After years of racial segregation in a small Yorkshire mill town, two high schools combine into Ackley Bridge College, integrate white and Muslim students. But the transition is far from easy for teachers, students, or the community. Tackling issues like racism, homophobia, and religious discrimination, this timely series is a look at a funny insight into modern-day Britain. With Jo Joyner (EastEnders) as headmistress Mandy Carter. 6 episodes, about 4 ¾ hrs, 2 DVDs, SDH. Mature content.

Episodes

Episode 1
After years of racial segregation in the community, two previously isolated high schools combine to form Ackley Bridge College. On opening day, class cutup Jordan causes an incident and headmistress Mandy clashes with her husband, PE teacher Steve.

Episode 2
Forced to sneak a baby into school, Jordan blackmails Steve for help. Vivacious student Missy plots a way to get back at her former best friend, Nasreen, but her plan backfires when rumors about the two circulate around school.

Episode 3
Nasreen confesses to Missy about kissing her science teacher, Lila, but Nasreen's father returns home with surprising news. While Mandy feels guilty over her affair with the school sponsor, Sadiq, Steve forms a rugby team and recruits feuding students Cory and Riz, Sadiq's son.

Episode 4
Missy awakes to a huge shock but keeps it a secret to protect her younger sister. Lila comes out of the closet to stop her colleague's advances, but her private life soon becomes public knowledge.

Episode 5
While Missy skips school, Nasreen argues with her mother about her father's wish to send Nasreen to Pakistan for an arranged marriage. Before the school's first big rugby game, Steve can't bring himself to forgive Mandy for her affair, and he lashes out at Sadiq.

Episode 6
Mandy plans an Open Day at Ackley Bridge to encourage prospective students and their parents to enroll, but an outburst from Jordan and a surprise speech from Sadiq's daughter, Alya, derail the event.

DVD Extras

Behind the Scenes: The cast and crew of Ackley Bridge talk about the relationships between the characters, the theme of shared communities, working with a young cast, and more. (46 min.)

Details

Packaging: Boxed
Run Time: 287 minutes
Format: Widescreen
Number of discs: 2
Language: English
Foreign Language Subtitles: No
Color or B&W: Color
SDH: Yes
Region Code: 1
Aspect Ratio: 16x9
Audio Format: 2.0 stereo
Rating: NR
Disclaimer: contains strong language, violence, sexual situations, and drug use

Cast

• Jo Joyner (EastEnders, North & South)
• Paul Nicholls (Law & Order: UK)
• Liz White (Life on Mars)
• Sunetra Sarker (Broadchurch)
• Adil Ray (Citizen Kahn)
• Poppy Lee Friar (Mr. Selfridge)
• Amy-Leigh Hickman (EastEnders)
• Samuel Bottomley (Wolf Hall)
• Anneika Rose (Line of Duty)
• Arsher Ali (The Missing)