Introducing the new pupils at Ackley Bridge
Category: Press Pack ArticleKayla – Played by Robyn Cara (Life, Hounslow Diaries)
A funny, awkward, and loveable pupil who feels she doesn’t fit in either at school or at home. Kayla attempts to navigate both sides of her separated parents’ heritage – her White mum and Pakistani dad.
Fizza – Played by Yasmin Al-Khudhairi (Hilda)
Kayla’s best friend and a fiercely intelligent, fist-in-the-air ‘firebrand’, whose sarcastic humour and tough-girl attitude mask a more vulnerable side, as she navigates the rocky relationship with her mum.
Johnny – Played by Ryan Dean (The Gentleman, Penny on M.A.R.S.)
New boy Johnny is a cheeky, confident charmer from a Romany Gypsy community whose cocky ‘front’ and initial distrust of school reveals a sensitive soul, as he catches the eye of both Kayla and Fizza.
Tahir - Played by Shobhit Piasa (Londonstani)
The smooth-talking nephew of Kaneez, who instantly falls in with Sam, but whose salesman patter hides a family secret.
Marina – Played by Carla Woodcock (Free Rein Pandora)
Kayla’s ‘mean girl’ half-sister and Ackley ‘it girl’ who loves her sister deep down.
New guest star
Connor McIntyre (Coronation Street) guest stars as Johnny’s Grandad.
They join the returning cast including Sunetra Sarker, Robert James-Collier, Jo Joyner, Charlie Hardwick, Tony Jayawardena, Fern Deacon, Phoebe Tuffs-Berry, Cody Ryan, Nazmeen Kauser and Zara Salim.