Byker Grove was a British children’s drama television series which started in 1989. The show was broadcast at 5pm on children show CBBC on BBC One.
Byker Grove has tackled some controversial subjects such as drug addiction, child abuse, homelessness, teen pregnancy and abortion. In November 1994 Byker Grove became the first British children’s drama to breach the subject of coming out when one boy (Noddy Fishwick) kissed his close friend (Gary Hendrix) at the back of a cinema. The 2004 series saw the character of Bradley agonising over his sexuality and eventually coming out as gay to his girlfriend Sadie, after a romantic holiday together had failed to live up to their expectations.
The series frequently depicts life as unjust, with bad things happening to good people. One of the most shocking episodes is when P.J. is accidentally blinded in a paintball accident. It is one of many tragedies to befall Byker Grove characters through the years. Others include Gemma being electrocuted by a faulty electricity mains socket, Flora’s death from a brain tumour, Greg’s fall from the roof of the Grove which left him paralysed from the waist down, youth leader Geoff Keagen’s death in an accidental gas explosion, and the latest tragedy, Ben Carter being knocked down and fatally injured by a car driven by Craig on the Quayside.
This programme launched the careers of Ant and Dec and Donna Air! I remember one of the most traumatic episodes being that unbelievable moment where PJ is blinded during a paint-balling game!
It was a tragedy! And to this day I will not go paint-balling! Â If you want to to buy the book that kicked it all off Click Here
