User:Grangehilllover/List of Ackley Bridge characters (series 1)

The following is a list of characters who first appear in the first series of Channel 4's television drama series Ackley Bridge. The first episode introduces all the main characters: Headteacher Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner) and PE teacher Steve Bell (Paul Nicholls), who are husband and wife, the Paracha family - dinner lady Kaneez Paracha (Sunetra Sarker) and her children Nasreen Paracha (Amy-Leigh Hickman), Razia Paracha (Nazmeen Kausar Hussain) and Saleem Paracha (Esa Ashraf/Yaseen Khan) - as well as sisters Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar) and Hayley Booth (Cody Ryan) and brothers Jordan Wilson (Sam Bottomley) and Cory Wilson (Sam Retford). English teacher Emma Keane (Liz White) and Chloe Voyle (Fern Deacon), Emma's daughter, PE teacher Will Simpson (Tom Varey), community liaison Samir Qureshi (Arsher Ali) and secretary Lorraine Bird (Lorraine Cheshire) also debuted in the first episode, as did the Nawaz family, consisting of school sponsor Sadiq Nawaz (Adil Ray) and his children, Alya Nawaz (Maariah Hussain) and Riz Nawaz (Nohail Mohammed).

Mandy Carter
Mandy Carter, portrayed by Jo Joyner, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Joyner's casting as Mandy Carter came when the show was announced. Joyner describes Mandy as "career driven", who has "worked so hard over the years to get to the level she's at. Joyner adds she likes the fact her character is not interested in having children and despite her character being "organised and driven in her business life [...] she’s not at all organised or in control at home."

Steve Bell
A charismatic ‘man’s man’, Steve is a big presence at Ackley Bridge College. Well-liked by the students and the teachers, Steve is always on hand to break up a fight or settle a discussion but he’s also more than up for a kick about on the school field. Steve isn’t a career teacher like his wife Mandy but he does have a vocation and is particularly good at working with kids – especially lads from challenging backgrounds. He knows how to handle himself, and normally how to keep his temper in check, and his charm and banter can get him out of a sticky situation. Steve likes his ale, his football and his wife, though Mandy’s relentless ambition can sometimes cause arguments between the couple.

Kaneez Paracha
Kaneez is a force of nature. Pakistani born, Kaneez came to Ackley Bridge when she was 16 to marry her husband Iqbal. However, Kaneez has raised her family almost single-handedly as her unreliable husband works away - often for months on end. Self-educated, Kaneez enjoys her independence and running her family without a man around. Highly intelligent and fearless, Kaneez is lippy and opinionated and will never shy away from an argument. If there’s work to be done she’ll settle any row and roll her sleeves up and get on with things. She is an eternal pragmatist making the most of what she’s got and telling other folk to do the same.

Emma Keane
Emma Keane, portrayed by Liz White, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Emma, who "grew up" in Ackley Bridge, is described as a "first-rate", "fun-loving" teacher but "second-rate mum" who is "struggling to bring up unruly teenage daughter Chloe".

Will Simpson
Taking to his new career like a duck to water, Will enjoys teaching. However, sometimes the kids run rings around him. He loves a bit of banter and can get on with most people and is friendly with teachers and pupils alike. However sometimes the teenage girls can be a bit full on and Will can struggle to negotiate how he’s meant to handle them. Happy being just a PE teacher, Will’s not too bothered about his career and, though he believes in the ethos of the new college, he’s far more at home in the pub or out on the pull.

Samir Qureshi
Born and bred in Ackley Bridge, Sami fell in with a crew of bad boys in his late teens and became a bit of a jack the lad, drinking, smoking and playing the field. Eventually, Sami found himself on the wrong side of the law which landed him in prison for a five year stint. He’s now a reformed man and far different to the chaotic troublemaker of his youth. He’s hardworking and makes an effort to engage with the pupils he supports on their level. He and Emma were an item before Emma left for university and he’s just as surprised to see her as she is to see him.

