The sixth series of the British television drama series Grange Hill began broadcasting on 4 January 1983, before the ultimate ending on 4 March 1983 on BBC1. The series follows the lives of the staff and Students of the eponymous school, an inner-city London comprehensive school. It consists of eighteen episodes.
Cast and characters
Students
Teachers
Episodes No. Episode Writer Director Original airdate 1 Return Barry Purchese Carol Wilks 4 January 1983The new term has begun, and a new batch of first years make a start at the school. Roland tries to stand up to Gripper with disastrous results. However, Roland's classmates are determined to do something about Gripper – especially when he assaults Pogo. Meanwhile, Pogo's selling cheap pens, Jonah falls foul of the pompous new teacher Mr. Smart, and Claire discovers Gripper is attracted to her. First Appearances: Randir Singh, Julie Marchant and Mr Nick Smart 2 New Faces Barry Purchese Carol Wilks 7 January 1983Following his clash with rival school Rodney Bennett, Zammo teams up with Jonah's cousin, Jeremy, a Rodney Bennett Student to infiltrate the school and gain revenge on the boys who have stolen from him. Meanwhile, Annette is jealous of Fay's expertise in hockey, and her new friendship with Julie, so she steals Fay's hockey stick and frames Julie. Diane, who suffers from skin problems arrives at Grange Hill, only to be victimised by two bullies. First Appearances: Sarah Wilks, Mandy Firth, Diane Cooney 3 Choices Jane Hollowood Edward Pugh 11 January 1983Randir, a Sikh, makes a start at Grange Hill, and wants to try for the football team, but his father would prefer he helps in the shop on Saturday. As he attempts to make friends, Randir is subjected to racial abuse by Gripper, leading to a conflict between Grange Hill and Gripper's henchmen. Meanwhile, Claire continues to fight off the advances of Gripper, and Suzanne's new look gets her into trouble with Mrs McClusky. First Appearance: Derick 'Woody' Woods 4 Thuggies Jane Hollowood Alistair Clarke 14 January 1983Gripper's dogged hounding of Randir causes him to align himself with Woody. Pogo asks Randir to show him how to put on a turban, but Gripper arrives and makes it clear that life is going to be tough for any "foreigners", leading to a confrontation between Gripper and Woody. Meanwhile, chaos ensures when lunch breaks are reduced to 40 minutes. Duane and Stewpot battle for Claire's attention. 5 On Trial Margaret Simpson Carol Wilks 18 January 1983Jeremy, Zammo and Jonah convene for another attempt at infiltrating Rodney Bennett for a laugh. At Rodney Bennett School, Zammo and Jonah get lost, and there is no sign of Jeremy. They find him in a maths lesson, but the rest of the class rumbles their presence. Meanwhile, Miss Mooney pairs off Roland, whose troubles with Gripper have returned, with Diane, much to their mutual disgust. 6 Field Trip Margaret Simpson TBA 21 January 1983Grange Hill are on a school trip to St Albans and Annette becomes tired of Diane's superior local knowledge, leading Annette to fall out with Diane. Diane then storms off on her own. Zammo buys a guide on the history of St Albans so he doesn't have to do any work. Boys in a car take Julie's crisps and they later approach Annette and Julie and they get into the car - they both realise the car is not taking them to the Roman theatre. Meanwhile, Roly is in the cafe eating and sees some older, local people talking so records their conversation. Jonah wins a lot of money on the fruit machines. Later, they are all reunited and Zammo and Jonah lie about finding the history of the town when Mr Butterworth buys an identical guide. 7 Love Triangle Margaret Simpson Carol Wilks 25 January 1983 Suzanne's mum walks Suzanne to school to make sure she does not bunk off, however she tries to leave in registration before Mr Hopwood arrives. Unfortunately, Mr Hopwood catches her. Stewpot writes Claire's name on his hand and when she finds out, she is not amused by it. Gripper's racist attitude becomes worse when he tries to get the white kids in the school to agree to an oath. He tries to get Stewpot to agree, but he refuses and as soon as Gripper starts beating Stewpot up, he is interrupted by Mr Hopwood. When Gripper crumples up Precious' map because she will not leave a table, she has had it and stands up to Gripper, who finally moves. 