Jonathan Benthall

Julie Hesmondhalgh

Jonathan Keeble

Rupert Hill

Full Cast

A BBC Radio Full-Cast Comedy Drama

A light-hearted drama series about an inner-city academy school in Salford, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh 
 
Yvette Miller is acting head of a Salford secondary school that has just joined Quays Academy Trust, a successful group of academies headed by the charismatic Sir Ken - a keen advocate of freeing schools from the shackles of Local Education oversight. Yvette, meanwhile, is somewhat more sceptical. How will she - and East Salford Academy - fit within the new regime? 
 
As the school, students, and staff, deal with contemporary events, from budgeting difficulties and school branding to Covid-19 lockdowns, catch-up initiatives and staff restructuring, Yvette must keep an even head as she steers the school through new and choppy waters. How do you vaccinate an entire body of students (and staff)? What does it take to keep the teaching union rep happy? And exactly how much hand sanitiser can one school need? 
 
With Julie Hesmondhalgh (Coronation Street, Happy Valley) and Jonathan Keeble (War and Peace, Confessions of a Medium), this witty, insightful drama offers a playful view into modern schooling and all its attendant commotions. 
 
Written by Jonathan Hall 
Directed and produced by Gary Brown 
 
Cast 
Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh 
Sir Ken / Eugene - Jonathan Keeble 
Andy - Rupert Hill 
Tim - Ashley Margolis 
Joy / Tannoy / Carol - Susan Twist 
Sidrah - Purvi Parmar 
Emily - Molly Ehrenberg-Peters 
Dhruti - Mina Anwar 
Terry - Sushil Chudasama 
Marigold / Candice / Wendy - Verity Henry 
Moey / Mr Ayhan - Abdullah Afzal 
Chris - Jake Ferretti 
Nicki - Erin Shanagher 
Ryan - Daniel Luke Jeffrey 
Dave - Lloyd Peters 
Billy - Jason Done 
Gunner - James Quinn 
Students - Thomas Roberts, Royia Tierney, Iestyn Sofield, Rheanon Shaw, Lauren Taylor 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates: 
7 September - 9 September 2020 (Series 1) 
28 September - 29 September 2021 (Series 2) 
8 August - 10 August 2022 (Series 3) 
 
©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Jonathan Benthall

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