Last week, Byker Grove fans were treated to a heartwarming reunion on the popular daytime show Loose Women. The actors behind the beloved characters Spuggie and Geoff, Lyndyann Barrass and Billy Fane, respectively, joined the panel for the first time in decades, leaving fans excited. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as news had recently surfaced about the iconic show’s return to television.
Earlier this month, iconic duo Ant and Dec, who rose to fame through Byker Grove in the early ’90s, revealed that they would be stepping into the role of executive producers for the show’s reboot. Renamed BYKER, the new series is a joint effort between Mitre Productions and Sunderland’s Fulwell73, known for their work on Netflix’s Sunderland Til I Die and popular shows like The Kardashians and the Friends reunion.
The announcement of Byker Grove’s return sent waves of nostalgia through its loyal fan base, who grew up watching the show. So, anticipation soared when Loose Women’s host Jane Moore hinted at an upcoming Byker Grove reunion during Tuesday’s episode. She managed to keep the identities of the returning actors a secret until the big reveal on Thursday’s show.
The joyous moment arrived, and Lyndyann Barrass and Billy Fane, who portrayed Spuggie and Geoff, graced the Loose Women panel with their presence. Denise Welch, a regular on Loose Women, also played a significant role on Byker Grove as Polly. Denise warmly embraced her former co-stars, creating a heartwarming atmosphere on set.
Lyndyann, who departed from Byker Grove in 1992, shared that her son informed her about the show’s comeback, recounting how her phone “absolutely blew up” with messages from excited fans. Meanwhile, Billy admitted that ever since he read about the reboot in the newspaper, people in supermarkets couldn’t help but ask, “Oi Billy, are you going back on Byker Grove?”
With Ant and Dec at the helm and original cast members reuniting, the show’s comeback promises an exciting journey down memory lane for devoted fans and a thrilling new experience for a new generation of viewers.