Series 25, episode 18

Sparks fly on Mr Robson’s wedding day.

28 March 2002, repeated 30 and 31 March 2002, 5 March and 13 August 2003

“Let the world know exactly what kind of man is taking over the reins”

Content warning for implied violence, terrible CGI, and for great balls of fire.

Martin and Max and Kathy and Ben wait outside the school grounds, plotting to put the truth about Deverill, or Wilcox, or whatever his name is.

Kathy flatters Mr. Deverill, promises a website article about the new headteacher. Deverill trusts her, and hands over the keys to the computer room.

So, what’s Chris and Kieron’s plan? Counterfeit notes, Cracker’s to drop them off at Macca’s scrap metal yard, and will be paid £500 for his troubles. Except that Kieron’s switched the parcel, replacing the counterfeit notes with an identical package he prepared earlier. Bit late to audition for Blue Peter?

Cracker turns up at the scrap car yard, and hands over the package. It’s a pile of blank paper. Cracker runs away from the men, but is saved when Kieron turns up.

Kieron spins a yarn about Chris being worried that Macca had talked to the cops, and that’s why Chris sent the blank notes. Meet him at the club, they suggest. So they go off to the club, where Chris finds a note “What goes around, comes around”, and the piles of fake £50 notes. And in come three coppers to nick the lot of them.

“The chemical cupboard is the safest place I can think of”, says Mr. Hankin, who will be Mr. Robson’s best man. That’s where he’s hidden the rings. They pass Max and Ben and Ian and Rob from the independent school, who are hiding in the car park.

Mr. Hankin insists on putting the chemicals back in the cupboard, but Mr. Wilcox-Deverill-thingy insists the chaps go – he’ll lock up and they can put the chemicals away later.

Mr. Robson turns up late for the wedding, a neat reversal of the traditional roles. “Let’s get married,” replies Miss Carver.

Vikki and Briony have a talk, during which Briony’s bag spills open. It’s got sweets and crisps in it, television code for crap food. Briony can’t talk about what’s going on.

Matt has twigged what’s going on, how Briony’s making herself throw up, to feel better about herself.

The happy couple turn up in school, for a small and intimate meal, organised by Carl. The curtains drop to reveal all of the pupils, and there are speeches from Miss Fraser and Mr. Hankin.

After that, Ian has a quiet word with Mr. Deverill. “Kathy’s got a problem: should she file you under D or W. For Wilcox. Stephen Wilcox.” A face like thunder, as his secret is rumbled.

Kathy is quietly working in the computer room, and publishes “Deverill / Wilcox? You decide” on the screens. Mr. Devewilcox enters the room, fuming like smoke’s coming out of his nostrils, and raises his hand to strike Kathy. Ian and Ben follow, with Mr. Robson seeing it all.

And the evidence just keeps coming. Ian tells of how he was struck the once, and then Rob from the private school enters. “Sacked for violent conduct… you make me feel worthless.” Devewilcox’s response? “You weren’t bad. You were pathetic. I should have hit you harder.” Mr. Robson has heard enough.

Devewilcox is put into the PRF, a room for “quiet reflection”. Except… he’s still got his keys, and lets himself out of the PRF. Heading to the headmaster’s office, he collects incriminating papers and puts them in a bin. He prepares to burn them… and notices the smoke alarm.

Turning the school’s fire alarm off, Devewilcox lights his fire and prepares to make good his escape. But Vikki and Kieron are rowing in the corridor outside, leaving Devewilcox to exit through the window. And in the unguarded office, the draught from the open window fans the flame and it catches his second suit…

Ian’s going to get his army reference. Cracker tells Tom that Lisa fancies him something rotten, and they talk and they kiss.

Mr. Robson tells his new wife that he’s staying for another year. Briony opens her soul to Matt.

And the fire has spread, out of the head’s office and into the chemical lab.

And Kieron and Vikki are still rowing, how Kieron does everything himself, and how all he wants is Vikki. It’s the deep kiss they’ve been leading up to for the whole series.

Ian and Max have alerted Mr. Robson to the escaped Devewilcox, and they stumble on the fire. Mrs. Robson breaks the fire alarm with her shoe, but nothing happens. Tom and Lisa stumble pass the place, and shout “Run!” at Vikki and Kieron.

And then, in a spectacularly bad CGI effect even by 2002 standards, a fireball leaps out of the chemistry lab and instantly engulfs the whole building. Windows are blown out, though the flames somehow don’t affect the benches just outside.

Si Spencer wrote, Mark Sendall directed.

Music: “High” by The Lighthouse Family as Miss Carver prepares… “Dancing in the moonlight” by Toploader as Ian ambushes Devewilcox… At the party: “Mambo number 5” by Lou Vega… “Life is a rollercoaster” by Ronan Keating… “True” by Spandau Ballet… “Groovejet (if this ain’t love)” from Spiller and Sophie Ellis Bextor… “Everlasting love” by The Love Affair … “Sexbomb” by Tom Jones.

The series ends here. I’ll be back next week, to wrap up the 2002 series, and the 1994-2002 era as a whole.

Series 25, episode 16

Max and Ben make an exciting discovery.

21 March 2002, repeated 23 and 24 March 2002, 4 March and 12 August 2003

“Not with Deverill as headmaster.”

