Lee MacDonald, best known for his role as Zammo in the classic TV show Grange Hill, has disclosed that he is battling skin cancer.
The 56-year-old actor revealed that he visited the doctor after noticing an unusual spot on his face, which turned out to be cancerous.
MacDonald shared the news on social media, urging others to be vigilant about unusual skin changes: “Went to the doctors today to check an unusual spot on my face! Doctor says it’s cancer! As we get older, please keep an eye on anything unusual and hopefully get it looked at early! Booked in to get it sorted over the next couple of days!”
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Fans quickly responded with messages of support, wishing him a speedy recovery and thanking him for raising awareness about skin cancer.
MacDonald gained fame in the mid-1980s as Zammo on Grange Hill, a character whose gripping storylines included a descent into heroin addiction, culminating in an overdose scene. This portrayal helped launch the “Just Say No” anti-drugs campaign, with a charity single that became a Top 10 hit.
Despite his significant role, MacDonald struggled to find acting work post-Grange Hill due to his character’s association with drugs. In 2007, he explained to the fan site Grange Hill Gold that his agent had told him, “Nobody wants you anymore because it’s a drugs-related character.” This stigma cost him many opportunities, as even adult clubs avoided booking him.
Beyond acting, MacDonald revealed that he developed a real-life addiction to smoking at the age of 40. He began smoking to support his then-wife in quitting, believing his willpower would help them both stop, but he found himself unable to quit.
After leaving Grange Hill in 1987, MacDonald hoped to pursue a professional boxing career, having represented London in the sport. However, a devastating car accident at 21 ended those dreams. He was severely injured when a car being chased by police crashed into his dad’s van, sending him through the windscreen and causing severe head injuries.
Unable to box again, MacDonald found work through a family friend and secured minor acting roles in shows like The Bill, Birds Of A Feather, and Neighbours. Reflecting on this period in a 2019 Guardian interview, he admitted, “The 90s weren’t brilliant because I didn’t know where I was or what I wanted to do.”
In 2000, MacDonald opened his own locksmith shop in Surrey. He returned to television in 2019 with a role as bus driver Terry in EastEnders.
MacDonald’s personal life has seen happier times. He married his longtime girlfriend, Jess, in 2022, sharing their joyous news on Twitter.
The couple, who got engaged in March 2020 but postponed their wedding due to the COVID-19 pandemic, finally tied the knot with their son Harry, 16, serving as best man. MacDonald is also a stepfather to Jess’s daughter Katie, also 16.
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