What to watch
Ackley Bridge CHANNEL 4, 8.00PM
A welcome return for the sparky Yorkshire school drama, which in its first outing last year did a terrific job of exploring the issues of racism, integration and difference within an engaging, if slightly soapy, drama format. By now, the debut series’ central premise – the merging of two culturally divided schools – has run its course. But Ackley Bridge retains its capacity to appeal to both young and older audiences by juggling multilayered plot strands focused on students and teachers alike. This first of 12 new episodes (to be split into two series) gets off to an entertaining start, and mostly revolves around best pals Nasreen (Amyleigh Hickman) and Missy (Poppy Lee Friar) – particularly on the former’s struggle to come to terms with having to get engaged to fellow Britishpakistani Naveed (Gurjeet Singh) to conceal her lesbianism and please her traditionally minded mother (Sunetra Sarker). As before, the younger storylines are generally more convincing than the adult ones, which remain largely focused on sexual tensions in the staff room. Though, the headteacher’s (Jo Joyner) struggles to address the school’s falling intake and poor exam results also promises to go down an interesting route. Gerard O’donovan