Channel 4 has announced that Ackley Bridge will return with a fourth series in September 2020.
It will change from a weekly 60 minute format, to 10 x 30 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,” explained Rebecca Holdsworth , Channel 4 Commissioning Executive.
Inspired by real-life Lancashire and Yorkshire schools, established to integrate the white and Asian communities, Ackley Bridge was created by East is East’s Ayub Khan-Din, Kevin Elis (Shameless) and Malcolm Campbell (Shameless, What Richard Did).
It will begin filming in Halifax next year.
“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,” said George Ormond, Executive Producer, The Forge.
Returning cast includes Sunetra Sarker, Rob James Collier, Jo Joyner, Charlie Hardwick, Tony Jayawardeena, Fern Deacon, Phoebe Tuffs-Berry, Cody Ryan, Nazmeen Kauser and Zara Salim.
All3media International is handling international distribution.
