Where are the cast of Byker Grove now? From call centre jobs to Labour Party

Byker Grove was renowned for tackling a number of groundbreaking real-life storylines affecting teens prior to its finale in 2006. A revival of the popular teen drama was announced last year.

As such, its cast became household names during its time on the air, and two of its biggest stars in are helping reboot the drama for a new generation.

Ant, who played PJ in the show, said of the reboot: "We owe such a lot to Byker Grove and the North East so we can't wait to start working with Fulwell 73 and the team to bring this iconic series back to life."

While Dec echoed: "Byker Grove will always be very special to us as the show which gave us our break, so we are beyond excited to be working together with Fulwell 73 on bringing it back.

"We are looking forward to bringing this fresh incarnation to a whole new generation as well as those who remember it as fondly as we do."

But where are the rest of the cast of Byker Grove now as Ant and Dec ready themselves to step back into the classroom?

PJ and Duncan - Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly

Between 1990 and 1992, the characters of PJ and Duncan skyrocketed Ant and Dec to national fame.

The duo's foray into show business soon veered towards the music charts with bangers like Let's Get Ready to Rumble and Eternal Love just two hits from their discography.

Soon after, Ant and Dec turned their attention to TV, landing a stint on SM:TV alongside Cat Deeley.

And the duo haven't slowed down ever since, landing presenting gigs on some of the UK's biggest shows including Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and Limitless Win.

They have also bagged the Best Presenter gong at the National Television Awards for 22 years in a row.

Nicola Dobson - Jill Halfpenny

For three years between 1989 and 1992, Jill Halfpenny took on the role of Nicola, a youngster who fell in love with rebellious eco-activist Paul Skerrett (Joe Caffrey).

Nicola had two sisters in the form of Jemma (Nicola Ewart) and Debbie (Nicola Bell) and appeared across four series of the drama.

Since departing Byker Grove, Halfpenny has continued to be an ever-present figure on the small screen.

She's enjoyed long-running soap stints on BBC's EastEnders and ITV's Coronation Street as well as starring in ITV's Liar, Channel 5's The Drowning and The Holiday, and more recently The Cuckoo.

Kirsty 'Spuggie' Campbell - Lyndyann Barrass

Barrass was just 12 years old when she joined Byker Grove in the same year as Halfpenny.

She was written out three years later in 1992, much to Barrass' disappointment but she wasn't done with show business there.

The actor took another pop at stardom in pop group Angel but it wasn't to be and after becoming the victim of assault because of her fame, she admitted "it was the final straw. I decided to quit show business for good".

According to the Mirror, the now-47-year-old currently works in a call centre and - in stark contrast to her former colleagues - earns Ant and Dec's daily wage annually.

Noddy Fishwick - Brett Adams

Noddy was at the centre of one of Byker Grove's most groundbreaking storylines when he kissed his best mate Gary.

The scenes which touched upon Noddy's sexuality were met with furore at the time but were defended by both Adams and the BBC.

Adams told Attitude in 2014: "About a month or two after the episode had aired, I received a letter from a young lad about 15 or 16 sayings he was going through the same [thing] as Noddy and if he hadn't watched that episode on that day then he would have continued to think he was the only one going through it."

He left the show in 1995 and Adams briefly enjoyed a stint on-stage as part of the band Point Break but now, according to Digital Spy, works as a bowling alley manager.

Charlie Charlton - Donna Air

For a year-long stint in 1992, actor and TV presenter Donna Air took on the role of Charlie.

Since she departed the drama, her CV has boasted roles in the BBC's The Split and Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks.

She also took part in ITV's Dancing on Ice in 2018 but failed to win the top accolade.

Bridget Phillipson - Show Extra

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson was worlds away from politics when she ventured into acting as a child.

She became a Grade A pupil at secondary school, with her mother insisting she go to drama school on the weekends. This landed her a role as an extra in the TV series Byker Grove.

Bridget joined the Labour Party aged just 15 and was re-elected as an MP for the fourth time.

After Labour's win in the general election, she was appointed education secretary in Keir Starmer's Cabinet.

Other recognisable names to have appeared on-screen in the series include Loose Women's Denise Welch, Only Fools and Horses' Roger Lloyd Pack, Blue Peter's Yvette Fielding and even Fearne Cotton appeared in a cameo as herself.