Former ‘Grange Hill’ actor Lee MacDonald has joined ‘EastEnders’.
The 50-year-old star is returning to TV screens to guest star as Terry, a London bus driver, for a couple of episodes in the BBC One soap – 32 years after he last portrayed Sammy ‘Zammo’ McGuire in the legendary children’s drama series.
He said: "I am absolutely chuffed to bits and so excited to be briefly joining the cast of ‘EastEnders’. I can’t say too much yet but watch this space. Top banana."
Lee – who now runs a locksmith and key-cutting business in south London – will star opposite Danny Dyer in the soap, going up against his character Mick Carter in a radio competition to try to win concert tickets, but the Queen Vic landlord is desperate to get his hands on the prize for wife Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).
Lee previously admitted he wasn’t keen to ditch his shop in favour of returning to full-time acting because it pays his mortgage.
Speaking in 2015, he added: "My agent wants me to drop the shop. She says I should try and push myself as an actor and not a locksmith. But I’m quite happy to say I’m a locksmith, ‘cos that’s what pays the mortgage."
As well as ‘Grange Hill’, Lee has made cameo appearances in ‘Birds of a Feather’, ‘The Bill’ and starred in a TV version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
He has also tasted some musical success in his career while portraying the school pupil.
After Lee’s alter-ego Zammo became hooked on heroin – one of the show’s most controversial, yet popular storylines – the cast recorded an anti-drugs charity single, ‘Just Say No’ – a cover of La Toya Jackson’s 1988 hit – which reached number five in the charts.
One of Lee’s latest TV appearances came in September 2016 when he starred on ITV cooking game show ‘Who’s Doing the Dishes?’, which was hosted by Brian McFadden.
He appeared alongside former ‘EastEnders’ actress Gemma Bissix (Clare Bates) and ex-‘Coronation Street’ Sean Wilson (Martin Platt).
Lee MacDonald joins EastEnders
