Charley

A pop music spin-off project from the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne set children's TV drama show, 'Byker Grove', much like PJ & Duncan, Byker Grooove! and Crush. In the TV show, the character of Charley was played by actress Michelle Charles. One of her main storylines was her journey on the road to becoming a recording artist and her track, 'The Best Thing', was the song she was seen singing and recording in the show. A clever bit of cross-pollination from kids TV to kids pop chart attack, not unlike S Club 7 would replicate some 10 years later, but without their success. In 1991, Michelle left the show, just not to follow a pop career path, and not before her on-screen cousin, a very similar looking girl called Charlie (?!), arrived in the show, played by Donna Air. This Charlie didn't have any on-screen popstar aspirations, but Donna Air did actually leave the show to pursue a pop career in 1995! First as one third of Byker Grooove!, and then as one half of Crush with Jayni Hoy (who was later replaced by Luciana Caporaso). Confused?! Noteworthy, the Charley B-side, 'You Don't Know Me', is co-written by Kim Wilde and Tony Swain, and is a left over track written for Kim's 'Close' album sessions in 1988.