Huge 1990s TV icon now pulling pints in Wetherspoons after showbiz jobs dried up

Melanie Grant known for her role as a cheerleader on the iconic children’s game show Fun House, has swapped the spotlight for a quieter life.

Fun House, which aired from 1989 to 1999 and was hosted by Pat Sharp, made Melanie and her twin sister Martina household names. The iconic show featured two teams of kids, often joined by a celebrity guest, competing in messy challenges. However, years later, the cast members have pursued various career paths.

Now 52, Melanie works at a Wetherspoons pub in Ramsgate, Kent, where fans still recognise her - although she hasn’t left showbusiness altogether.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: "Since Fun House came to an end, Martina and I haven't been on TV regularly. We still get the odd showbiz jobs here and there but it's not my full-time job anymore and I needed something to pay the bills.

“I've always been a real people person and I love working with the public, so when the Wetherspoons job came up, I thought it sounded perfect.”

Melanie is open to the idea of returning to television, expressing that she’d eagerly accept the chance to appear on shows like Strictly Come Dancing or I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Meanwhile, Martina, now a mother to 11-year-old Stanley, who has Down's syndrome, and eight-year-old Mabel with her husband Ben Freebury, shared with MailOnline that the sisters are still occasionally recognised in public.

"My partner is seven years younger than me and used to watch Fun House—he finds it a bit strange that he used to see me on TV and now we have children together," Martina said.

She also mentioned how fortunate she feels to have family support, with both her mother-in-law Dolly and her own mother helping with childcare. "I'm lucky that my job doesn't take me away from them for long," she added.