New Ackley Bridge
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Ackley Bridge: New series divides viewers as some call it ‘amazing’ and others ‘painful’

The fourth series is here!

By Nancy Brown

The new Ackley Bridge series arrived on TV yesterday and left viewers divided with its new characters and format change.

The Channel 4 drama, which centres on the lives of the students and staff at Ackley Bridge academy school in Yorkshire, returned for its fourth season on Monday (April 19).

The new series of Ackley Bridge is here (Credit: Channel 4)

New series of Ackley Bridge

In the first episode, Kayla (Robyn Cara) and Fizza (Yasmin Al-Khudhairi) ruffled feathers when they forged a friendship with a new boy who enrolled in their class.

Martin (Downton Abbey‘s Rob James-Collier), meanwhile, found himself in the deep end as Ackley Bridge’s new acting head.

And Kayla was the target of a cruel prank that ended up going viral.

Not everyone liked the show’s new format (Credit: Channel 4)

What did Channel 4 viewers say?

Some of those tuning in slammed the new series, branding it “cringe” and “painful to watch”.

One said: “Did anyone else cringe all the way through last night’s episode? The cast were brilliant but the whole episode was very cringe.”

Read more: Why is Ackley Bridge on at 6pm? How many episodes is it? Is this the last series?

A second tweeted: “Ugh, I love you Ackley but it’s just not the same, feels so cringe #AckleyBridge.”

A third put: “I watched the latest offering and I’m hoping it’s the last series. Absolute garbage! #AckleyBridge.”

“The first episode of series four was painful to watch,” said a fourth. “New writers? Wokely Bridge or #AckleyBridge?”

https://twitter.com/BobbyWilde2/status/1384407754488623104

Issues with new format

Others took issue with the new format. The new Ackley Bridge episodes are only half the length of the old ones, taking up half-hour slots on TV.

And they’re also on earlier, now airing at 6pm.

Someone felt the new format didn’t work at all.

It’s too rushed and you hardly get to understand the characters. Big mistake.

“@Channel4 think I preferred the #AckleyBridge old format of one-hour episodes played later in the day,” said one fan. “More to get your teeth into.”

Someone else said: “We’ve decided to leave #AckleyBridge where it now belongs… in the archives. Just doesn’t work as a 30-minute format at 6pm. It’s become more of a teen drama. Sad because we’ve seen all the series and loved them.”

Another tweeted: “Not a fan of the new #AckleyBridge format at all. Why move it to an earlier slot and 30 mins? It’s too rushed and you hardly get to understand the characters. Big mistake @C4Press @Channel4.”

https://twitter.com/Sukiweeks/status/1384423669582155776

Fans rush to binge on All4

However, not everyone felt that way. Some loved the new series, the entirety of which is available to stream on All4.

One viewer said on Twitter: “I’ve just finished watching the fourth series of Ackley Bridge. A show that’s given me and probably many others an escape from reality. I have to say that I’ve absolutely loved every second of the new series and I hope that we get many more episodes in the future.”

Read more: Ackley Bridge star Jo Joyner reveals why she quit and details EastEnders reunion plans

“Loved the first episode!” gushed another. “Just wanna watch the rest now #AckleyBridge.”

“Time for @All4 for @AckleyBridgeTV absolutely loved episode one of #AckleyBridge,” someone else said. “‘Love who you are’. Loved seeing @dollyjoyner queen return on the screen. Now time binge watch.”

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-Ackley Bridge continues weekdays at 6pm on Channel 4

What did you think of the new Ackley Bridge series? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know.

Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

Related Topics

Ackley Bridge Channel 4 Drama