GRANGE Hill changed the shape of children's television in this country. At long last programme makers accepted that there were working-class children attending school, that not all schools had uniforms and that some children got into more serious trouble than just "jolly japes".
The series devised by Brookside's Phil Redmond and based in Grange Hill Comprehensive School, covered such subjects as child abuse, racism, truanting, bullying weaklings, smoking, shop-lifting and drugs.
While having the Mary Whitehouse brigade up in arms its audience -- aged from six to 16 -- loved it.
Critics also failed to note that no-one ever benefited from the hell-raising, punishments were doled out and the moral angles were well publicised. The cast even made an anti-drugs record.
Much thought was put into the making of the series even down to having cameras filming from a child's eyeline.
Grange Hill's Tucker Jenkins, actor Todd Carty is still on our screens today -- in which soap?
Answer: Eastenders
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