Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | W.a.l.t | 20200907 | 20220725 (R4) | Yvette Miller is the acting head of an inner-city school in Salford that has just joined Quays Academy Trust, a successful group of academy schools headed by the charismatic Sir Ken. He is a keen advocate of freedom from the shackles of the Local Education Authority. Yvette is a reluctant convert. How will the school fit in? Written by Jonathan Hall Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken - Jonathan Keeble Andy - Rupert Hill Tim - Ashley Margolis Joy/ Tannoy - Susan Twist Sidrah - Purvi Parmar Emily - Molly Ehrenberg-Peters Director/Producer Gary Brown Drama series about a school academy in Salford, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. |
| 01 | 02 | Purple Enough | 20200908 | 20220726 (R4) | The school is having budget difficulties and the financial manager is advocating massive cuts including East Salford's beloved brass band. The Deputy Head is going forward with the rebranding including Byzantium purple hoodies. But then an unfortunate incident occurs in a local nightclub. Written by Jonathan Hall. Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken - .Jonathan Keeble Tim - Ashley Margolis Dhruti - Mina Anwar Joy/ Tannoy - Susan Twist Director/Producer Gary Brown School drama starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. |
| 01 | 03 | A Surgical Head | 20200909 | 20220727 (R4) | The biggest success in Quays Academy Trust is Lodestone Academy. This formerly failing school has been spectacularly turned around by Surgical Head Kayleigh Britton. But when East Salford's financial manager is loaned out to help with the books she uncovers some interesting details. Written by Jonathan Hall. Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh Tim - Ashley Margolis Dhruti - Mina Anwar Sir Ken - .Jonathan Keeble Terry - Sushil Chudasama Tannoy - Susan Twist Director/Producer Gary Brown School drama starring Julie Hesmondhalgh as Acting Head of East Salford Academy. |
| 02 | 01 | A Social Distance | 20210928 | 20220801 (R4) | Second series of Jonathan Hall's comedy drama about an inner city academy school in Salford and how it coped with the pandemic in 2020. Starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. It is mid March 2020 and the schools have closed due to Covid 19. East Salford Academy tries to cope with all the conflicting information from the government whilst dealing with confused parents. There are so many questions - Who is meant to be in school? What exactly is a key worker? How are school meal vouchers going to be distributed? The school principle Yvette Miller grapples with all these issues whilst keeping the Academy Trust and the nervous staff informed and happy. Yvette - .Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken - Jonathan Keeble Tim - Ashley Margolis Marigold/Candice - Verity Henry Joy/Carol - Susan Twist Moey/Mr Ayhan - Abdullah Afzal Director/ Producer Gary Brown. A BBC Audio Drama North Production. With grateful thanks to those who helped with the research - Tom Barradas Lingard John Winkley Isobel Ashmead Pippa Davies Pat Thomson Comedy drama about a Salford secondary school. Stars Julie Hesmondhalgh. |
| 02 | 02 | A New Normal | 20210929 | 20220802 (R4) | Second series of Jonathan Hall's comedy drama about an inner city academy school in Salford and how it coped with the pandemic in 2020. Starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. September 2020. After the chaos of the A Level results, East Salford Academy welcomes back the students. There is going to be a new normal. Rigorous Covid protocols have to be followed. How will they cope with social distancing, classroom bubbles and bottles of cheap hand sanitiser? And that's just the staff. Yvette - Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken - Jonathan Keeble Tim - Ashley Margolis Joy/Carol - Susan Twist Dhruti - Mina Anwar Chris - Jake Ferretti Candice/Wendy - Verity Henry Producer/Director Gary Brown A BBC Audio Drama North Production. With grateful thanks to those who helped with the research- Tom Barradas Lingard John Winkley Isobel Ashmead Pippa Davies Pat Thomson Comedy drama about a secondary school in Salford, starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. |
| 03 | 01 | Lost Time | 20220808 | Return of the comedy drama series about an inner city academy school. It is September 2021 and the country is emerging from lockdown. So it's pretty hectic for East Salford academy as they try to deal with time lost due to the pandemic, the Trust's level playing fields initiative and a roll out of injections for students. What they do not need is a student who is constantly challenging them. Written by Jonathan Hall Yvette...........Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken/Eugene...........Jonathan Keeble Tim..................Ashley Margolis Carol...............Susan Twist Nicki.................Erin Shanagher Ryan............... Daniel Luke Jeffrey Dave................Lloyd Peters Students.........Thomas Roberts, Royia Tierney, Iestyn Sofield, Rheanon Shaw, Lauren Taylor Director/Producer Gary Brown | |
