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BuzzJack Music Forum _ Television _ Ackley Bridge
Posted by: burbe 23rd February 2017, 02:51 PM
Details about a new primetime show from Channel 4 based in a school have been announced today, set to air later this year.
http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/casting-announced-on-c4-s-new-8pm-drama-the-abc-w-t
Decent cast list Jo Joyner (EastEnders), Sunetra Sarkar (Casualty), Paul Nicholls (The C Word, EastEnders), Amy-Leigh Hickman (The Dumping Ground, EastEnders) and Arshar Ali (The Missing) are all recognisable names involved.
I wonder how similar to Waterloo Road it will be? It seems far more about cultural divide, so hopefully should be more fresh.
Posted by: HarryEzra 23rd February 2017, 03:04 PM
I would be interesting in this good cast too
Posted by: Klaus 23rd February 2017, 07:37 PM
Read about this today, definitely looks interesting and hopefully it can be more like the early series of Waterloo Road!
What makes you say that? Bit full of yourself
Posted by: Liаm 23rd February 2017, 07:43 PM
The cast looks great and I loved Waterloo Road so I'll have to keep an eye out for this and check it out!
Posted by: burbe 23rd February 2017, 10:56 PM
LMAO Harry is such grammar goals x 
Posted by: common sense 26th February 2017, 06:40 PM
Sounds interesting. I was a big Waterloo Road fan.
Posted by: burbe 17th May 2017, 08:19 PM
The working title has gone, it's now called Ackley Bridge and the first trailer is out!
This is SO Waterloo Road but it kinda looks good!
Posted by: Mack 18th May 2017, 07:57 AM
A mixture of Shameless and Waterloo Road from seeing the trailer. Looking forward to it.
Posted by: Klaus 25th May 2017, 10:30 AM
Will be starting on 7th June!
The first episode apparently featured a hoax bomb threat and so is being re-edited. Will be inyeresting to see how that changes the whole nature/pace of the first episode.
Posted by: Mack 7th June 2017, 09:25 PM
The amount of times Channel 4 promoted this like it was the second coming. It was a bit shit for me just a bad version of Waterloo Road. Sorry.
Posted by: burbe 7th June 2017, 09:26 PM
Yeah it wasn't great! The actress who also played Linzi in Eastenders is fantastic, she deserves so much better than this show.
Posted by: Suedehead2 7th June 2017, 09:56 PM
It was OK but there is plenty of room for improvement. I just hope they avoid some of the cliched Waterloo Road stories. For example, in WL, Jordan would get a Muslim art teacher. They would clash initially but end up getting on really well and Jordan would win a competition of some sort.
Posted by: Ryan. 8th June 2017, 01:32 AM
Really really enjoyed this, interesting twist on Waterloo Road which I arrived late to so only saw the last couple of seasons. Agreed that Amy-Leigh Hickman is fantastic, I remember first seeing her in The Dumping Ground and thought EastEnders made a mistake of only having her short-term. I hope she gets some gritty storylines in this so she can fully showcase her potential.
Shame there is only six episodes, it feels like it's going to be over before it has begun! Hope it is a ratings success as I can already see so many potential storylines.
Posted by: common sense 8th June 2017, 07:41 AM
Agreed. Abandoned it about 8.20pm.
Posted by: HarryApa 8th June 2017, 08:17 AM
I rather enjoyed it to be honest. Its not waterloo road but it was fun
Posted by: Willy's Tears 8th June 2017, 11:38 AM
This looks utter shoite, just like Waterloo Road.
Who watches this melodramatic crap?
Even Tanya Turner frm Eastenders can't save this
Posted by: lewistgreen 11th June 2017, 07:58 PM
I wasn't impressed on Wednesday but I've just watched it again and I can see some promising storylines starting to emerge. I feel like I shouldn't have to watch an episode more than once to follow a programme but I'm hoping it's just a case of a poor opener and the constant niggling of Waterloo Road comparisons in my mind. Will try and stick with it and give it a shot though.
Posted by: Mack 17th June 2017, 09:48 AM
Did anyone see the second episode at all if any did?
Posted by: burbe 18th June 2017, 01:22 PM
I did! I preferred it to episode 1 but I feel like they're holding back too much on drama and grit. Compared to the grittiness of early Waterloo Road, it's really bad.
Posted by: Klaus 30th June 2017, 11:17 AM
Confirmed to be returning for a longer 12 episode run next year!
They're obviously playing the long game and hope it builds its audience. I think they're also very keen to have more statement 8pm shows.
Posted by: Mikee1981 30th June 2017, 11:46 AM
I'm pleased with that. I'm really enjoying it, although it is going to be compared to Waterloo Road, I feel it has more edge to it and the cast are really good.
Posted by: Ryan. 30th June 2017, 10:06 PM
I'm loving it too, probably more than I did Waterloo Road. They've succeeded in creating so many likeable characters but making them realistic at the same time. It makes you want to root for everyone and I think that's a great thing.
Posted by: JosephStyles🐶 30th June 2017, 10:12 PM
There's tiny touches that I find irritating, mainly minor things, but generally I'm enjoying this too. It's hitting its stride as it's going on, and Wednesday's episode was the best one to date imo.
Also the receptionist is everything, stealing scenes even when she doesn't speak *.*
Posted by: HarryEzra 30th June 2017, 10:14 PM
Omg I love this series not ashamed of it so I am very glad its got a second series
Posted by: Hide&Seek 30th June 2017, 11:38 PM
I watched the first episode and didn't like it. Too OTT for me. I wanted to like it. Hadn't seen Paul Nicholls since his Eastenders days, and I like EE Tanya (in EE, not in this).
