Todd Carty: from EastEnders icon to starring on Cork Opera House stage

Todd Carty’s life changed overnight and forever the day he got a part in ‘Grange Hill’ and he has been an actor ever since, writes Ed Power

Todd Carty as Major Metcalf in The Mousetrap

With high-profile parts in Grange Hill, EastEnders and The Bill to his credit, actor Todd Carty has been famous his entire adult life. The actor, now 59, remembers vividly the moment it all changed for him and the big time came knocking.

“Let’s say for argument’s sake Grange Hill started in February 1978, on a Tuesday. The day before – the Monday – I’d go to school quite happily. But by the time Wednesday came, my whole life had changed. Grange Hill was out. It completely changed my life. Anonymity – that was a thing of the past. Grange Hill got up to 12m viewers. You had three channels. But it was a fantastic experience. It grows you up very quickly. It gives you a good footing.”