Well, look who’s back! Mr. Robson is at the school gates, here to do an honest day’s work at the chalk-face before he swans off to South America. Ben and Max are pleased to see him, and Mr. Robson says that although the governors will make the final decision about the new head, Mr. Deverill will be a strong candidate. So strong that he’s already installed himself into Mr. Robson’s office, so there’s no need for the outgoing head to clear his desk.

In the classroom, Mr. Robson bores the Second Form by talking about Africa’s colonial history, and how it was divvied up between European powers. To demonstrate what he meant, he runs a practical exercise – make the class into a map of Africa.

But this isn’t a quiet exercise, and Mr. Deverill’s attention is piqued by the noise as tables are moved. He storms into Mr. Robson’s classroom, and pulls up short when he sees who’s in charge. “Sorry, Mr. Robson, I heard some commotion and assumed the class had been… left unattended.” Mr. Robson disarms his criticism quickly, “No! We’re scrambling for Africa. Always good to bring history alive, don’t you agree?”

Mr. Robson also has a heart-to-heart with Maddie, after he spots her drinking vodka from the bottle. Earlier, Maddie was given a photo of her birthday makeover by Tina and Louise, setting her off again. Maddie complains she has no friends, how her mother is more of a friend than a mother, and how her mother is everything Maddie is not. Mr. Robson says that the alcohol is a mask, it doesn’t solve the underlying problems. How does Mr. Robson know about these things? From experience, something he’s prepared to share in confidence, knowing that Maddie will keep it.

After hours, Mr. Robson praises the changes Mr. Deverill has made. Attendance is up, but then there’s the business with the website. “A rather unfortunate business… when you’re dealing with subversives… sometimes I think we’d be better off without any pupils at all.” Mr. Robson’s got the measure of his anointed successor, and will be back in again tomorrow.

Max and Ben also have the measure of Mr. Deverill. Using the ties they swapped at the football match, they infiltrate Congreve Hall, and find one of the boys on the team. Although it is obvious that Rob knows Deverill, he blanks their questions. Not to be put off, our pair follow him around, talking about how Ian has been made the scapegoat for all sins, real and imagined and invented.

Finally, Rob caves in, and is astounded that Wilcox is teaching again. Not after he was struck by the teacher. Wilcox was sacked, but he’s taken the name of another teacher – Mr. Deverill – who left to go travelling. “I’ll never write a reference for Wilcox,” the head told Rob – but not if he’s fradulently using another identity.

Two episodes to wrap up this plot. Good luck!

Back at home, Mr. Robson may have company on the trip to South America. Miss Carver has bought a pair of walking boots … for herself. “I was thinking of something more permanent,” Mr. Robson confesses. “So was I,” she agrees.

As one wedding looms, another is cancelled. Michael realises he needs to spend more time with his mother, and cannot both do that and make a good life with Miss Fraser. The wedding is off; let’s hope they can part as friends.

The comedy plot is Tom’s modelling. He’s attracting a crowd of young admirers, all eager to see the hunk from their school. Autographs to sign, requests for his phone number, Kathy’s interview for the website consists of her gazing dreamily while Tom talks. Lisa and Matt are amused, and the other Sixth Formers play a gentle joke by posing as models when he walks in the room.

But there is a serious side to this: Tom realises how superficial judgements work. Leah has decided to leave Grange Hill, she’ll revise for her exams at home and take A-levels somewhere else. Leah was going to step out without saying goodbye, but told Matt, who told Tom. And Tom wishes her goodbye, and is the Tom we’ve known for six years as he makes someone else’s moment all about him. Leah removes her superficial glasses, but the moment’s been hopelessly lost.

Leah and Matt were talking about Briony being sick. Is she pregnant? Matt will have to pluck up the courage and ask.

The day of Amy’s mother’s funeral. She returns to the empty armchair, and the magazine she and Chaz were reading as Mrs. Davenport passed away. There are lots of tears.

And the plot of Vikki and Kieron Osbourne finishes. Vikki says she wants to break up with Danny Hartson, they’re just not working out. But then Clare reminds Danny that he’s arranged to meet up with Vikki at the club – he’s not, Vikki arranged the meeting with Kieron.

Inevitably, Kieron jumps in as Vikki and Kieron are chatting. The two strutting peacocks both make it clear how they’re the better choice for Vikki, and it all ends with Danny punching Kieron and making his nose bleed. Danny leaves before he’s thrown out.

Chris, the club manager, cheers Kieron’s success. Sarcastic claps: Vikki is seriously pissed off that she’s been part of a bet, and storms off – perhaps to explain the situation to Danny. But Chris is pleased, Kieron has proven his abilities to wangle people to his whim, and can now get involved more deeply with his business.

Helen Eatock wrote this episode (it’s Helen Farrall writing under her birth name), John Dower directed.

Music “Brown eyed girl” by Van Morrison, doing double duty as Vikki prepares to meet Kieron, and Miss Carver visits Mr. Robson.

Main characters

Nicholas Caunter played Michael Holmes, whose final scenes are in this episode. He did a number of small television roles in the 90s and early 00s, but may be best-remembered as one of Amanda Redman’s exes.

Judith Wright played Miss (Emily) Fraser, she’d also been the supporting part Rhonda O’Brien in Channel Nine’s “Water Rats”. She’s returned to Australia, and we believe she’s training the next generation of acting talent at the Australian Actors Studio.