Former Grange Hill actor Lee MacDonald has revealed he has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
The actor, 56, revealed he went to the doctor because he was worried about an ‘unusual’ spot on his face, only to be told it was cancer.
Viewers know Lee best as his teenage alter-ego Zammo, whose storyline pushes the boundaries of mid-1980s TV on Grange Hill.
Lee wrote: ‘Went to the doctor today to check the unusual spot on my face! The doctor said it was cancer!
‘As we get older, keep an eye out for anything unusual and hopefully it will show up sooner!!! Ordered to be sorted in the next few days!’
Fans took to the comments section to share their wishes.
Former EastEnders star Lee MacDonald has been revealed to have skin cancer. The actor, 56, went to the doctors over concerns about an ‘unusual’ spot on his face, only to be told it was cancer.
Viewers know Lee best as his teenage alter-ego Zammo, whose storylines pushed the boundaries of mid-1980s TV on Grange Hill (pictured right with Tim Polley and Melissa Wilks)
Lee, who played bus driver Terry in the BBC soap in 2019, wrote: ‘Went to the doctor today to check the unusual spot on my face! The doctor said it was cancer!
He wrote: ‘Glad to have it checked – here’s to a quick resolution’ and ‘Thanks for highlighting this Lee. Good luck to you in the next few days!’
‘I hope everything goes well Lee. It’s a good thing you checked early!’
Lee’s Grange Hill character Samuel Maguire is known as the mischievous Zammo, who attended the fictional north London school between 1982 and 1987.
The actor appeared in the most famous – albeit controversial – storyline when Zammo became addicted to heroin, which culminated in an overdose scene.
Despite the shock factor, Lee and cast members helped spearhead the Just Say No anti-drug campaign, releasing a charity single that became a Top 10 hit.
However, speaking in 2007, Lee said that he later struggled to get acting work as a teenager due to negative associations with drugs.
‘After (the new series) came out, my agent said, ‘Nobody wants you anymore because it’s a drug-related character. So nobody wants to use you,” he told fan site Grange Hill Gold.
Lee later became a locksmith and opened his own shop before returning to the world of soaps in 2019 as bus driver Terry in EastEnders (pictured in 2018)
Fans took to the comments section to share their wishes
‘I lost a lot of work because adults didn’t want me in clubs because of the drug connection. But that’s the power of television. . . More in the 80s when there were only a few channels. ‘
‘Things are taken more seriously than they are now. There’s a lot of stuff kids are watching these days that is outrageous.’
After leaving Grange Hill in 1987, he planned to turn his boxing hobby into a career. He has represented London and plans to turn professional after being offered a contract.
But when he was 21, he was in a serious car accident while in his father’s van. The van was hit by a police chase car at 90mph, sending Lee through the windscreen and causing severe head injuries.
He was told he could no longer box. A family friend was able to get him to work in a grocery store and he landed some small acting roles in Bill, Birds Of A Feather and Neighbours.
He admitted in a 2019 interview with The Guardian that ’90s were not good because I didn’t know where I was or what I wanted to do.’
‘I was working in this warehouse and it was on the radio that (Grange Hill star) John Alford had just got Burning London, and I just thought: “I’ve got it and now John’s got it again.”
Lee later became a locksmith and opened his own Surrey shop in 2000 before returning to the world of soap operas in 2019 as bus driver Terry in EastEnders.
Lee is marrying his girlfriend of ten years Jess in 2022, sharing the news on Twitter with the words: ‘Finally dating ❤️❤️❤️ xxx.’
The couple got engaged in March 2020 but had to postpone the wedding due to Covid.
Posting a photo of her and Jess posing with her engagement ring, Lee excitedly tweeted at the time: ‘My girlfriend Jess’ just said YES’! Next wedding.’
Lee’s son Harry, 16, was best man. He is also stepfather to Jess’ daughter Katie, also 16.
Lee is marrying his girlfriend of ten years Jess in 2022, sharing the news on Twitter
Earlier this month, an excited Lee wrote alongside a snap with Jess: ‘Just say yes!’ So glad he did! ‘I’m marrying this beautiful woman later this month ❤️ xxx’
They got engaged in March 2020 but had to postpone the wedding due to Covid
Lee’s son Harry, 16, was best man