8 Weightwatchers David Angus Alistair Clarke 28 January 1983Zammo and Jonah bring in a monkey mask. Roland accuses Annette of bullying him about his weight. When Annette is confronted by Mrs McClusky and Miss Mooney, Annette tells them that Roland has been picking on Diane about her spots. Fay also is worried about Diane's weight. Julie also goes round every member of staff to see how many qualifications they have. When she asks Mr Smart, she accidentally drops all her notes and he insists on telling her about his career after school. 9 Open Day Paula Milne Alistair Clarke 1 February 1983 Open Day is approaching at Grange Hill and the Students have to create a project. Zammo and Jonah are doing a project of measurement using the computer - which contains the aspect of gambling. Gripper wanted to make wooden guns for his project, but instead he is asked to carve something. Glenroy's Rasta project is successful, until Gripper sabotages it. Miss Mooney tells Zammo's mother that her son seems to be operating on flexi-time. Suzanne is happy when Mr. Hopwood is trying to get her onto media studies, however, she finds out someone dropped out - so Mr Hopwood did nothing. 10 An Inspector Calls Margaret Simpson Alistair Clarke 4 February 1983 Mr Knowles, a new teacher, is put to the test with N2 and they cause havoc for him until Mr Smart appears. Fay, Julie and Annette follow Mr Knowles to the shop at lunch for their own amusement. Jonah has plans for flexi-time, but at the school council meeting, all the teachers are against it due to the inconvenience it would cause with the timetable. Zammo overhears Mrs McClusky saying that Mr Knowles is being inspected, so he alerts the rest of his class who agree to behave because they actually like him. When the inspector comes, N2 are well behaved, and Mr Knowles cannot believe it! First appearance: Mr Knowles 11 Paper Chase David Angus Carol Wilks 8 February 1983 Pogo's maths book is ruined and he tells Mr Keating it is in that state because he dropped it in the bath. However, Pogo does not get another maths book. The school magazine is currently banned, but Suzanne has plans to create her own. Meanwhile, Pogo finds that there is a market for school exercise books. He finds that there is another entry into the stationery room via the toilets. Suzanne tries to get paper from the photocopier for her magazine but fails to get past Miss Mooney. She and Claire burst in on Pogo, who is in the girls' toilets, and Suzanne climbs through the hole in the wall and says to Claire that there is enough paper to keep the magazine going for a whole year! 12Publication Margaret Simpson Carol Wilks 11 February 1983 Suzanne and Claire are close to producing the first edition of their magazine, but are stumped with finding a way they can print it. In the boy's toilets, Gripper decides to soak some first years and is later surprised by a response and a fight breaks out. Mr Hopwood tries to break up the fight and calls for Mr. Baxter and Mr Keating. All the boys involved are given a two-week suspension. Suzanne and Claire print out the first issue of the school magazine. Claire and Stewpot are caught necking in a cupboard, and it is the last straw for Mrs. McClusky, who has just read the magazine and suspends Claire and Stewpot. 13 Backlash Barry Purchese Alistair Clarke 15 February 1983 Denny Rees is labelled "Igor" since Gripper is suspended, and he is derided by his classmates. Claire's mother talks to Stewpot's father while waiting to see Mrs. McClusky. Denny speaks to Mr. McGuffey about his position as Gripper's sidekick, and how he would like to start again. Suzanne and Claire want to publish a second issue of their magazine but need someone to get more paper. Mr McGuffy asks the girls if they would forgive Denny Rees. Claire and Suzanne take the opportunity of making Denny do their dirty work and get the paper Mrs. McClusky catches Denny on the steps, picking up the paper after his bag splits, but it is Mr McGuffey that Mrs McClusky is after, and she is convinced he is involved. 14 Repercussions Barry Purchese Alistair Clarke 18 February 1983 Gripper is back from suspension and Mrs McClusky meets with Mr McGuffey about his involvement in the school magazine and Mrs McClusky suspends him. Gripper and his gang corner Randir in the toilets, but Mr Baxter hears them from down the corridor, barges in and gives Gripper a dunking in the basin following another racist comment from Gripper. Mrs. McClusky goes ahead with a referendum on flexitime and tells Mr Keating the idea would have to go through the governors. Claire comes face to face with Gripper, who is not happy about the magazine article she wrote. Stewpot alerts the others, but it is too late to stop Claire getting a face-full of mop. Pogo leads them all to Gripper, but Mr. Baxter interrupts again and makes sure that he will get Gripper expelled.