Channel 4 goes back to school with new Ackley Bridge images released

8 March 2021

Channel 4 has today released two images from the new series of its award-winning school drama Ackley Bridge, which will be back in the classroom this April in a brand new format, with 10x30’ episodes stripped across two weeks in an earlier teatime slot.

Ackley Bridge has been the biggest show of the year so far for teenagers (16-19-year olds) on All 4 and the biggest library title on All 4 for 16-24.

The images from the critically acclaimed series produced by The Forge show best mates Kayla (Robyn Cara, Life, Hounslow Diaries) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi, Hilda), who will be new to viewers but are existing pupils at Ackley Bridge, as well as Johnny, (Ryan Dean, The Gentleman, Penny on M.A.R.S.) a cocky, good looking new student and heartthrob. While Johnny catches the eye of both funny, big-hearted Kayla and her fiery, outspoken best friend Fizza, he remains deeply suspicious of his new school.

A second shot shows teachers Kaneez Paracha, (Sunetra Sarker), Sue Carp (Charlie Hardwick) and Hassain Hussein (Hareet Deol) who are returning alongside fellow teachers Martin Evershed (Robert James-Collier), Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner), Rashid Hyatt (Tony Jayawardena), as well as favourite Ackley pupils, Sam (Megan Parkinson), Chloe (Fern Deacon), Rukhi (Phoebe Tuffs-Berry), Spud (Zara Salim), Hayley (Cody Ryan), and Razia (Nazmeen Kauser).

Ackley Bridge series is produced by The Forge. Executive Producers are George Ormond (National Treasure, Kiri), George Faber (National Treasure, Shameless), Ayub Khan Din (East is East) and Caroline Cooper Charles for Screen Yorkshire, who are supporting the series.  Rosalie Carew is the producer, and Joe Stephenson and Ethosheia Hylton direct.  For Channel 4, Commissioning Executive is Rebecca Holdsworth. All3media International are handling international distribution.

For further press information about the upcoming series please contact Dingile Kasote dkasote@channel4.co.uk