Grange Hill Creator Sir Philip Redmond has revealed that the hit BBC series could have been renamed due to concerns it could offend existing schools.
The TV producer and screenwriter explained that the show would be called Grange Park, but before the show aired in 1978, the BBC’s legal team requested the name change, as it was deemed “too legally sensitive” due to the number of schools. with the name.
This raised concerns that the BBC would be inundated with complaints from parents and teachers who believed their local extended programs on the show were being vilified.
Sir Philip said he preferred the original title of Grange Hill.
“It was called Grange Park because I worked there in St Helens,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“I can’t remember if there were too many schools called Grange Park, or if there were too few, but the legal department said, ‘We’ll get everyone to sue, so we have to change it.'”
The series, which ran for 30 years before its final episode aired in 2008, was known for its stark storylines involving racism, shoplifting, and addiction.
Lawyers behind the show wanted to avoid suggesting that schools of the same name were as troubled as those on screen.
Last month, four of the show’s stars met for an impromptu reunion, 44 years since the show first aired.
Lee MacDonald, Zammo McGuire, reunited with his co-stars Todd Carty, who played Tucker, Janet actress Simone Nylander, and Erkan Mustafa, who played Roland.
The 54-year-old actor posted the snap on Twitter with the caption: “Mini #grangehill reunion with Tucker, Roland and Janet ❤️❤️❤️ x.”
It came ahead of a special episode of the Reunion on BBC Radio featuring the cast of Grange Hill which aired today (August 14).
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