Grange Hill series 26 explained

Season Number:26
Bgcolour:
  1. 003366
Num Episodes:20
Network:BBC One
Prev Season:Series 25
Next Season:Series 27
Episode List:List of Grange Hill episodes

The twenty-sixth series of the British television drama series Grange Hill began broadcasting on 28 January 2003, before ending on 3 April 2003 on BBC One. The series follows the lives of the staff and pupils of the eponymous school, an inner-city London comprehensive school.[1] It consists of twenty episodes.

Cast

See also: List of Grange Hill characters and List of Grange Hill cast members.

Others

Episodes

EpisodeWriterDirectorOriginal airdate
1Episode OneRichard BurkeDavid Richardson28 January 2003
Tucker Jenkins gives his nephew Togger and Andy a lift to their new school. Jeremy becomes an instant target for bully Mooey Humphries. Miss Dyson isn't impressed by Tanya's lip ring.
2Episode TwoNeil JonesDavid Richardson30 January 2003
Leah and Shannon decide to play women's football. Maddie becomes frustrated by with Baz's secretive home life. Abel steals Jeremy's football boots.
3Episode ThreeKaddy BenyonChris Corcoran4 February 2003
Baz ends up injuring his leg as he jumps out of the upstairs window at home. Emma wants to be Tanya's best friend. Plans are announced by Mr. Robson to try and raise £50,000 for new technology at the school.
4Episode FourSarah DanielsChris Corcoran6 February 2003
Togger and Abel have an unscheduled swim in the school swimming pool and Abel's clothes end up vanishing.
5Episode FiveRichard BurkeDavid Andrews11 February 2003
Togger and Abel have an unscheduled swim in the school swimming pool and Abel's clothes end up vanishing.
6Episode SixSi SpencerDavid Andrews13 February 2003
The year seven pupils go ghost hunting. Mr. Robson reveals that some of the school playing fields will be sold off to raise funds. Baz returns to school.
7Episode SevenSarah DanielsMurilo Pasta18 February 2003
Annie ends up taking the blame for a missing costume. The year seven pupils lesson in pancake ends up in a food fight.
8Episode EightNeil JonesMurilo Pasta20 February 2003
Mr. Malachay is impressed by Mr. Wainwright at Parents' Evening. Togger discovers that there has been someone living in the damaged building. Josh manages to makes a fool of himself. Leah discovers that her mother has been seeing Mr. Malachay.
9Episode NineSi SpencerChris Corcoran25 February 2003
Josh's Beckham hairstyle causes him problems. Rumours about Leah and Mr. Malachay spread around the school. Togger and the other Year 7's use CCTV footage to try to get a glimpse of the mysterious squatter.
10Episode TenKaddy BenyonChris Corcoran27 February 2003
The Year Seven pupils try to get to know the hidden boy. Anika is finally asked out on a date by Josh. Leah decides to leave school for good.
11Episode ElevenSarah DanielsDavid Andrews4 March 2003
Emma manages to ruin Tanya and Annie's friendship. Tranter becomes ill. Shannon ends up showing interest in somebody new in the Sixth Form.
12Episode Twelve Richard BurkeDavid Andrews6 March 2003
After Mr. Wainwright hits Annie, Baz is determined to see him back on his medication. Tranter is discovered unconscious outside the school.
13Episode ThirteenKaddy BenyonMurilo Pasta11 March 2003
The newest Underpants Dare involves the Head's bow-tie wearing skeleton. Amy and Anika fall out. Tranter receives a visitor at the hospital.
14Episode FourteenRichard BurkeMurilo Pasta13 March 2003
Tanya ends up beginning to follow the school rules literally. Baz is attacked by his father.
15Episode FifteenMatthew EvansChris Corcoran18 March 2003
Tanya takes part in the latest Underpants Dare. Mel replaces Shannon in the school football team. Amy is finding history classes too difficult and misses the support of her mother.
16Episode SixteenSarah DanielsChris Corcoran20 March 2003
Tanya's apple pie doesn't go to plan in Food Technology. Baz attempts to try and win Maddie back. Shannon and Anika both audition for the part of Juliet in the school play.
17Episode SeventeenSi SpencerPaul Murphy25 March 2003
Amy is worried at her examination. Baz tries a different approach to try and win Maddie back.
18Episode EighteenRichard BurkePaul Murphy27 March 2003
There is an ulterior purpose for Tranter wanting to join the Year 7 pupils on their trip to Chester. The girls’ football team have an awful away fixture. Anika and Nick rehearse for upcoming the school play
19Episode NineteenKaddy BenyonDavid Richardson1 April 2003
Maddie spends some uncomfortable time alone with Baz's dad. Shannon finds out the truth about Nick and Mel. Josh and Martin's Staff Room web cam ends up being found.
20Episode TwentyNeil JonesDavid Richardson3 April 2003
The school sports day is held with Ian's team hoping to beat the staff. Jeremy ends up standing up to Mooey. Martin and Kathy share a kiss. Josh discovers who his admirer is. Mr. Robson becomes a dad.

