Channel 4 announces fourth series of Ackley Bridge

School drama Ackley Bridge is returning to Channel 4 with a fourth series.

The broadcaster notes that the series will be back in a ‘revised format’ with its usual hour-long slots seeing a 50% reduction. The fourth series – airing from September 2020 – will instead comprise of ten thirty-minute episodes.

“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.” – Rebecca Holdsworth, Channel 4 Commissioning Executive

Created by Ayub Khan Din, Kevin Erlis and Malcolm Campbell, Ackley Bridge has been praised for its irreverence, wit and punchy storytelling. The drama is set in and around a multicultural academic facility in Yorkshire.

Cast returning for the fourth series includes Sunetra Sarker, Rob James Collier, Jo Joyner, Charlie Hardwick, Tony Jayawardeena, Fern Deacon, Phoebe Tuffs-Berry, Cody Ryan, Nazmeen Kauser and Zara Salim.

“We are thrilled to be starting this new chapter in the Ackley Bridge story and we can’t wait to introduce our new characters to the audience.” – George Ormond, Executive Producer, The Forge

Ackley Bridge series four will be produced by The Forge and will film in Halifax from March 2020.