Strange Hill High

Strange Hill High is a British children's puppet-animated television series for CBBC. The show is a co-production between CBBC, FremantleMedia and Factory.

Out of the many writers, it was noted that Josh Weinstein (who worked on The Simpsons, Futurama and Disenchantment) would be involved in the series,^[1] with its visuals created using an animation technique combining puppets, Japanese vinyl toys and digital effects. The show continued to air reruns until 2020.

Strange Hill High mainly follows a group of three diverse students: Mitchell Tanner, an African-Caribbean-British pupil with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder who comes up with plans to resolve various conflicts, while avoiding studying for tests; Becky Butters, a conscientious schoolgirl who tries her best to get out of whatever problems she gets involved in; and the sometimes dull and robotic Templeton, who comes up with bizarre quips and interpretations, as they explore their extraordinary school, uncovering absurd and outrageous occurrences as they go.

The students meet a variety of people involved in the oddities of their school, but have to be wary of some of the students and faculty members - mainly Mr. Abercrombie, who is easily angered by any disturbance.

• Ben Bailey Smith as:
  • Mitchell Tanner, one of the main protagonists and a quick-witted boy. He is an avid rule breaker and hates the authority of the teachers. His attempts to break the rules and get out of schoolwork often cause the strange events he and his friends get into
  • Bishop, a student at Strange Hill High who talks like a wannabe gangster.

• Emma Kennedy as Rebecca "Becky" Butters, one of the main protagonists who is often the voice of reason. She is conscientious, positive and always tries to do the right thing and follow the rules

• Richard Ayoade as Templeton, one of the main protagonists and a self-proclaimed “genius”. He is very eccentric and somewhat robotic

• Jonathan Keeble as:
  • Melvyn Abercrombie, the strict, eccentric and very lonely headmaster of Strange Hill High who despises the students, and is Mitchell's archenemy.
  • Mr. Brian Dougherty, the deputy head who was driven insane by the amount of paperwork. He lived on the mysterious fourth floor of the school, where Mitchell sought his help to change his 'future' (when he was given his future career results - a teacher), but Mr Dougherty bit him, turning Mitchell into a were-teacher. Mitchell sets him free from the fourth floor, where he is rediscovered and 'adopted' by Mr Abercrombie
  • Murdoch, the school repair man who used to be a pirate. Despite the school constantly being on the verge of collapse, he manages to keep his job
  • Mr. Balding, the oldest teacher in Strange Hill High. He is immortal, and revealed to be Santa Claus

• John Thomson as:
  • Peter Dustpan, a former Strange Hill High student who lived in the lost and found for centuries.
  • Sir Bogervier, an Arthurian knight who was a stone statue in a secret chamber in the school bathroom
  • The Embarrassment, a giant slug monster. He used to be a student at the school and a relentless pranker, and now uses people's embarrassment on April Fools Day to imprison them and grow stronger

• Caroline Aherne as:
  • Stephanie, a rather mean girl and a lover of fashion.
  • Croydonia, Stephanie’s best friend and a rough girl who is very bossy.
  • C.A.T.E, a kind and hi-tech robot who turned out to be evil, who Templeton develops a crush on

• Marc Silk as:
  • Matthews, a happy-go-lucky boy who, despite being constantly terrified, always has an enormous smile.
  • Tyson, a student at Strange Hill High and a bully.
  • The Ghosts in Detention, 3 ghosts who haunt the detention room at Strange Hill High.
  • Mr. Garden, the English teacher at Strange Hill High and the nicest teacher, who Becky has a crush on.
  • Ian Gatlin, an incredibly intelligent kid who got frozen for decades. Mitchell and Becky accidentally decapitate him, and it's discovered he 'went bad' after they attempt to use his genius and he only talks nonsense.
  • Lucas, the smart leader of the bullies.
  • Mr. Kandirsky
  • Nimrod, an outdated robot and maths teacher who was designed for the Cold War.

• Melissa Sinden as:
  • Miss Grackle, a mean music teacher at Strange Hill High who loathes Mitchell.
  • Ms. Grimshaw, the secretary of Strange Hill High.
  • Samia, a student at Strange Hill High who can’t walk and talk.

• Matt King as Mr. Creeper, the P.E. teacher at Strange Hill High. He grew from a plant and attempted to take over the school with his brethren, but was stopped by the trio. He was hired by Mr Abercrombie when he said he could win the school trophies.

Guest Stars

• Chris Johnson as Ken Kong, a laid-back exchange student from Mongolia who went missing at the end of the school's swimming pool, finding safety on a desert island with giant fruit. With that being his only source of food, he grew to be as tall as the school. The students bring him back to the normal world, where he terrorises Mr Abercrombie
• Alison Moyet as Terpsichore (a.k.a. Joy), a Muse who attempts to use the Spring Equinox to take over the school, hypnotising the students to be nice to each other and sing, in order to open a portal. She is weakened when Mitchell encourages the students to be themselves, and ultimately vanquished when Templeton unexpectedly returns from a trip and sings terribly off-key

Episode ratings from BARB.^[2]

An app game titled Merchant of Menace was released for iOS and Android in 2014, though it could also be played online.

• Grange Hill – unrelated 1978–2008 British television children's drama series that also takes place at a school
• Strange Hill – unrelated British comic strip with a similar name that also takes place at a school

• Strange Hill High at BBC Online
• Strange Hill High at IMDb