Ackley Bridge (series 4)

The fourth series of the British television drama series Ackley Bridge is set to begin broadcasting on Channel 4 in 2021. The series follows the lives of the staff and pupils at the fictional multi-cultural academy school Ackley Bridge College, in the fictitious Yorkshire mill town of Ackley Bridge.[1] When the commissioning of the series was announced, it was announced that Ackley Bridge would face an overhaul, including cast changes and a shortened runtime. The series will consist of ten thirty-minute episodes, whereas episodes in the previous three series were double the duration.

Ackley Bridge
Series 4
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes10
Release
Original networkChannel 4
Original release2021 (2021)
Series chronology

Cast and characters
Main article: List of Ackley Bridge characters

Main

Guest

Episodes
No.
overall		No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [2]
271"Episode 1"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
282"Episode 2"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
293"Episode 3"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
304"Episode 4"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
315"Episode 5"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
326"Episode 6"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
337"Episode 7"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
348"Episode 8"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
359"Episode 9"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD
3610"Episode 10"TBATBA2021 (2021)TBD

Production and casting

Unlike the second and third series, the renewal of Ackley Bridge was not announced immediately after the conclusion of the series prior. Four months after the conclusion of series three, it was announced that Ackley Bridge had been renewed, and would face an overhaul. One of the changes includes the runtime, which was halved from 60 minutes to 30 minutes. Rebecca Holdsworth, Channel 4 Commissioning Executive stated: "Refreshing the format to half hours not only reflects the viewing habits of our young audience, but gives the show a new look and feel as we welcome a brand new cast of characters to our screens."[3] It was later confirmed that the series would air on Channel 4 in 2021, with the ten episodes being broadcast every weekday across two weeks.[4]

Another of the changes being made to the programme in the fourth series include the changing of the cast.[5] Robyn Cara was cast as Kayla, a "funny, mixed-race pupil torn between her white mum's family and her traditional Pakistani dad's family", alongside sister Marina, played by Carla Woodcock, who was described by Digital Spy as a "mean girl". Yasmin Al Khudhairi was cast as Fizza, the best friend of Kayla, and a "fiercely intelligent, fist-in-the-air firebrand". Ryan Dean was cast in the role of Johnny, "a cocky, good-looking member of the traveller community who is deeply suspicious of school, and who catches the eye of both Kayla and Fizza", and it was also confirmed that Connor McIntyre would guest star as Johnny's grandfather. Tahir, played by Shobhit Piasa, will also join in the fourth series, as "the smooth talking billy-liar nephew of Kaneez, whose salesman's patter hides a family secret". The castings came as a result of numerous cast members leaving following the ending of the third series.[6] Jasmine Payne was also cast as Queenie,[7] as well as Olivia Marie Fearn as Rose Boswell.[8]

In December 2019, was announced that filming for the fourth series would commence in March 2020, with the commissioning of the series set for September 2020.[9][10] However, shortly after filming commenced, it was announced that production had been suspended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television. The Halifax Courier reported that there would be a minimum of a two-month break, but confirmed that Ackley Bridge "will be back", amidst rumours of the series' cancellation.[11] Later in the year, it was announced that filming would recommence in September.[12] A casting call for "confident" extras aged 9 to 19 with an Asian background was advertised. It was added by Northern Talent, the casting company, that they would prefer groups of extras from the same household, since it meant that they could interact on set without quarantining beforehand.[13] It was also confirmed that regular cast members would be tested for the virus and placed into "bubbles", in order for them to physically interact with each other onscreen.[14]

References
  1. Ankers, Wayne (7 June 2017). "Where is new TV drama Ackley Bridge set?". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  2. "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  3. "Channel 4'a Ackley Bridge cut to 30-minutes episodes for series four". Entertainment Daily. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. "Ackley Bridge series 4 cast, air date and new format". TellyMix. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  5. Chilton, Louis (5 December 2019). "Channel 4 to bring back Ackley Bridge for 4th series – with a twist". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  6. "Ackley Bridge reveals new cast members and shares big update on season 4". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. Scream Management [@screamtalent98] (28 September 2020). "Scream's JASMINE PAYNE is currently filming for @AckleyBridgeTV as series regular QUEENIE for the brand new series! Raising handsVideo cameraClapper board Well done Jasmine! #ackleybridge #channel4 #screammanagement #talentagency #actingagent #proudagent #youngperformer" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. Red Door Management [@reddoormgmt] (25 September 2020). "Red Door's OLIVIA FEARN (@OliviaMFearn) will soon start filming as series regular 'Rose' in the brand new series of @AckleyBridgeTV on @Channel4 #HappyFriday #Channel4 #AckleyBridge #RedDoorManagement" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. "Ackley Bridge set to return for a fourth series". Royal Television Society. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  10. "Ackley Bridge to return for a fourth series but there's a major change". Metro. 6 December 2019. Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. "Filming for Ackley Bridge series four postponed amid coronavirus". Halifax Courier. 18 March 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  12. "Ackley Bridge is looking for 'confident' extras from Yorkshire - here's how to apply". Examiner Live. 27 August 2020. Archived from the original on 2 September 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  13. "Channel 4 drama Ackley Bridge is on hunt for extras - how to get involved". Halifax Courier. 26 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  14. "Filming resumes on Ackley Bridge next month". Prolific North. Archived from the original on 13 January 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
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