Grange Hill and Brookside legend dies as devastated fans pay tribute

23 February 2024 , 08:44

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Stuart Organ has died

Grange Hill star Stuart Organ has died at the age of 72.

He is best remembered for playing PE and geography teacher Peter Robson, who later became headteacher, in the much-loved BBC children's drama back in 1988. Stuart quit the show in 2003 after the production moved to Liverpool but remained done of the longest-serving members of staff. Grange Hill, which aired from 1978 to 2008, was known for its realistic portrayal of life in a London school, dealing with serious issues like racism, drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, mental illness and HIV and Aids.

Organ "died peacefully at home after a short illness", it was announced on Friday. His agent Creative Artists Management (CAM) also said: "Stuart was a magnificent actor with a wonderful career on stage and screen. Best known for playing Mr Robson in Grange Hill, he was a true gentleman and a delight to work with and will be much missed."

Grange Hill made household names of characters like Zammo McGuire, played by Lee MacDonald, and Tucker Jenkins, played by Todd Carty. Before starring in Grange Hill, Organ also appeared in the hit Liverpudlian soap opera Brookside as Kevin Cross and also starred in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who, where he acted alongside Sylvester McCoy as Bazin.

Fans have paid tribute to Stuart following his death (BBC)

He also featured in medical dramas Casualty and Holby City and several films such as Those Glory Glory Days in 1990, Present Spirits in 1994 and Fork In The Road in 1997. Organ began his professional acting career at Leeds Playhouse in 1975 in a performance of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, a spin-off of William Shakespeare's Hamlet. He also performed as Judge Turpin in Queens Theatre Hornchurch's Sweeney Todd.

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But in recent years, Stuart turned his back on television and instead returned to his theatre roots. Across his career, he's performed as Egeus in The Comedy of Errors at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in 2004. However, his last stage credit came in 2007 as he took on the role of Major Powell in Corpse.

In 2022, the show's creator, Sir Phil Redmond, discussed the possibility of bringing the show back as a movie. He said: "You just go out as honestly as you can and try to reflect society as it is, try to be as truthful as you can within the bounds of fiction and do the research properly.

"One of the things I've always done is work with great young teams to actually deliver the vision. So we'll just take a look at the way Britain is now, and not the way policymakers would like us to think it is. We will take a realistic view of what education is like now and what that means to kids going through it."

Stuart last appeared on screens during a 2018 special of Pointless Celebrities celebrating Grange Hill

Fans have since taken to social media to pay tribute to the late actor, with one writing: "Can't believe it, that fella helped shape my childhood. Legend." A second wrote: "He was fantastic." While a third typed: "RIP Stuart," alongside a heart emoji.

Another took to Facebook, penning: "It is with sadness that we learn of the death of Stuart Organ, aged 72. From Grange Hill to Dr Who, from The Bill to London's Burning - and so much more. RIP Stuart Organ." "RIP Stuart Organ aka Mr Robson of #grangehill part of 90s childhood gone," commented another.

Stuart appeared on Pointless Celebrity in 2018 alongside Francesca Martinez who played Rachel Burns. Despite years of being away from screens, fans insisted that he looked almost identical to his character, having not aged a day. One fan said: "Not sure what's more frightening watching celebrity @TVsPointless Grange Hill being 40 years old, or Mr Robson not aging a day @richardosman #GrangeHill #pointlesscelebrities #pointless."

While Stuart has been relatively quiet on the screen-front in recent years, he's still been working as a voiceover actor and a theatre actor (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"#pointlesscelebrities #GrangeHill I reckon most of these Ex Grange Hill Actors and Actresses are between Five to Ten Years Older than me. They haven't aged badly at all. I have seen Younger People than all of Them and Younger than myself that look much Older than Them all." said a second. While a third went on to add: "A couple of the ex-pupils look older than the ex-teacher! #GrangeHill #PointlessCelebrities."

A third shocked fan tweeted: "Now I feel really old! #grangeHill #pointlesscelebrities - but what's puzzling me is how Mr Robson has not aged a day!" Stuart and Francesca found themselves in the final round and won a whopping £2,750 for their chosen charities. Although many younger audiences may not recognise Stuart from Grange Hill or Brookside, they will instantly know his voice.

In recent years, he's appeared as a voiceover artist on cartoons and video games including Star Wars: The Old Republic. Away from this, he is a familiar voice on London's Underground system where he can be heard announcing stations, different lines, late arrivals and also telling passengers to mind the gap between the platform and train.

Stuart's last acting credit was in 2023, taking on the voice role of David in The Gnomes Great Adventure. But in 2020, he appeared in a 2020 episode of Bridgerton as a doctor.

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