What Happened to Byker Grove Cast?
by Sona
Updated Jul 05, 2023
Byker Grove
Byker Grove, a British teen drama series, aired on CBBC from 1989 to 2006 on BBC One. Created by Adele Rose and executive producer Andrea Wonfor, it was set and filmed in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally broadcasted at 5:10 pm following Newsround (later moved to 5 pm), the show targeted older teenagers and young adults, addressing serious and occasionally controversial storylines.
It gained attention for featuring the first gay kiss on children's television and breaking the fourth wall in its final season. Ant & Dec, former cast members known as PJ & Duncan, are set to produce a reboot of the show in 2024.
What Happened to Byker Grove Cast?
The cast of Byker Grove, the popular children's TV drama, went on to pursue various paths after their time on the show. Here's an overview of what happened to some of the cast members:
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, also known as Ant & Dec, achieved immense success after their time on Byker Grove. They released albums and had several chart hits, including "Let's Get Ready to Rumble." They became popular TV presenters, hosting shows like SMTV Live, Pop Idol, Saturday Night Takeaway, and Britain's Got Talent.
Jill Halfpenny, who played Nicola Dobson on Byker Grove, became a well-known actress. She appeared in popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Waterloo Road, and In The Club. She also had a successful West End career and won an Olivier award for her performance in Legally Blonde.
Donna Air, who played Charlie on Byker Grove, ventured into music with the group Crush. She later became a TV presenter, hosting shows like The Big Breakfast and MTV's Total Request Live. Donna also appeared on Dancing on Ice and worked as a fashion entrepreneur.
After his character Ben was killed off on Byker Grove, Andrew Hayden-Smith pursued a career in presenting. He appeared on shows like Live & Kicking and CBBC. Andrew also had acting roles in Doctor Who, Cucumber, and Hollyoaks. He is now a voice-over artist for ITV.
Anna Orwin, who portrayed Lou on Byker Grove, had roles in other TV shows such as 55 Degrees North, Holby City, Coronation Street, and Emmerdale. She also appeared in the comedy show The League of Gentlemen.
Charlie Hunnam, although appearing in only three episodes as Jason, went on to achieve worldwide success. He starred in Queer as Folk and became the lead actor in the popular US drama Sons of Anarchy. Charlie has also appeared in films like Green Street, Nicholas Nickleby, and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.
Lyndyann Barras played the role of Spuggy on Byker Grove. While she hasn't made a significant impact on the small screen since then, she has been involved in local stage productions and considers herself an actress and businesswoman.
Billy Fane, who portrayed Geoff on Byker Grove, appeared in pantomimes and films like Billy Elliot and Purely Belter. He also graduated with a postgraduate course in Education and Educational Special Needs.
These are just a few examples of the cast members' journeys after Byker Grove. Each actor had their own unique path, with some achieving notable success in the entertainment industry.
Byker Grove Cast
Actor
Character
Subsequent Career
Ant McPartlin
PJ
TV presenter (Ant & Dec), chart-topping musician
Declan Donnelly
Duncan
TV presenter (Ant & Dec), chart-topping musician
Jill Halfpenny
Nicola
Actress (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, West End)
Donna Air
Charlie
TV presenter, fashion entrepreneur
Andrew Hayden-Smith
Ben
TV presenter, actor (Doctor Who, Hollyoaks)
Anna Orwin
Lou
Actress (55 Degrees North, Holby City, Coronation Street)
Charlie Hunnam
Jason
Actor (Sons of Anarchy, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword)
Lyndyann Barras
Spuggy
Actress, businesswoman
Billy Fane
Geoff
Actor (Billy Elliot, Purely Belter), postgraduate in Education
What Happened to Byker Grove Cast? FAQs
Byker Grove, a British teen drama series, aired on CBBC from 1989 to 2006 on BBC One.
Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, who played PJ and Duncan on the show, became highly successful TV presenters, known as Ant & Dec. They hosted numerous
Jill Halfpenny, who portrayed Nicola, went on to have a successful acting career. She appeared in TV shows like "Coronation Street" and "Waterloo Road," as well as performing in West End productions.
Charlie Hunnam, who played Jason, became a prominent actor. He is best known for his role as Jax Teller in the TV series "Sons of Anarchy" and has also appeared in movies such as "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword."
Donna Air, who portrayed Charlie, transitioned into TV presenting and became a fashion entrepreneur. She appeared on shows like "The Big Breakfast" and launched her own clothing line.