Sadiq Nawaz
Head of a thriving middle-class family, Sadiq is a big name in Ackley Bridge. Local boy made good, Sadiq has grafted for everything he’s got and is proud of what he’s achieved. His factory employs a good swathe of the town and he has high hopes for the community, his reputation and his bank balance. Sadiq is a consummate negotiator and charmer but with a roguish, amoral edge. He enjoys women’s company and his wife Farida turns a blind eye as long as no scandal reaches the family home. Sadiq loves his children and hopes for a better, more privileged life for them but isn’t averse to making them work for it like he is.

Lila Sharif
Dedicated to her job, Lila is a hardworking teacher who wants to do well in her career. Lila enjoys teaching and is a teacher who kids enjoy spending time with, though she knows how to discipline them if needs be. She comes from Glasgow and struggles to understand the segregated world of Ackley Bridge and the traditional Muslim British Pakistani families in the town, though she’s worked in Ackley Bridge for a term at the old majority Asian school.

Viewers praised scenes of Rose's character coming out as lesbian to her students in the fourth episode of series 1.

Missy Booth
Missy Booth, portrayed by Poppy Lee Friar, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Friar's casting as Missy Booth came when the show was announced. Due to family circumstances, Missy has "had a pretty tough start in life" and tries to keep "her family together" despite Simone's "erratic and destructive visits". After being placed with Julie "Nana" Booth, Missy made "self-sacrifices" to ensure her sister Hayley, who she "loves", had a "normal life", but the death of Julie made things "harder". Missy is also described as a "fighter" and "survivor, who "powers on with love and humour", though she has a "rebellious side [...] toughness and opinionated streak." Missy also "loves" her best friend Nasreen, though she fears that through the newly-formed school, "she may no longer have a place" in Nasreen's life due to the formation of cliques that "threaten[s] to push them apart forever rather than bring them closer together."

Friar and Ryan received praise from viewers in the fourth episode of series one, where the episode revolved around Missy dealing with the death of Julia Booth, played by Rita May, which culminates in Hayley being placed in care. Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Nasreen Paracha
Nasreen "Nas" Paracha, portrayed by Amy-Leigh Hickman, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Hickman's casting as Nasreen Paracha came when the show was announced. Hickman labels Nasreen as one of the "quieter and tamer" students as well as a “brave hearted soul" who possesses strenght and intelligence. At her age, "Nas knows who she is, but navigating her sexuality and the expectations of her family and community is quite a challenge.” Despite the close friendship Nasreen and Missy Booth (Poppy Lee Friar) share, Missy fears that through the newly-formed school, "she may no longer have a place" in Nasreen's life due to the formation of cliques that "threaten[s] to push them apart forever rather than bring them closer together." Sunetra Sarker explained the aftermath of Nasreen admitting she is lesbian, saying that her character Kaneez Paracha, was oblivious to "the extra things" that come with "accepting your daughter" as gay and "then having to deal with this meaning." Hickman stated that as she was from a white family with no religion, Nazmeen Kausar Hussain, who plays her on-screen sister Razia Paracha, taught her about the culture she was portraying through Nasreen.

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Razia Paracha
Razia Paracha, portrayed by Nazmeen Kausar Hussain, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Hussain's casting as Razia Paracha came when the show was announced; Razia Paracha is Hussain's first television role. Razia is Kaneez Paracha's (Sunetra Sarker) youngest daughter, who is "bright, opinionated and keen to learn" and despite being "confidemt", it's a "front", however, "she decides who she is and what she wants to be in the future." Amy-Leigh Hickman, who plays's her on-screen sister Nasreen Paracha, stated that as she was from a white family with no religion, Hussain taught her about the culture she was portraying through Nasreen.

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Hayley Booth
Hayley Booth, portrayed by Cody Ryan, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Ryan's casting as Hayley Booth came when the show was announced and she gained the part through an acting workshop at her school, Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, which was run by Beverley Keogh casting agency. Poppy Lee Friar, who plays Ryan's on-screen sister, said that Missy Booth "wants the best" for Hayley, "who she loves", and ensures she has a "normal life." Hayley has a "loud voice" as well as "low self-esteem"; she "wants to have fun despite her hard home life" and although Hayley "appreciates the efforts Missy goes to keep the family together", she "would like to be able to focus on her friends and boys."

