New comedy explores racial issues.
A new comedy drama set in a northern English secondary school explores the tensions between different communities in that part of the country.
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It’s no secret that many communities in northern England are rife with racial tensions. The UKTV comedy-drama Ackley Bridge explores the issues arising when two Yorkshire schools – one with predominantly Pakistani pupils and the other mainly white students – are forced to merge because of budget cuts. The fact that such divisions existed was a shock for Jo Joyner (Tanya Branning, EastEnders), who plays Mandy Carter, the head teacher at Ackley Bridge school. “I didn’t know that some areas had become so divided,” Joyner says. “I think that having lived in London for so many years, which is particularly such a multicultural city, I was possibly a bit ignorant of the fact that people might not be accepting of other cultures.
“I’m an actor; we’re generally a pretty open-minded, sociable bunch. So I suppose it’s sometimes hard to believe that anyone would be racist, homophobic or not accepting of other faiths.
“That’s why it’s such a great show – not only so that the young people from those communities can identify with it and see themselves represented, but also so that those people who are maybe less knowledgeable of other cultures can appreciate the differences and, more than that, the similarities between us all.”
Joyner’s character is an ambitious working-class girl made good, who covers her insecurities with gusto and can be a bulldozer at times.
“Mandy is hard working and has dedicated the last few years to getting this school off the ground, working closely with the school’s sponsor (businessman) Sadiq Nawaz. She’s possibly neglected other areas of her life, like having fun and her husband, in favour of her career,” says Joyner.
But her involvement with Sadiq creates problems in her marriage.
“It’s clear that Mandy and (husband) Steve had some issues that they’ve been dealing with from the past. There is clearly history there and although Steve is Mandy’s rock, there is resentment from the past on her part and he’s feeling
quite insecure about all the time that Mandy’s been spending with Sadiq in order to get the school up and running.”
Adding to the friction is the fact that Steve is a PE teacher at Ackley Bridge.
“They’re a bit of a roller coaster really. Steve’s no pushover and time will tell if their relationship can withstand the dynamics of Mandy being his boss, his past misdemeanours and Mandy’s friendship with Sadiq.”
Ackley Bridge reunited Joyner with one of her best friends, Sunetra Sarker, her castmate in hospital drama No Angels.
Sarker plays Keneez Paracha, the school’s support officer and mother to two pupils who, herself, has a complicated love life.
“Sadly, we had about one scene together in the whole job, but that was probably for the best as we’d only have ended up in stitches. We moved in together and basically behaved like we were back doing No Angels again, talking all night and working all day.
“We worked together for three years when I was 25 and she really is one of my closest friends. So, yes, working and living with Sunetra
was one of the highlights of the job. She’s not only one of my dearest friends, she’s a favourite actress of mine too.”
Joyner also previously worked with Paul Nicholls, who plays husband Steve, on Candy Cabs,a comedy about a group of friends who set up a women-only taxi company.
“We work really well together. He makes the job easy for me by bringing something different to the table on every take.
“My twins were five months old when I last worked with Paul, so through the fog of no sleep and weaning I don’t remember much of the job.”
Many of the younger Ackley Bridge cast members were recruited from the local community in the Halifax area of Yorkshire.
“I think it’s a great thing, finding fresh, natural talent,” says Joyner, “and Penny, our first director, is great at that.
“Sadly, as is true for most head teachers, I wasn’t in the classroom teaching much. So my time with the younger guys was mostly spent telling them off. But I did spend some time filming with them all out on the rugby pitch and their energy and enthusiasm was really great to have around.”
“I was possibly a bit ignorant of the fact that people might not be accepting of other cultures.” – Jo Joyner