I decided to give it another go, but after episode two, I'm out.
Agreed. She's the best thing about it.
Posted by: Ryan. 30th June 2017, 11:44 PM
She's the worst! Is the only point of her to just stare through windows whenever people are having important conversations
Posted by: Suedehead2 19th July 2017, 08:20 PM
This could affect the filming of series 2
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40656303
Posted by: lewistgreen 19th July 2017, 08:23 PM
Think we're ok on that front. But I can't imagine how horrible this would have been for him or for anyone to be in that sort of situation!
Posted by: Suedehead2 19th July 2017, 09:34 PM
I'm assuming that referred to the first series - unless the second series was actually commissioned at the same time as the first.
Posted by: lewistgreen 20th July 2017, 01:30 PM
I could be wrong but I think they've filmed the first part of Series 2 as it's due to air in two parts next year.
Posted by: lewistgreen 12th May 2018, 08:23 PM
Posted by: BridgeCow 13th May 2018, 08:20 AM
so hyped for this
Posted by: lewistgreen 22nd May 2018, 07:54 PM
Kimberley Walsh has joined the cast!
Posted by: Botchia 22nd May 2018, 07:55 PM
how random
Posted by: Mikee1981 24th May 2018, 12:03 PM
Enjoyed this first time around so glad its back and soon... starts Tuesday 5th June 8pm
Posted by: WhoOdyssey 24th May 2018, 03:25 PM
I quite liked the first series, I'm looking forward for it to be back.
Posted by: Suedehead2 13th June 2018, 01:17 PM
Is anyone else watching? This is better than the first series so far with a particularly strong episode last night. It's not looking good for Jordan 
Posted by: BridgeCow 1st August 2018, 07:26 PM
I'm so obsessed with this rn, honestly think it's as good as Waterloo Road tbh and I used to stan tf out of that
Posted by: Andrew. 1st August 2018, 08:30 PM
I might check it out again tbh, I saw one episode last series and thought it was a bit poundland Waterloo Road
Posted by: lewistgreen 2nd August 2018, 08:22 PM
Such a good series so far, better than the first! The character development has been spot on.
Posted by: Mack. 8th August 2018, 02:34 PM
Another series for this?
What do you reckon?
Posted by: Suedehead2 9th August 2018, 10:10 AM
It seems to have been well-received by the critics and has had lots of favourable comments on Twitter.
Posted by: Suedehead2 21st August 2018, 09:43 PM
A new series has indeed been commissioned.
Posted by: lewistgreen 21st August 2018, 09:51 PM
Fantastic series overall though I feel that finale was rushed with exams, prom, results and Jordan leaving all in one episode
Posted by: lewistgreen 7th June 2019, 10:35 PM
It’s coming *.*
Posted by: Jordan Lee 20th June 2019, 02:15 PM
Good opening episode of Series 3.
Posted by: lewistgreen 29th June 2019, 03:10 PM
An incredibly emotive episode this week. Missy's death scene with Nasreen finding her was heartbreaking.
Posted by: Jordan Lee 29th June 2019, 03:38 PM
So shocked at them killing Missy.
She was like the main character!
Posted by: BridgeCow 29th June 2019, 06:41 PM
What is happening lmao, Missy was like the best character ffs
Posted by: Suedehead2 1st April 2021, 03:25 PM
Ackley Bridge is returning this month.
Posted by: lewistgreen 1st April 2021, 05:45 PM
Saw the trailer the other day 
though it does seem most of the cast have been replaced
Posted by: Suedehead2 13th April 2021, 04:53 PM
It starts on Monday evening at 6:00 and is on every weekday night for two weeks.
Posted by: lewistgreen 13th April 2021, 04:59 PM
What?? That's such a weird timeslot
Posted by: JackTheeStallion 14th April 2021, 06:09 PM
I think they're going for a Hollyoaks audience so it might feel like a different show and a lot more younger I think .
Posted by: Mack. 16th April 2021, 04:01 PM
6pm is a strange time, not going to be gritty this time around.
Posted by: JackTheeStallion 20th April 2021, 09:07 PM
This is awful so far, the characters are unlikeable, the writing feels off and feels very fake woke.
The first two series, especially series two were AMAZING, the third still good but was missing a Missy shaped hole and this....is not it. I can't understand why they have gone for the Hollyoaks crowd, when Hollyoaks does what it does so well already!
Posted by: Billy. 21st April 2021, 09:25 PM
I started this on Netflix and I’m currently at the end of S2 but think it’s been so good! It’s strange though, how Missy went from being the main character in S1 to a side character in S2.
The girl playing Nas is a great actress, and I’ve also loved the whole Naveed and Corey storyline too!
Posted by: Billy. 22nd April 2021, 09:59 PM
I’m halfway through series 4 now and I’m shook at the downwards spiral in quality. I understand that newbies have to come in this kind of show but there has been literally zero focus on any of the original students bar the odd scene.
Posted by: JackTheeStallion 23rd April 2021, 09:03 AM
Its just not the same without Nas, Naveed, Corey, Missy etc I get they have to have new characters too but the replacements just aren't strong or rootable at all. The writing is so unbelievable as well,no one would do / say things like that lol. You can tell it's aimed at a much younger audience, but I don't get it, would a younger audience be interested in a show like this anyway?!
Posted by: Billy. 23rd April 2021, 10:59 AM
I agree with you Jack, it’s such a noticeable drop in quality. With the new characters too, because it’s so short now they are barely developed at all so there is no one to root for.
The fact that Chloe had literally one line in the whole series is ridiculous.
Posted by: lewistgreen 30th June 2022, 09:38 PM
Returns on July 11th for Series 5
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