Production and casting

Series 26 is the first series to be filmed at Childwall Studios in Liverpool, Merseyside, and produced by the show creator's, Phil Redmond, production company, Mersey Television.[2] Liverpool City Council's film office helped to find locations for exterior filming, including Norris Green housing estate and three schools: Croxteth Comprehensive School, Holly Lodge Girls' College and Ashfield School.[3]

Returning cast members included: Stuart Organ (Peter Robson), John Joseph (Ian Hudson),[4] Amanda Fahy (Shannon Parks), Jessica Staveley-Taylor (Leah Stewart),[5] Colin White (Spencer Hargreaves), Arnold Oceng (Calvin Braithwaite),[6] Jalpa Patel (Anika Modi), Lindsey Ray (Amy Davenport), Matthew Buckley (Martin Miller),[7] Sammy O'Grady (Kathy McIlroy), Kacey Barnfield (Maddie Gilks) and Shane Leonidas (Josh Irving). The new cast members were from the North of England.[8] Todd Carty made a guest appearance in the first episode and Chris Perry-Metcalf was cast as Tucker's nephew, Patrick "Togger" Johnson.[9] Perry-Metcalf had two auditions and secured the role two days before filming. Perry-Metcalf described Togger as a "bit of a rebel" who believes "he doesn't have to work and that school's just for messing around and getting people into trouble." He added that working with Carty was "amazing."[10] Following Staveley-Taylor's departure in episode 10, Tom Graham and Sarah Lawrence joined as Nick Edwards and Mel Edwards.[11] Holly Quin-Ankrah and Kirsten Cassidy joined the series as step-sisters Karen and Tanya Young.[12] Quin Ankrah received no acting role prior to gaining the part of Karen at the age of 14.[13] [14] Describing her character as "evil", Cassidy said her role is a "good part to play."[15]

DVD release

The twenty-sixth series of Grange Hill has never been released on DVD as of 2014.

Notes and References

  1. News: Grange Hill makes Mersey debut. BBC. 28 January 2003. 18 July 2018.
  2. News: Creator of 'Grange Hill' prepares to revive his old school tieswork=Independent. Jury. Louise. 8 February 2002. 29 December 2018.
  3. News: Grange Hill makes Mersey debut. BBC. 28 January 2003. 29 December 2018.
  4. News: Grange Hill back for series No 27. Liverpool Echo. 2 January 2004. 24 October 2016.
  5. News: The Staves: 'we don't know anything about folk'. The Telegraph. McNulty. Bernadette. 23 May 2015. 24 October 2016.
  6. News: Toronto Film Festival 2014: Reporter's diary - Part 2. BBC News. Hassan. Genevieve. 15 September 2014. 24 October 2016.
  7. News: Grange Hill star graduates. Borehamwood & Elstree Times. Mahadevan. Janaki. 15 March 2007. 24 October 2016.
  8. News: Grange Hill heads north. Guardian. Jeffries. Stuart. 9 April 2002. 29 December 2018.
  9. News: Grange Hill actor Chris Perry Metcalf on a mission to fight children's obesity. Liverpool Echo. Clayton. Emma. 1 May 2012. 3 November 2016.
  10. News: Meet Grange Hill's newest bad boy. Newsround. 8 February 2003. 29 December 2018.
  11. News: Fans of The Archers outraged after Tom Graham is axed following 17 years on the soap. Express. Winchester. Levi. 3 November 2014. 24 October 2016.
  12. News: Making the grade with Grange Hill. Manchester Evening News. 9 April 2005. 3 November 2016.
  13. News: actress Holly Quin-Ankrah talks about her new role as stripper Cheryl and why she loves Liverpool. Liverpool Echo. Tansley. Janet. 23 June 2010. 24 October 2016.
  14. News: Holly joins Grange Hill class of 2004. Warrington Guardian. 8 April 2004. 29 December 2018.
  15. News: TV terror Tania is a class act. Manchester Evening News. 9 August 2004. 29 December 2018.