| 03 | 02 | Relocation, Relocation | 20220809 | Sir Ken is trying to force through a restructure which means that some staff will be relocated to more challenging schools. The staff are naturally unhappy, so the unions get involved, but the rep is someone Yvette does not want to deal with. Written by Jonathan Hall Yvette..........................Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken.........................Jonathan Keeble Tim...............................Ashley Margolis Dhrutti........................Mina Anwar Carol/Joy....................Susan Twist Billy...............................Jason Done Director/Producer Gary Brown The Salford Academy Trust is facing the possiblity of a restructure. | |
| 03 | 03 | Going Green | 20220810 | East Salford Academy has just had a biomass boiler fitted. Whilst acknowledging that the school has to go green, Yvette discovers it is costly and unreliable. And with the vaccination roll out for the kids in progress, a dodgy boiler is the last thing she needs. Written by Jonathan Hall Yvette..........................Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken.........................Jonathan Keeble Tim...............................Ashley Margolis Dhrutti........................Mina Anwar Carol/Joy....................Susan Twist Billy...............................Jason Done Gunner.........................James Quinn Director/Producer Gary Brown | |
| 04 | 01 | Only Fit For Elmfield Street | 20231010 | ~Trust by Jonathan Hall. Ep 1 - Only Fit for Elmfield Street. There's a new build being finished at East Salford Academy, but the campus is still a building site. And on top of that there is a new system of teaching being introduced that uses the latest technology. Some teachers are coping better than others. Comedy drama starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. YVETTE - JULIE HESMONDHALGH TIM - ASHLEY MARGOLIS SIR KEN - JONATHAN KEEBLE CAROL - SUSAN TWIST DHRUTTI - MINA ANWAR LIZZIE HOPE-LLOYD - VERITY HENRY GLORIA - EMMA GREGORY Production Co-ordinator - Pippa Day Technical Team - Sharon Hughes & Amy Brennan Sound Design - Sharon Hughes Producer/Director - Gary Brown. A BBC Audio Drama North Production. Comedy drama about a Salford Secondary School | |
| 04 | 02 | Situation Scarlet | 20231017 | ~Trust by Jonathan Hall Ep 2 - Situation Scarlet On the surface everything seems fine at East Salford Academy. Billy is coping with his treatment, the new computer system is in place and they have a student on the brink of getting into Oxford. So why does Yvette feel anxious all the time? YVETTE ............................... JULIE HESMONDHALGH TIM .......................................ASHLEY MARGOLIS SIR KEN ............................. JONATHAN KEEBLE CAROL.................................SUSAN TWIST BILLY ....................................JASON DONE MR KHAN/FAISAL ...........SUSHIL CHUDASAMA ALEENA ............................. NATALIE DAVIES STUDENTS.........................THEO ROBINSON JAKE CROSS ISOBEL ELKID KATIE LEVER Production Co-ordinator - Pippa Day Technical Team - Sharon Hughes & Amy Brennan Sound Design - Sharon Hughes Producer/Director - Gary Brown. A BBC Audio Drama North Production. Comedy drama about an inner city Academy School starring Julie Hesmondhalgh Sir Ken is desperate for a pupil to reach Oxford. | |
| 04 | 03 | A Non-negotiable Blade | 20231024 | ~Trust by Jonathan Hall. Ep 3 - A Non-Negotiable Blade The school's computer systems are down due to the cyber attack, and they are no further on as to who has done it. Meanwhile a student loner seems troubled by strange graffiti around the school. YVETTE ............................ JULIE HESMONDHALGH TIM ....................................ASHLEY MARGOLIS SIR KEN ............................JONATHAN KEEBLE CAROL................................SUSAN TWIST BILLY ..................................JASON DONE GLORIA ............................EMMA GREGORY MANDY ............................RACHEL AUSTIN BARAN .............................TAREQ AL-JEDDAL Production Co-ordinator - Pippa Day Tech Team - Sharon Hughes & Amy Brennan Sound Design - Sharon Hughes Producer/Director - Gary Brown A BBC Audio Drama North Production. Comedy drama about an inner-city secondary school starring Julie Hesmondhalgh. The school goes back to basics after the tech is paralysed by a cyber attack. |