BRITISH SOAP AWARDS, LONDON -- Todd Carty has signed up to appear in the upcoming big screen version of Grange Hill.

The actor - best known for his role of Mark Fowler in EastEnders - played 'Tucker' Jenkins in the long-running kids' soap between 1978 and 1982. He also starred in his own spinoff, Tucker's Luck, in 1983.

"It's still in the early stages," said Carty of the movie, which is being developed by Phil Redmond.

Filming will begin next Spring for an Autumn 2007 release.