They were the stars of your favourite after-school TV programmes, but what happened to those actors and actresses after the mid ’00s? Did they make it in the big bad world of Hollywood or did they dissolve back into a world of anonymity? Check out what these 13 former kids’ TV stars are up to these days.
1. Mildred Hubble from The Worst Witch
Played by Georgina Sherrington
Unfortunately Georgina Sherrington’s spellbinding acting in the Worst Witch didn’t catch the attention of any Hollywood directors and we’ve seen very little of the former Mildred Hubble since she graduated from Weirdsister College in 2002. This is probably because she was busy getting a degree from Princeton University. Last year she starred in a short film called Stop/Eject, which looks a bit like a rubbish version of Bernard’s Watch:
Luckily it looks like things are picking up for Georgina as she stars in new fantasy flick Welcome to Purgatory, which is out this year.
2. Ethel Hallow in The Worst Witch
Played by Felicity Jones
Continuing along the theme of Worst Witch alumni, last year’s biggest breakout star is also a former pupil of Cackles Academy and Weirdsister College.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, Felicity picked up a BAFTA and an Academy Award for her role as Jane Wilde Hawking in The Theory of Everything. This is her looking witchy but still fabulous at the Critics’ Choice Awards:
We can expect more great things from Ms Jones in 2015, as she stars alongside James Franco and Jonah Hill in drama True Story, and in thriller Autobahn with Nicholas Hoult and Anthony Hopkins.
3. Charlie Charlton in Byker Grove
Played by Donna Air
Byker Grove’s alumni includes Ant and Dec, CBBC presenter Andrew Hayden-Smith and a whole host of Hollyoaks actors, but no others have gone on to become almost-kind-of royals. After impressing on Byker Grove, Donna went on to star in Hollywoaks, Hotel Babylon, and The Mummy Returns.
Let’s not forget about Donna’s stint in girlband Biker Grooove (later renamed Crush), who produced the unforgettable hit Love Your Sexy. Here’s a little reminder of that timeless classic:
These days, Donna can be seen hanging off the arm of sort-of royalty James Middleton (yep, that’s Kate’s brother).
4. Dewey in Malcom in the Middle
Played by Erik Per Sullivan
We all know that Frankie Muniz did pretty well after his Malcom in the Middle days, but what about his genius little brother Dewey? Erik got a few parts here and there, popping up in King of Queens and Black of Life, but his most impressive post-MITM roles were voicing the part of Sheldon in Finding Nemo and Mino in Arthur and the Invisibles. Since 2010 things have been a bit quiet from Erik. Here he is looking scarily grown up:
5. Harvey Kinkle in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Played by Nate Richert
After playing Sabrina’s heartthrob boyfriend for seven years, Nate Richert ran through a string of shows with very forgettable titles (Lovely & Amazing? Touched by an Angel? Anyone remember these?) before pursuing music. Watch him singing country songs and playing a ukulele here:
6. Kenan from Kenan & Kel
Played by Kenan Thompson
Contrary to weird rumour about his death, Kenan Thompson is still alive and well. He’s been in a number of films including D2: The Might Ducks, Big Fat Liar, The Magic Belle Isle and he is also the voice of Grumpy Smurf. Between 2003 and 2005, he was involved in America’s favourite sketch show, Saturday Night Live.
7. Josh Barker from My Parents are Aliens
Played by Alex Kew
Alex Kew is best remembered as the spikey-haired grunger kid from My Parents are Aliens, the mischievous younger brother who was basically annoying to everyone. Since his days dominating the CiTV after school TV spot, Alex ditched acting and is pursuing the life of a *RaWk StAr* with his band RELEASE THE BATS (yes that is seriously what they are called). Here he is RaWkInG oUt on stage with the band:
8. Melanie Barker from My Parents are Aliens
Played by Danielle McCormack
Mel was officially The Coolest Gal on TV back in her My Parents are Aliens days, with her rebellious dreadlocks, covetable hippy wardrobe and deadpan comebacks. These days, former actress Danielle McCormack can be found busking in Covent Garden. Apparently she’s flogging her albums there too, if you’re interested.
9. Justine Littlewood in The Story of Tracey Beaker
Played by Montanna Thompson
Remember Tracy Beaker’s mouthy brattish rival Justine Littlewood? Yeah, of course you do. Well, she’s not done an awful lot since leaving the Dumping Ground, except for starring in this Channel 4 one-off Dates, where she plays a sparky young woman with a strikingly similar personality to Justine. So this is basically like watching Justine on an awkward date:
10. Rio Wellard in The Story of Tracey Beaker
Played by Craig Roberts
Rio Wellard and his cool collection of bandanas added a touch of teenage goth to Tracey Beaker. As avid viewers will remember, he and his half-sisters Chantal Wellard and Roxy Wellard were the angsty family who caused trouble in the Dumping Ground in series four of TSOTB. Later in the series, his icy emo heart thawed and he became a much-loved character.
Craig’s done pretty well since leaving the Dumpng Ground, as you may recognise him from his starring role in Richard Ayode’s indie cult movie Submarine, or from his small parts in 22 Jump Street and Bad Neighbours.
11. Bernard in Bernard’s Watch
Played by David Peachy and Ryan Watson
As fans of Bernard and his magical watch might recall, there were actually two very different versions of Bernard’s Watch. The first ran from 1997-2001 and starred David Peachy, while the other aired from 2004-2005 with Ryan Watson playing Bernard. There’s very little around the web on Mr Peachy, other than that he apparently studied Medicine at Sheffield University. Other than that, he’s melted away into obscurity. This dude doesn’t even have Twitter. However, Ryan Watson took on a couple of jobs on the Bill, the Sarah Jane Adventures and Christmas at the Riviera, as well as a bit of radio acting. These days, he’s trying to make it as a film producer. Here’s a vine of him having a nice bike ride in Virginia Water:
12. Salem the cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Played by Nick Bakay
If you thought Salem was a real talking cat, prepare for some very sad news. He was a puppet, voiced by actor Nick Bakay. Bakay went on to act in Kings and Queens and ‘Til Death, as well as writing and producing episodes of Sabrina, Zookeeper and Two and a Half Men.
13. Pippin in Come Outside
You may want to sit down for this one, because we’re about to tell you some very upsetting news. Pippin wasn’t actually played by one dog. “Pippin” was played by a dog called Pippin in series one, while in series two and three her grandson Mr Higgins took over. So yeah, Pippin is probably dead.
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