SCHOOL REPORT!

EX-EASTENDER JO JOYNER LEADS THE CAST OF A DRAMA ABOUT A NEWLY INTEGRATED SCHOOL IN YORKSHIRE…

This new six-part drama follows two formerly isolated schools in a small Yorkshire community that are brought together under one roof.

No one wants it to succeed more than head teacher Mandy Carter, played by former Eastender Jo Joyner (Tanya) – but as Ackley Bridge College opens its doors for the first time, there is still friction between the white and Asian communities. With her pupils and her staff not making things easy for her, can Mandy succeed? We caught up with some of the show’s stars – many of whom are familiar TV faces – for the inside scoop…

MANDY CARTER Head teacher (Jo Joyner)

“Mandy is married [to PE teacher Steve Bell, played by Paul Nicholls], but they’re not on a particularly level footing because of some issues they have had in the past. Although Steve is very much her rock and her support and he comes through for her many times, they still haven’t completely dealt with what happened. Also, she’s his boss so she has to tell him off!”

SADIQ NAWAZ School sponsor (Adil Ray)

“I think Mandy and Sadiq both have a passion for the school, first and foremost,” shares Adil, who is best known for his role in BBC1 comedy Citizen

Khan. “They’ve spent a good part of the year building the school, and they’ve got very close. They see the ambition and the drive in each other.”

KANEEZ PARACHA Dinner lady (Sunetra Sarker)

“Kaneez is also the mum of one of the girls in the show, so we see her as a working mum and as a parent,” explains Sunetra, who played Casualty’s

Dr Zoe Hanna. “She’s someone you’d want on your side in an argument! I made a conscious decision to try to find a role that was a bit different from