Great show until series 4! The earlier start time and new characters have ruined it, it's like a completely different show! A few of the old cast are floating around in the background, but the new main characters are unlikeable, cringy and annoying. Definitely give it a go, but give series 4 a miss!
29 Reviews
Excellent but disappointing ending
jpantlin-4123423 December 2019
This review will not contain spoilers so i will not go in to the ending in detail however sadly it wasn't brilliant and a fresh new cast for season 4 would not be a good idea in my opinion. Away from that, I think that the show was absolutely wonderful and really shows you the difference in poverty in just one area and also the ongoing struggles that people go through when coming out or being in love with someone who doesn't love you back. Altogether I would recommend this show!
Amazing until season 4
laurenjune-475685 August 2021
Absolutely hooked from the first episode, brilliant show.
I'd stop watching after season 3, season 4 was shocking! I got half way through the first episode and had to turn it off, very cringey!
Turned into a cringey teen drama.
I'd stop watching after season 3, season 4 was shocking! I got half way through the first episode and had to turn it off, very cringey!
Turned into a cringey teen drama.
Must watch
juggalettelove-vm20 January 2020
What can I say... this is a very well written show. It puts everything relevant in today's society out it the open no matter how ugly. And I'm not gonna it will rip your heart out seeing what teens today face on a daily basis.
PS I want Mrs. Paracha as an Auntie because she's wonderful
PS I want Mrs. Paracha as an Auntie because she's wonderful
Fresh for British TV.
sjachauhan12 June 2017
A bit Mean Girls, Waterloo Road, Teachers. Secondary school drama that seems realer than most about modern Britain, though all the main characters, those with the most interesting, meatiest arcs in the first episode were the white characters, not that unlike Indian Summers, another recent Channel 4 series ostensibly setting out to create a 'balanced', evenly split portrayal of its racially divided milieu. I wonder if this will change in episode 2 or if this is simply how it is going to stay for the entire series...
Really good!
waterspray-57-78832819 June 2018
Not gonna say much as I'm in a rush, but I'm a big fan of this show! The acting is great, the concept is very original, and the character development is very good. Exceptional acting from the adults in the teacher roles, and I'm a big fan of Nasreen's mom
Really enjoyed Series 1 and 2, disappointed with Series 3
peejay-813297 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Would give ,10/10 for first two series but went downhill after the loss of Missy Booth in Series 3,. she was such a pivotal character. Not sure I will bother to watch Series 4 as it has apparently been cut to half hour episodes and lacks my favourite character. Such a shame.
Better than Waterloo road!
connahbrettell7 September 2020
Bro, this made me feel a lot of stuff, it tackles big issues in a brilliant way, the comedy in it is timed perfectly and the more serious parts are done fantastically. Having only left school in the U.K. 7 years ago I found I could relate to the characters in this more so than Waterloo road, it's a really good representation of the U.K. secondary education Environment and particularly the One I was in. A little more realistic than Waterloo road as well.
Also I love Mrs Paracher and want to be related to her.
Also I love Mrs Paracher and want to be related to her.
Good series run until series 3
sunil-g-9625423 November 2020
Waterloo wannabe without the retention
bexab2371 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Ackley Bridge is understandably trying to fill a gap in the market of where Waterloo Road once was but it has fell short in regards to audience retention.
Season 1 and 2 focus on a small group of characters primarily Missy, Nasreen, Jordan, Steven Bell, Emma Keane and the friends/ families surrounding these characters. But as soon as season 3 rolls in, the majority of the original cast gets cut out. The teens we invested our time into slowly fade out or just don't return. And old storylines that could have had a good run never come to fruition. (One example is Missy's struggles in exams in season 1, we see her viewing all the words jumbled when looking at the exam paper, why did they not explore this as it would of been a good dyslexia storyline and that helps Missy to understand herself and help her studies?)
Season 3 leaves the audience back at square one as although it's understandable to see the students move on, the teacher should remain, giving the show some familiarity. But instead the likeable teachers are scraped and replaced with filler ones that barely have any storylines or likeable traits. I went into season 3 feeling like it was a completely different show.
Then they have the issue of Poppy Lee Friar (Missy) leaving the show because the actress wanted to persue other ventrues. The show put all their eggs in one basket giving the majority of screen time to only Missy and Nasreen to the point their on screen time leads to nothing but them leaving. They could have been spending some of that screentime exploring other side characters stories and the issue they are facing in day to day lives. So when Missy, Nasreen and Jordan do leave it doesn't feel like as much of a blow.
