Ryan Wiggs

Surely this is all about who you believe.

If you believe Mr Redmond, then Mr L uxton is the biggest copyright stealer in the world.

If you believe Mr L uxton, then Mr Wiggs is the biggest copyright stealer in the world.

Perhaps our Bideford correspondent ought to take advice from one of that town's favourite sons, Charles Kingsley, and adopt the policy of Mrs Doasyouwouldbedoneby?

The website has been frozen by Freewebs,

And as Nick goes in for a saucer of milk...

1) Phil Redmond's beef with us is because we're a serious rival to his own site. In law he holds the copyright, so whatever our opinion on his actions they were perfectly within his rights. But what he fails to grasp is that both sites share the same aim - to generate and maintain interest in his programme. The last eight months have proven we can survive without his images (and still outperform the official Grange Hill site) but Mr Redmond is happy to continue to operate his site as a token effort which spends much of the year in hibernation.

2) My beef with Ryan Wiggs is he's a serial p*** taker. He's unlikely to be the biggest copyright stealer, but it's clear from my dealings with him he takes a sadistic pleasure in winding up anyone he can.

Stop talking out of your backside Simon.

Phil Redmond's beef with you is that Grange Hill is HIS property, not yours. Whether he "hibernates" for any or all of the year is nothing whatsoever to do with you.

Your only contribution to the programme over the years has been a fanzine site which he previously allowed as a matter of grace.

However, when you constantly insult Mr Redmond, and the production team who produce the show then they are well within their rights to withdraw the goodwill that YOU soured.

Its a bit rich to suggest that you "outperform" the official site. Without the programme itself you would have nothing.

Well done to you for so thoroughly alienating yourself from the project you seek to champion.

As for Mr Wiggs - well his site has now been pulled by his ISP.

Kudos indeed Simon. Although if Mr Redmond chose to have your site questioned by your ISP for breech of copyright (a path you are nearing each time you speak of him in such unpleasant tones), then I'm sure you would have a different viewpoint. No?

Pots and kettles Gavin.



I may be wrong but when GH Online started, it was the BBC and not Mr Redmond who owned the GH "brand" (how I hate that expression). At the time, Phil's only involvement with the show was a yearly meeting with production staff and the series was being produced entirely by the BBC. The fact there was no official intervention before Mersey TV took over production supports my view that the Grange Hill name and associated trademarks were not owned by Mr Redmond at this point.


As I was once told, "don't become a TV producer if you can't take criticism". Though I concede there is a difference between constructive criticism (which is what I offer) and downright vindictiveness.



I despise boasting but the facts - or should I say the stats - speak for themselves.


I do not believe I have. We have made many contacts associated with Grange Hill, involved with both past and present series, and they are very enthusiastic about the site. Only recently a cast member sent us her official agency pic to replace the MTV shots that were disputed.


I do not have, and have never had, a personal vendetta against Phil Redmond - I offer praise him where due. There was much to be praised during the last run of Grange Hill and I take each individual situation on merit. Any criticisms I have made of "the project" have always been constructive, not personal and vindictive. Phil Redmond has his ideas about the programme, I have my own (and so does every individual fan).

Others are much less restrained in the criticism of TV bosses - and they choose to do it more publicly! How about the Crossroads Fan Club's blistering attack on the 2003 version via ITV Teletext? Not to mention insults aplenty for certain channel controllers on this forum.

Simon's site creates nothing but publicity for Grange Hill.

I give my full support to both Simon and his site.

http://www.uncleblink.fsnet.co.uk/Store/Train.jpg

I agree with you there TurkFox. Simon has a brilliant website. Whilst Phil Redmond's site mainly only caters for the most recent series, Simon's is an extremely comprehensive resource covering every series, every character, every storyline. It is just amazing.
The images used are purely for illustrative purposes and are always credited and the site never claims to be the official site and indeed even lists the official site at the top if the links page. I think far from causing any harm, the site actually promotes Grange Hill in a positive light. Lets hope it may long continue and get the support that it so rightly deserves.

Well well well.

With two new members running straight to this thread, anyone might conclude that Simon has made a heartfelt plea for GH Online members to support his site.

Let's get one thing straight here, Simon (as well as your well wishers); I was one the FIRST people to say how excellently prepared, researched and presented GH Online is. I made an unprompted public declaration here about how much I enjoyed browsing the archives of the show and the rush of memories that followed.

What I find objectionable is not the site content itself, but the belligerent and nasty tone in Simon's messages on the site towards Mersey TV's decision to take the production base to Liverpool, and the direction he feels the show was taking in general. Comments and critiques are one thing. Those messages were *quite* something else.

The show is, and always has been, the creation of Phil Redmond. To say the man, "doesn't know what he is doing" is preposterous.

And I use the quote marks with some confidence, as much of your statements on the man and production company are there for all to see in the internet archives.

Simon, you say that you, "never get personal"? Try asking the member of the production team who's email address you published, whilst encouraging your membership to complain about Mersey TV's approach to your fan site.

If you want a media rich site dedicated to a commercial property, then have the common sense to show a little respect to the owners.

Seeing what other members have shown about your Grange Hill fansite, I've come to the conclusion that your just as bad as Ryan Wiggs, stealing is just plain wrong!
You should have asked permission etc..

Your opinions are noted and much appreciated.


I don't see anyone here sticking up for Lorraine Heggessey, Charles Allen and whoever else have had far worse directed at them here.

When changes are made to a TV institution such as Grange Hill, there is sometimes a hostile public reaction. The views I expressed would have been my own, yet I was getting sackloads of e-mails from other fans who felt the same way. At no point have we ever co-erced our readership into thinking a certain way - we are a fan site, not a propaganda machine.

Grange Hill is the creation of Phil Redmond and we never lose sight of the fact. If I said Mr Redmond "didn't know what he was doing", it was probably at a time when everyone was coming to terms with the series' new identity.


The person concerned was MTV's legal adviser and any correspondance on the matter would have been passed directly to her. It made sense to publish her details from a business viewpoint. We would never advocate haranguing someone who after all is just doing their job.


Well since you are familiar with GH Online's content you will know that our commentaries are very respectful and impartial. But away from the site, I speak as an individual rather than a webmaster.

On the subject of my well-wishers; I'm grateful to them for speaking up but in doing so they have acted off their own backs. Not that you'll believe that...

Just to clear up the little matter. I joined this forum to reply to this topic. Yes it was after following a link on the GHO site, but I was not coerced into signing up or putting my comments on here. I signed up of my own free will because I could not believe how people were behaving towards GHO and in particular Simon. I think the GHO site is excellent and Simon does a great job in operating and maintaining it. Simon had no knowledge that I was going to sign up or what my comments would be. Now reading previous comments on here I'm sure you won't believe me either and think I am working in conjunction with Simon, but I assure you I am not. My comments are my own and not those of Simon, nor GHO.