

Darren Kempson (Gabriel) had a recurring role in Real Women (ITV, 1998), and a couple of cameos as a taxi driver.

Martino Lazzeri (Joe Williams) played Dan Smythe in Berkeley Square (BBC, 1998), Alex Bell in Hollyoaks (C4, 1999-2002), and an Italian slickster in television dramas. He’s also appeared in Mansun’s video for “Wide open space”, and still appears to be represented as an actor.

Margo Selby (Julie Corrigan) left showbiz, and trained to design textiles. She works with hand-woven constructions and industrial machinery to create 3-dimensional fabrics. They’re on sale at John Lewis and other stores like that. We think Julie Corrigan would approve.

Nina Fry (Robyn Stone) has continued to act, as Amy in Eastenders (2005-6); and also works as a theatre director.

Abigail Hart (Paula Webster) turned up as Lara in Eastenders (2004) and in sketch comedy Stupid (CBBC, 2004).

Lisa Hammond (Denny) played Harriet in Bleak House (BBC1, 2005), Kerry in Psychoville (BBC3, 2009-11), and now plays market trader Donna Yates in Eastenders (since 2014).

Peter Leeper (Mr. Parrott) left showbiz, and set up as a massage therapist in Cheltenham.

And this is Christine Secombe’s last series as producer. She’d headed the Grange Hill team for four years, and had worked on the programme on and off since 1981. Her other works include A Likely Lad (1992), Dodgem (1991), Troublemakers (1990), Tom’s Midnight Garden (1989), Aliens in the Family (1987; “Solita?” “Nah, mate, it’s Kim Wilde” still has me cackling like a drain), Jonny Briggs (1985-7), and some episodes of Jackanory Playhouse. In our view, Secombe’s best work fused traditional drama methods with contemporary plots. She knew where she wanted Grange Hill to go, and by golly she took it there.

Grange Hill Rewatch now breaks for Christmas. We’ll resume on 22 January, very nearly day-and-date for the 1997 series.