New term, new challenges. Ackley Bridge returns for another run of eight laugh-out-loud, irreverent and highly emotional episodes set in and around a school designed to unite the divided white and Asian communities of a small Yorkshire mill town.

As Ackley’s Year 13 pupils enter their final year, they all face questions about their future, but who will reach for the stars and who will be left behind? The school is now part of a large multi-academy trust, and Mandy has a new nightmare boss, Ken who has dumped a load of unmanageable kids from the trust’s other schools on to her. Martin, the new hot-headed Deputy Head locks horns with Sam Murgatroyd’s formidable mum, and new Year 10 bad girl Rukhsana runs rings around Sue, the disenchanted and distinctly un-PC newly appointed Director of Behaviour. Cory’s promiscuity lands him in hot water – at home, at school and with best mate Naveed. Sam Murgatroyd is made up when her mum gets out of prison only to find that she’s encouraging her into criminal behaviour, and Alya and Riz discover devastating news about their father Sadiq.