If anything I feel like the show went backwards compared to Waterloo Road. When you look into it, character development is few and far between, we never actually get to know the majority of characters on our screen and when the main characters do leave its a massive hit to the show that isn't recoverable.
I really wanted to like this show, but with comparisons such as Waterloo Road, this doesn't stand a chance. I also understand they wanted to spread awareness of Asian cultures but even those stories are few and far between and don't really do them any good either.
I hope they do sort this show out because it has so much potential, but I have a feeling it maybe too late.
Season 1 and 2 focus on a small group of characters primarily Missy, Nasreen, Jordan, Steven Bell, Emma Keane and the friends/ families surrounding these characters. But as soon as season 3 rolls in, the majority of the original cast gets cut out. The teens we invested our time into slowly fade out or just don't return. And old storylines that could have had a good run never come to fruition. (One example is Missy's struggles in exams in season 1, we see her viewing all the words jumbled when looking at the exam paper, why did they not explore this as it would of been a good dyslexia storyline and that helps Missy to understand herself and help her studies?)
Season 3 leaves the audience back at square one as although it's understandable to see the students move on, the teacher should remain, giving the show some familiarity. But instead the likeable teachers are scraped and replaced with filler ones that barely have any storylines or likeable traits. I went into season 3 feeling like it was a completely different show.
Then they have the issue of Poppy Lee Friar (Missy) leaving the show because the actress wanted to persue other ventrues. The show put all their eggs in one basket giving the majority of screen time to only Missy and Nasreen to the point their on screen time leads to nothing but them leaving. They could have been spending some of that screentime exploring other side characters stories and the issue they are facing in day to day lives. So when Missy, Nasreen and Jordan do leave it doesn't feel like as much of a blow.
If anything I feel like the show went backwards compared to Waterloo Road. When you look into it, character development is few and far between, we never actually get to know the majority of characters on our screen and when the main characters do leave its a massive hit to the show that isn't recoverable.
I really wanted to like this show, but with comparisons such as Waterloo Road, this doesn't stand a chance. I also understand they wanted to spread awareness of Asian cultures but even those stories are few and far between and don't really do them any good either.
I hope they do sort this show out because it has so much potential, but I have a feeling it maybe too late.
Absolutely amazing drama that highlights untold stories.
danielmarston28 June 2017
I have only just watched the most recent episode (28/06/17) and all I can say was that so far it has hit very emotion so far. the show highlight moment that nearly every school has faced and as a student connects with me on an emotional level. The drama is cleverly written and is ingenious in its sudden highs and lows. It may be advertised as a kids show but has had me and my family in stitches then in tears; something a TV show hasn't done in a while.
Above-average school drama
DavidYZ16 July 2017
This is a Channel 4 drama series set in a secondary school in a poor town in West Yorkshire. A school in which the pupils are South Asian and a school in which the pupils are White British have been merged into a larger, new school.
It has been compared to BBC's Waterloo Road, but AB is better.
The first series was broadcast in June and July 2017. The second series is due to air in 2018.
It has been compared to BBC's Waterloo Road, but AB is better.
The first series was broadcast in June and July 2017. The second series is due to air in 2018.
Where is Harry Wharton now that we need him?
ianlouisiana13 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Or Bob Cherry..or Johnny Bull,come on,even Billy Bunter would do at a pinch.Think they didn't have racial diversity at Greyfriars 90 years ago? What about Fisher T.Fish from the Yewnited States,or more relevant,Hurree Jamset Ram Singh - the Nabob of Bhanipoor?O.K. so his nickname in those less enlightened times was "Inky" but he suffered far less racial harassment than his kinfolk at Ackley Bridge - which is really "Waterloo Road in disguise. The programmes share the considerable talents of Miss J.Joyner,but even she cannot rescue this disaster of almost comic proportions. This culture - clash school story ,as subtle as a Cruise missile,is full of elderly schoolchildren with bad "Northern" accents,many of whom appear to be competing for the "Worst performance by somebody from a third - rate Stage school in 2017".And the competition is fierce. Older actors who should know better and indeed have done better in almost every other programme they've been in seem to be looking around desperately for a way out,but sorry guys,you're stuck for at least the season. This sort of "Let's all live together in a Rainbow Classroom" fantasy is de rigeur in a fragmenting society,but wishing ain't going to make it so. If you pay peanuts for teachers you will get monkeys. More than ever there needs to be an incentive for good teachers to work at the sometimes more challenging chalkface. Who is going to put themselves in the firing line of State Education for a pittance when the Private Sector is far more comfortable and better paid? Ackley Bridge and its like will remain a dumping ground for children and teachers until this problem is addressed. And programmes like this do nothing to help,merely being a Recruiting aid to posh schools as nobody in their right mind would want to work in a school like this.
