11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Byker Grove cast now from tragic death to chart-topping success
The series will always hold a special place in the hearts of those who grew up in the North East in the 1980s and 1990s
For those who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, Byker Grove stirs up a wave of nostalgia, not to mention the numerous big stars it birthed over the years. The iconic children's drama was centred around a youth club in Newcastle.
Despite its simple premise, the show managed to tap into something much larger - mirroring the lives of young people and addressing real-world issues, reports Chronicle Live. It first graced our screens in 1989, rapidly becoming a cultural sensation at a time when Grange Hill was also drawing in massive audiences.
It served as a launchpad for many of its cast members who went on to become household names. However, in the nearly 20 years since the show concluded, not everyone has achieved the same level of fame as original PJ and Duncan, AKA Declan Donnelly and Ant McPartlin.
But devotees of the cult-classic are bracing themselves for some excitement as Ant and Dec recently revealed that work has commenced on a reboot which could potentially see some of the original cast return. But what became of the original stars?
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - P. J and Duncan
The biggest stars to emerge from the original show are undoubtedly Ant and Dec. The pair portrayed best mates PJ and Duncan and their stint on Byker Grove included one of the show's most notorious scenes when PJ was accidentally blinded by a paintball shot fired by his girlfriend.
Since their departure from the show in 1993, Ant and Dec initially made waves in the music industry, forming a duo under their former characters' names to release Let's Get Ready to Rumble.
The pair have since established themselves as some of the UK's most prominent TV hosts, fronting over 20 series of Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, as well as hosting prime-time favourites I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here and Britain's Got Talent.
Jill Halfpenny - Nicola Dobson
Jill Halfpenny portrayed the beloved character Nicola Dobson, one of the central figures in the early seasons of the show. Byker Grove would serve as a springboard for the actress's career, landing her roles in both Coronation Street and EastEnders.
Jill Halfpenny's portrayal of Nicola Dobson was a hit with viewers, and the actress continues to captivate audiences decades later. Following her stint on the nation's biggest soaps, the actress competed in Strictly Come Dancing in 2004, eventually winning the glitter ball trophy which helped secure her a role in Chicago on the West End.
The 49-year-old continued her stage career with a role in Legally Blonde, earning her a prestigious Olivier Award. She has since appeared in the drama The Drowning and regularly features as a guest on ITV's Loose Women.
Lyndyann Barrass - Kirsty 'Spuggie' Campbell
Lyndyann Barrass, who played Spuggie in the hit show Byker Grove, joined the cast at just 12 years old and became a main character. However, her time on the show was cut short when her character was written out, leaving to live with her brother.
After Byker Grove, Lyndyann struggled to find her footing in the acting world, telling The Sun: "I appeared in a few one-off dramas, but I'd been typecast as the redhead from 'that Geordie show' and struggled to find work. Aged 21, I joined a band called Angel, but we weren't successful and I left after a year. ".
Tragedy struck when Lyndyann was brutally attacked by three strangers who recognised her as Spuggie, leading her to leave the industry for good. She said: "Three years later, I was beaten unconscious in the street by three strangers who recognised me as Spuggy."
Lyndyann's life took a different turn after her acting days. She married her childhood sweetheart Allan Power and raised two children, Joe (now 23) and Scarlette (18).
After her divorce, Lyndyann worked at a bank call centre before launching her own cleaning business, Dusty Springclean. Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, she persevered and continued to run her business.
Donna Air - Charlie Charlton
Donna Air started her acting journey at merely 10 years old, taking on the role of aspiring journalist Charlie Charlton in Byker Grove for three years and four series. Despite a promising music career with Crush and a global tour following her stint on the show, she couldn't ignite a significant presence in the charts.
Post-Byker, Donna transitioned to presenting, landing roles with MTV and later as the lead presenter on Channel 4's The Big Breakfast. Nowadays, she might be more recognisable for her parts in BBC's The Split or through reality TV stints on Dancing on Ice, Splash! and Celebrity MasterChef.
Dale Meeks - Greg
As Greg in Byker Grove, Dale Meeks was the head of the rival gang Denton Burn for five seasons but became more widely recognised for his role as Simon Meredith in Emmerdale from 2003 to 2006. Dale Meeks' later career saw him starring in the ITV drama The Hunt For Raoul Moat and making guest appearances in Casualty, Inspector George Gently, and The Dumping Ground, a Tracey Beaker spin-off.
Tragically, in April 2023, Dale passed away at age 48 due to heart failure. Ant and Dec paid tribute to their former colleague on social media, saying: "We are so incredibly sorry to hear the very sad news of Dale's passing.
"He was the loveliest of guys, even though he was a Denton 'Burner', the arch nemesis of the Byker 'Grovers'! A sad loss at such a young age. RIP Dale. Sleep well, bonny lad."
