1983-1987
This year Gripper formed his own quasi National Front, finally leading to his expulsion. Meanwhile Grange Hill toyed with flexitime and SAG demo’d to save iconoclastic teacher “Scruffy” McGuffy from Brigit’s ire.
Sweet young love came a-calling in the form of Jackie Wright – Zammo’s girlfriend from the wrong side of the tracks (ie she was Brookdale). But this year Grange Hill was to concern itself with darker issues when all-round annoyance Jeremy Irvine drowned in the school swimming pool.
“Gonch” Gardner led the way in another new intake of first years. The programme played out a worse-case scenario when the school merged with arch rivals Rodney Bennett and Brookdale and, of course, much fighting ensued. And deranged Latin master Mr Bronson arrived. “You boy!”
As if race wars and death weren’t hard-hitting enough, Grange Hill blew the lid on drug abuse in the memorable Series 9 in 1986 when Zammo shocked us all and just said “yes” to the evils of heroin. Meanwhile, there were more new comers on the scene namely Scouser Eric “Ziggy” Greaves and troubled artist Danny Kendall.
In 1986 the ‘Hill may have had heroin but in ’87 it had … Harriet the donkey! Meanwhile, Zammo was back, off the smack and forced into an engagement with Jackie (they eventually broke it off).