Award-winning drama, Ackley Bridge, is returning for its fifth series on Channel 4. The series, which is set in a Yorkshire mill town, picks up with trio, Johnny, Kayla and Fizza, as they try to navigate the second half of the school year.
Inspired by real-life Lancashire and Yorkshire schools established to integrate the White and Asian communities in some of the most divided towns in the country, Ackley Bridge has won praise across its previous four series for tackling real-life situations and issues in an irreverent, insightful way, with humour and punchy, big-hearted stories.
But when can you watch the series, who is in it and how many episodes are there this year? Read on to find out more.
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When does Ackley Bridge return to Channel 4
Ackley Bridge makes its long-awaited return to Channel 4 on Monday, July 11. Fans of the series will be treated to a double-bill, as two episodes will be released when it returns.
Episodes of Ackley Bridge are 45 minutes in length.
Who is in this series of Ackley Bridge?
Ackley Bridge's main trio, Johnny, Kayla and Fizza, all return, played by Ryan Dean, Robyn Cara and Yasmin Al- Khudhairi respectively. Elsewhere, Loose Women and Casualty star, Sunetra Sarker returns as Kaneez. Hareet Deol also makes a comeback as Hassan Hussein after starring in Casualty, The Shore, and Girl Like You.
Former Coronation Street alumni, Robert James-Collier is headteacher Martin Evershed. A thorn in Evershed's side, Ken Weaver (George Potts), continues to prove a pain to the school’s head teacher.
There are two new actors joining the Ackley Bridge cast this year. Kyle Dobson, played by Adam Little, is fresh out of young offenders, hardened by a difficult home life, and influenced by the racist views of some of the older members of his community. He’s every bit as intimidating and impenetrable as his stature.
There is also Asma Farooqi, played by Laila Zaidi, who is a young, high achieving, intelligent Hijab wearing Muslim woman who wears her faith and sense of social justice on her sleeve. Asma sees teaching as a political act - she arrives at Ackley resolute on making her students think for themselves.
How many episodes of Ackley Bridge are there?
There are 10 episodes in the fifth series of Ackley Bridge. The new series opens with a two-parter, airing at 10pm on Channel 4 on Monday, July 11.
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