Grange hill

[silverbirch]

I read that Patsy Palmer spent two years on Grange Hill..... you would nt know it , she must have just
been there to make up the numbers !

[Victoria O'Keefe]

Grange Hill's Jackie's application to transfer to Saint Trinian's:

[George 1978]

Looking on the BNA website, I found something from the Sunday People in September 1979 about Michael Percival leaving Grange Hill - apparently, he mentioned that he left because he started to feel the same stress that real-life teachers did when they were in that job, and he said that he had felt more like a teacher than an actor, and so he left as a result, although I assume that the 1979 series had finished earlier on in that year and that it was mentioned that Percival was to leave. It mentioned that he had even broke up a fight on the London Underground between two youngsters, almost feeling as if he was in character as Tony Mitchell.

I believe that as he was previously a bit-part actor, only appearing on screen from five to ten seconds at a time, he wasn't used to appearing as a regular character as he did in Grange Hill (my local newspaper's TV guide for Wednesday 8th February 1978 even mentioned Percival in a "starring" role - unusual for someone with mostly bit-parts to their name), and the concern of being the same character for a long period time had made him decide to leave. Again, he returned to bit-part acting throughout the 1980s until the supporting role of Dexter in The Piglet Files in 1990. I know that he did some adverts in the early 1980s from what I have seen on YT: a beer advert in 1980 and a Kenco coffee advert in 1982.

Ever since I came across him on the 1993 Sunday morning repeats, I was intrigued as to what other work Michael Percival has done, and ironically, around this time, he was at the Nottingham Theatre Royal in a play that was going around the country. Great actor - sadly missed.

[George 1978]

Grange Hill's Jackie's application to transfer to Saint Trinian's:

I believe that Rachel "Justine" Roberts did the same after she left (she seemed to be stereotyped as such women) - Paula Ann "Claire" Bland or whatever she was called certainly did for Penthouse.

It does make me think of the St Trinian's connection - schoolgirls and all that... Why do they do that, I wonder???? The acting work drying up, post GH, and the fact that they just happen to be female?

[duffer]

As a teenage boy I found myself strangely drawn to Cathy Hargreaves and Penny Cartwright

[beccabear67]

You'd think the dream for an actor if they want to do tv would be a regular job/role? To be cast in a continuing series or soap in other words. The 'only suitable for similar roles' thing seems to say they can't... act well enough to pull off something very different? I always loved to see when a familiar face pulled off something quite different elsewhere myself! Seen people do well in various shows then leave for that type-casting scare, rarely to appear again (and possibly end up working at a Sainsburys or Tescos if not some panto or 'reality' thing).

[George 1978]

As a teenage boy I found myself strangely drawn to Cathy Hargreaves and Penny Cartwright

You should watch Series 4 Episode 11 with Cathy's performance of "The Black-Black Widow" or whatever it was called - she was, no pun intended, Brill by name and nature.

Funnily enough, when I was researching the "Hopwood catching Alan smoking in his desk" scene in the same episode as a tribute to the late George Armstrong who passed away earlier on this week (the obituary thread has been started today by 80sChav), I just happened to go through Cathy's singing performance a few minutes beforehand in that episode - I am sure you would love that, Duffer!

[George 1978]

You'd think the dream for an actor if they want to do tv would be a regular job/role? To be cast in a continuing series or soap in other words. The 'only suitable for similar roles' thing seems to say they can't... act well enough to pull off something very different? I always loved to see when a familiar face pulled off something quite different elsewhere myself! Seen people do well in various shows then leave for that type-casting scare, rarely to appear again (and possibly end up working at a Sainsburys or Tescos if not some panto or 'reality' thing).

I think that a lot of actors fear of being stereotyped - think of Derek Nimmo who was always playing vicars and the like for example. Also, I think that it is the hard work involved, keeping the character genuine and making sure that the effort and quality remains in tact. And there are those who do it part time and probably work in a bank or a supermarket to make ends meet, and so in many ways, those actors probably don't really complain about being short of offers than others do. Or as the late Victor Lewis-Smith would have said in response for their absences on screen: "I've been working abroad a lot".

[Victoria O'Keefe]

I believe that Rachel "Justine" Roberts did the same after she left (she seemed to be stereotyped as such women) - Paula Ann "Claire" Bland or whatever she was called certainly did for Penthouse.

It does make me think of the St Trinian's connection - schoolgirls and all that... Why do they do that, I wonder???? The acting work drying up, post GH, and the fact that they just happen to be female?

It's kind of irritating seeing "the kids today" complaining about women who pose for these magazines. Freedom for women must include the freedom to make poor choices or it is not freedom at all.

[George 1978]

Would anyone agree with me that in around series 13 (1990), Justine and Chrissy already looked like adult women at that point, while Tegs and Matthew still looked like little kids? I am almost certain that Tegs ironically called Justine "Mum" at some point as well. Amazing how different youngsters of more or less the same age were back then.

Also, I found out that Sean Maguire had no Drama School experience and just attended a Comprehensive School during his stint at GH - and his real-life teachers disliked him so much being in the show as well as some his peers? I did read that he did get a bit bullied as a result around that time. Considering the pairing with Rachel Roberts, one might have assumed she would have definately had some experience, Drama-wise in prepariation for her role which seems quite apparent by her third series in 1990.

[80sChav]

Would anyone agree with me that in around series 13 (1990), Justine and Chrissy already looked like adult women at that point, while Tegs and Matthew still looked like little kids? I am almost certain that Tegs ironically called Justine "Mum" at some point as well. Amazing how different youngsters of more or less the same age were back then.

Also, I found out that Sean Maguire had no Drama School experience and just attended a Comprehensive School during his stint at GH - and his real-life teachers disliked him so much being in the show as well as some his peers? I did read that he did get a bit bullied as a result around that time. Considering the pairing with Rachel Roberts, one might have assumed she would have definately had some experience, Drama-wise in prepariation for her role which seems quite apparent by her third series in 1990.

I agree Justine and Chrissy looked way older almost like Trev and Vince 3 years before in Series 10 in 1987 compared their counterparts.

Matthew looked about the correct age I'd say though as he really changed between Series 12 and 13 in many way's (including of course he started doing his Tie thin side out) from Series 12 onwards, but I think Tegs has got to be one of the youngest actors going joining in the First Year (= Year 7 today), though he was 10 I think in filming in 1987 for Series 11 in 1988, so the age is right really.

Hollo too was I thiink 10 or 11 in Series 8 from 1985 filmed in 1984. Janet St Clair was easily the youngest Girl though being in the 5th Year in 1986 filmed in 1985 but she was like 11/12 in real life

[Richard1978]

Usually girls mature faster than boys which would explain things, when I've watch the Junior Bake Off it's usually the older girls have been the most mature.