The BBC are reportedly developing a reboot of iconic children’s show Grange Hill – 17 years after it was last on screens.
The teatime school drama, which ran from 1978 to 2008, will not be a trip down memory lane for fans as it is likely to have a ‘very different’ feel and look due to tacking today’s problems children face.
The former series featured beloved characters including Peter ‘Tucker’ Jenkins, portrayed by EastEnders star Todd Carty, whose ‘flippin’ ‘eck’ catchphrase landed him his own spin-off show Tucker’s Luck.
The show which was loved by millions previously tackled diverse topics such as Aids and drug abuse, but the new version being developed is aiming focusing to appeal to today’s viewers.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Grange Hill is very much viewed as being a show which was ‘of its age’ due to the kinds of subjects it touched upon.
‘But they still think it has huge scope to be refashioned to deal with topics that chime with today’s youngsters — from trans issues to online trolling.
The BBC are reportedly developing a reboot of iconic children’s show Grange Hill – 17 years after it was last on screens
The teatime school drama, which ran from 1978 to 2008, will not be a trip down memory lane for fans as it is likely to have a ‘very different’ feel due to tacking today’s problems for kids
‘Many of these weren’t problems when Grange Hill was first on our screens, so it’s likely to look and feel very different.
‘So any new reboot is likely to be a turn off for the older generation tuning in to the new show for some kind of nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s likely to look and feel very different.’
Grange Hill was created by Phil Redmond, who went on to write Channel 4 soaps Brookside and Hollyoaks.
Other pupils included Alan Humphries (played by Bill star George Armstrong), Benny Green (the late Terry Sue-Patt), Suzanne Ross (EastEnders star Susan Tully) Steven Banks (Tim Polley) and Sammy ‘Zammo’ Mcguire (Lee MacDonald).
Daily Mail have contacted the BBC for comment.
It comes after Lee, who played Zammo, opened up about how he was left shaken by his recent cancer scare during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in July.
The actor – who played the beloved character between 1982 and 1987 on the BBC show – revealed his ‘really common’ symptom that many consider harmless and issued a stern warning to fans.
‘Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body,’ according to the NHS. Non-melanoma is ‘more common and usually less serious’.
The show was loved by millions and previously tackled diverse topics such as Aids and drug abuse, but the new version being developed is aiming focusing to appeal to today’s viewers
A source said: ‘Grange Hill is very much viewed as being a show which was ‘of its age’ but still has huge scope to be refashioned to deal with topics that chime with today’s youngsters — from trans issues to online trolling’
‘So any new reboot is likely to be a turn off for the older generation tuning in to the new show for some kind of nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s likely to look and feel very different’ (L-R John Alford as Robbie and George Christopher as Ziggy)
Talking on GMB, Lee said: ‘I had a scare a year ago, which was found to be non-cancerous.
‘O2 are now doing a campaign for skin cancer and awareness, and on the back of that, I booked an appointment for the doctors, I got a little rash there [pointed at his cheek] and it turns out it’s a keratosis, which is a pre-cancerous spot.
‘So I’m going to have to get it burnt out.’
He added: ‘It could turn cancerous. It was just off the back of going and getting it checked out.
‘I think we really need to concentrate on putting skincare on and looking at blemishes on your face. Go and get them checked out.’
Host Susanna Reid pointed out that skin cancer is something that the star is aware of because it happened to his dad.
Lee explained: ‘My dad was a driver, and for years he would sit with his arm out the window and my mum would go about his arm saying it’s getting burnt all the time.
‘Later in life he had skin cancer cut out from that arm.’
Richard Madeley went on point out that back in the day Lee used to use sunbeds, and he thinks that contributed to his diagnosis.
Lee said: ‘Before I went to nightclubs years ago, I would lay on sun bed for an hour a week. That was from… I’d do a Tuesday and a Thursday from 17, up until I was about 26.
‘That’s what the doctor said it is.
‘It’s probably the sunbeds, rather than the sun, because I don’t go out in the sun that much because of being aware of the risks.’
It comes after Lee, who played Zammo, opened up about how he was left shaken by his recent cancer scare during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in July
The star played the beloved character Zammo McGuire between 1982 and 1987 on the BBC show (pictured)
The actor went on to confess that he goes fishing with his son every Sunday and he makes sure that he’s wearing sun cream.
Richard asked: ‘Even if it’s cloudy?’
‘Yeah, funnily enough, he got told off by his step-mum because he went home burnt and it wasn’t even that sunny,’ Lee said.
‘But the rays were coming through! So cover up at all times.’
It comes after Lee spoke out being diagnosed with skin cancer on X, formerly known as Twitter, back in June 2024.
He said: ‘Went to the doctors today to check an unusual spot on my face! Doctor says it’s cancer!
‘As we older please keep an eye on anything unusual and hopefully get it looked at early!!! Booked in to get it sorted over the next couple of days!’