Great Show!
SamJamie14 November 2020
Excited For Second Season
lallen-7440429 May 2018
Although the first season came out a year ago and i can't remember for the life of me what happened, it was a good show hi-lighting important issues and events in today's society, not only has the show done this well, they've also made it entertaining to watch and it a new fresh tv show for british television. Can't wait for the second season
Good binge
m_khan3012 December 2020
So unreal it's laughable
casagrandicooper5 June 2018
It's a bad mix between a Carry-On and Monty Python, just without the jokes. Anyone in the know understands this has as much to do with real education as a chicken has to do with a calculator. As for the stereotypical characters, Benny Hill could have written more realistic people and storylines. Finally, the back alleyways of the houses, I thought they'd burst into "Every Sperm is Sacred"! Watch for a laugh, but only if you can't find a spoon to remove your own eyeballs; which would be preferable. Absolute trash TV.
Excellent
tamesidepointing19 September 2019
I don't really watch TV or movies anymore, this happened to be on as girlfriend was watching.
But what a story, a genuinely excellent play out of our eras social-multicultural revolution. 3 generations from now this 'semi-blended' society will be a distant memory, the extreme quirks that differing cultures offer each other, this Drama touches as close as I've seen to 'how it is' and stands as a solid time capsule.
The part where bloody oooldham woman chases after the other teacher, heavy, ive done loads of jobs for the asians i can imagine this sxxx like wo0o0o0ot!
(Everyone seems to get up smelling of roses but i get it can't be too gritty or there'd be even more bent reviews from emotional wreck teens)
But what a story, a genuinely excellent play out of our eras social-multicultural revolution. 3 generations from now this 'semi-blended' society will be a distant memory, the extreme quirks that differing cultures offer each other, this Drama touches as close as I've seen to 'how it is' and stands as a solid time capsule.
The part where bloody oooldham woman chases after the other teacher, heavy, ive done loads of jobs for the asians i can imagine this sxxx like wo0o0o0ot!
(Everyone seems to get up smelling of roses but i get it can't be too gritty or there'd be even more bent reviews from emotional wreck teens)
Interesting but rubbish acting
clairehw-6687728 August 2020
Super good!
chloeg-2521 May 2021
I've only just started watching this really, but from the few episodes I've seen, this is so good! I've decided to review this now rather than when I finish since I doubt my opinion will change. A really well written show with great acting, 10/10 recommend!
Should have stopped at season 3
laura-young-x20 January 2024
The first 3 seasons are fantastic! After that, the show goes downhill. The new characters are wooden and boring and the old characters just aren't likable anymore. Seasons one to three are funny, entertaining and real. The characters are relatable and fun and the storylines are interesting. Seasons four and five just aren't. The once likeable characters seem to have changed and become miserable and boring. The storylines are all based around Fizza and Kayla who do nothing but whine and moan and compete for the attentions of a lad who has absolutely zero personality. Honestly, when you've finished season three, turn it off.
Great to poor
ozfreeman18 July 2019
Ackley Bridge
megandenwood3 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It's the best show I think I ever watched in my life you really need to watch it I have been watching this as long as I can remember it has a age limit it's a 12 but if you are 11 I don't see what's so bad but if I was u i would watch it more at the age of 12 there is some swear words in it but it's the best TV show it needs a t session 2 but you need to have more sessions In it mangy up to 10 bc I think it would be better have all the same people in it bc I really like the people in it the people should not be removed from it keep the same people in the best TV show every watched use all need to watch it on Netflix so go on it and search it up if u have not watched it the best thing I have ever watched the best thing you really really need to watch this I vote this TV show out of 10/10 but if I could it would be 1000/1000 so plz watch it it's the best thing I ever watched .
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
