Class Dismissed (TV series)

Class Dismissed is a British children's sketch comedy series created by Luke Beddows, Stephen M. Collins and Andy Potter. The series is produced by CBBC Productions and has run from 2016. The show has aired 6 series, with the first starting on 1 February 2016, a second series starting on 5 December 2016, a third on 27 November 2017, a fourth on 11 March 2019, a fifth sometime in mid-2019 and a sixth on 29 November 2021.

The series follows 'a school day at the fictional Dockbridge High, (in Series 4, 5 and 6 it focusses on Quayside Academy) where 'nothing out of the ordinary ever happens' – unless you count the stunt diving supply teachers, explosive science classes and hazardous baked bean moments!'.

The show features an ensemble cast, similar to Horrible Histories currently consisting of Richard David-Caine, Vivienne Acheampong, Jason Forbes, Greig Johnson, Steven Kynman, Suhk Ojla, Luke McQueen, Kat Bond and Denise Welch and formerly Sophie Willan, Marvyn Dickinson, Thomas Nelstrop, Dan Starkey, Ellie White, Jamie Rose-Monk, Naga Munchetty, Susan Harrison, Sam Battersea, Velile Tshabalala, Harvey Virdi and Marie Lawrence. It was originally filmed at St Anne's R.C. High School, Stockport.

In series 4 in March 2019, the series relocated to Quayside Academy with an almost entirely new cast other than David-Caine and narrator Turnbull. The series consisted of 10 episodes. Series 5 and 6 were filmed at Manchester Health Academy.

Production
Class Dismissed was first announced in 2014, as part of CBBC's 2015 commissions, despite not airing until 2016. 12 episodes were ordered. A second series of 12 episodes was announced as part of CBBC's 2016 commissions. CBBC joined with BBC Writersroom to find sketch writers for series one and did this again for series two. Series 2 began on 5 December 2016. Series 3 began on 27 November 2017. Series 4 began on 11 March 2019, Series 5, sometime in mid 2019 and Series 6 on 29 November 2021.

Lead

 * Charleigh Brierley (Series 4–5) as Charleigh. Charleigh is slightly weirder than her friends. She aspires to be a DJ but still dislikes Mr Bishop, especially his "silly" jingles. She often falls for Miss Crank's pranks and out of the four she's the most tolerant of the teachers but still gets annoyed by them.
 * Connor Elliott (Series 4–5) as Connor. Connor dislikes school the most of the four and is baffled by Warren's obsession with it. He can often predict how a lesson will end in disaster. There isn't a subject he enjoys.
 * Alexcia Farquarson (Series 4–5) as Alexcia. The cleverest of the four who often tries to ignore her teachers. Mr Christopher nicknames her F minus and often tells her she has no talent.
 * Hakeem Khan (Series 4–5) as Hakeem. Hakeem is often making sarcastic quips about the teachers who really get on his nerves and can often be found joking around with his friends.
 * Charleigh Adams (Series 1–3,5) as Emily. Emily is a sensible girl who is often on the receiving end of the teachers' eccentricities. Her excellent art work is consistently ruined by Miss Flip while Mr Nasal regularly sneezes over her. She returned in a brief guest appearance for the final episode of Series 5, as well as in Flunked!
 * Billy Holland (Series 1–3,5) as Billy. Billy doesn't take school very seriously and enjoys gently baiting his teachers. He returned in a brief guest appearance for the final episode of Series 5, as well as in Flunked!
 * Tahj Miles (Series 1–3,5) as Tahj. Tahj is the brightest and most eager to learn of the students. He does find the incompetence and silliness of some of his teacher such as Miss Franks and Mr Capp frustrating. He is usually found giving advice to Mr Konnundrum. He returned in a brief guest appearance for the final episode of Series 5, as well as in Flunked!
 * Chanelle Thompson (Series 1–3,5) as Jasmine. Jasmine is a bright student but occasionally pushes the boundaries. She returned in a brief guest appearance for the final episode of Series 5, as well as in Flunked!
 * Thomas O'Toole (Series 6) as Nick. Nick is Year 7's cool kid and pretty cheeky. He's often to be found in the canteen, excited by Miss Chelin's dish of the day, but is normally left disappointed by the final result.
 * Amira Macey-Michael (Series 6) as Imani. Imani is Year 7's teacher's pet. She is always perfectly turned out and very studious.
 * Danny Shoesmith (Series 6) as Oli. He is the class clown, constantly dodging "Double Detentions" from the BFF headteachers as he searches for illicit sweets!
 * Marlis Robson (Series 6) as Grace. Grace is full of enthusiasm and likes to be involved with all the action. She learns best in practical lessons but at Quayside Academy these often end up messy!

Additional

 * Ethan Proops (Series 1–3,5) as Martin. Martin is unquestionably the oddest of the students. He always seems to enjoy his teachers' antics including the ones who annoy the students the most such as Mr Capp, Mr Christopher and Miss Fun-With-Numbers, being the first to join in when the class is asked. He returned in a brief guest appearance for the final episode of Series 5 in which it was revealed that Martin continued to work for Mr Christopher when he left school as his personal assistant and doesn't get paid by him.
 * Emily Su (Series 2–3) as Mollie. Mollie contributes a few lines but her character is less well-developed than the other students. Mrs Stein likes to throw food at her to her dismay.
 * Shine Dosunmua (Series 5) as Shine. Kelly's son who she is constantly fussing over and treating him like a baby. She nicknames him Boo-Boo Bear. The other students like to laugh at his embarrassing situation.

Adult cast
The cast consisted of Richard David-Caine, Vivienne Acheampong, Jason Forbes, Greig Johnson, Steven Kynman and Kat Bond, Steve McQueen, Selom Awadzi and Denise Welch (who all joined in Series 5). Sophie Willan appeared in Series 4 but did not return in Series 5. Only Johnson and Bond returned for Series 6, with an all-new cast joining them. Evan Davis made a guest appearance in one episode. As well as the characters listed below, the main adult cast also make appearances as other minor characters.

Quayside cast
There are also four canteen assistants who wear red and white striped jackets and hats and have curly moustaches. They sing about their menu in the style of a barbershop quartet but find none of the students interested in buying. In Series 4 these characters were played by Richard David-Caine, Steven Kynman, Greig Johnson and Jason Forbes. In Series 5 Luke McQueen replaced Richard David-Caine in the group.

Dockbridge cast
The cast originally consisted of Richard David-Caine, Harvey Virdi, Jamie-Rose Monk, Marie Lawrence, Sam Battersea, Velile Tshabalala, Dan Starkey, Thomas Nelstrop and Marvyn Dickinson. Lawrence left after Series 1 while Ellie White and Susan Harrison joined the cast. Velile Tshabalala and Harvey Virdi left after Series 2. Naga Munchetty joined the cast in Series 3, making regular guest appearances. Other guest stars have included Fred Sirieix, playing himself, and Arthur Bostrom, playing Monsieur Artois, a supply teacher whose English isn't very good.

Spin-off
Flunked!, a one-off 17 minute continuation of the Dockbridge High story follows Emily, Billy, Tahj, Jasmine and Mark as they join the sixth form. It premiered on 8 February 2019.

In other media
Richard David-Caine's characters 'Mark' and 'Mrs Mark' appear in David-Caine and Joseph Elliott's web sketch show InterNOT. Mark appears filming videos whilst his mum interrupts him.