Storylines
After school, Hayley finds her mother, Simone Booth (Samantha Power), in her bed, so whilst she and Razia Paracha (Nazmeen Kausar Hussain) distract her grandmother and guardian Julie Booth (Rita May), Missy and Nasreen Paracha (Amy-Leigh Hickman) get Simone out of the house. When Chloe Voyle starts at Ackley Bridge, Hayley and Razia arrange to go to the pub with her, but do not go, however, they later make friends with her. Hayley and Chloe meet up with Cory Wilson (Sam Retford) and Riz Nawaz (Nohail Mohammed), but Hayley opts to leave when Chloe hints she may have sex with Cory and drink cider, with the pair trading insults. When Missy finds Julie dead in the bath after a heart attack, she tells Hayley, but makes her promise not to tell anyone until she turns sixteen so they can stay together. English teacher Emma Keane (Liz White) finds out that Julie has died when Missy asks for money to pay for the funeral, but Missy asks Emma not to tell anyone so Hayley does not get taken into care. Headteacher Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner) is furious with Emma for not reporting Julie's death to her, finding out from Kaneez Paracha (Sunetra Sarker), but is persuaded to put off calling social services until after the cremation, which Emma takes them to. When Hayley and Missy go to school, they are met by Mandy, Emma and a social worker, who tells them that their situation cannot continue and Hayley will have to be placed with a foster family in Bradford; despite protests, Missy forces Hayley to go.

Reception
Ryan and Friar received praise from viewers in the fourth episode of series one, where the episode revolved around Missy dealing with the death of Julia, which culminates in Hayley being placed in care. Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph noted at the end of series 1, where Hayley was returned to Simone's care, seemed "too redemptively upbeat to be entirely convincing", however, he added that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Saleem Paracha
Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Jordan Wilson
Jordan Wilson, portrayed by Sam Bottomley, made his first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Bottomley's casting as Jordan Wilson came when the show was announced. Jordan is billed as "badly behaved and not fazed by getting into trouble", however "he's bright and a talented artist, but thinks school is pointless." Matt Zina, principal Bottomley's acting school said Bottomley is an "exciting young actor."

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines", noting Bottomley more so of this.

Alya Nawaz
Alya Nawaz, portrayed by Mariaah Hussain, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Hussain's casting as Alya Nawaz came when the show was announced. Hussain described her character as "super intelligent, fiercely righteous, and a bit of a mean girl", who is also "insecure as any teenage girl" but "has ambitions to run her own business, like her father, but struggles to make him see she's capable of it." Hussain's drama school principal, Matt Zina, said Ackley Bridge is Hussain's first role and "she has taken to it like a duck to water. She has loved being part of a major TV series and was excited to be working with some of the big-name actors involved."

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Chloe Voyle
Chloe Voyle, portrayed by Fern Deacon, made her first appearance on 7 June 2017 in series 1 of Ackley Bridge. Deacon's casting as Chloe Voyle came when the show was announced. Chloe is billed as a "wild child" and a “troubled teenage[r]” who is "intelligent", who Emma is a “second-rate” mother to; her arrival turns Emma's life ”upside down”.

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Cory Wilson
Popular and excellent at sports, Cory is not the brightest academically, however he is staving off the inevitable hunt for non-existent jobs by attending sixth form. Successful with the girls, Cory is a ‘player’ but he gets away with it due to his easy charm.

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."

Riz Nawaz
Sadiq’s son, sporty and attractive Riz has a real presence amongst his peers. Riz is a loyal person and feels personal integrity, especially his own, is very important.

Gerard O'Donovan from The Daily Telegraph said at the end of the first series that the younger cast members showed "sheer energy and talent" and "generally sported the more interesting storylines."