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George Christopher is his best-known stage name. He has been in many of the nation’s most popular soaps since the 1980s.
Actor Ziggy Greaves, 51, graced television screens across the country in 1986 when he played the role of Ziggy in BBC’s Grange Hill.
He was 15 years old when the drama became an instant hit. In 1989, he left the soap to star on Channel 4’s Brookside as Little Jimmy Corkhill.
George was encouraged by his school drama teachers to pursue acting as his career. His success on soaps shows that he had a keen eye and talent.
Grange Hill was searching for a northern man character, and George attended the auditions in Manchester.
He told the Liverpool Echo that it ended up being between him and a Leeds man.
“Producer Ron Smedley chose me, but the next day I met Phil Redmond (Grange Hill Brookside creator), as he would have final say. It was the most memorable moment in my life when he chose me.
He has appeared in plays about Hillsborough and appeared in Sphere of Fear 2 in 2020.
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George and Mel have been together for more than 20 years. They have a 21-year-old son, Kirk.
Mel was the one he said that they got engaged 10 years ago and would get married.
He is also open about his mental illness, having been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at 40.
He was having a series of episodes before realizing what was happening.
In 2019, he spoke to the Liverpool Echo about his near-tragedy and trauma while discussing his book, “From Grange Hill to Bipolar and Back”.
He stated that he took an overdose in the early 1990s. Fortunately, my mother found me and took me to the hospital to get my stomach pumped.
“I regret what I did that night, because I would have missed so many opportunities.”
He also mentioned a 1989 incident when he started to cry.
“I was crying a lot, but I didn’t know why. In 1989, many bad things happened. My Nan died and I was in Hillsborough.
“I was there as it happened and had nightmares later. For a long time I did not talk to anyone about it. Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance meetings are something I’ve only recently attended.
In 2011, he was officially diagnosed as having Bipolar Disorder.
He takes Lithium, which keeps him balanced. Since 2013, he hasn’t been to the hospital.
George said, “While bipolar disorder can be frightening, it is not the end of this world.” I want people to see that there is hope and that they can overcome their problems.
