Channel 4

Nina Sosanya (His Dark Materials) leads the cast as Leigh, the head of the team of 'screws' formally known as prison officers, who has devoted her life to the all-male prison and its inmates. Working on an overpopulated wing and having to battle against broken bureaucracy and short-term thinking, Leigh works hard to keep her inmates in line and support them when they need it. However, to her work team, she remains an enigma, with her own dark secrets that could cost her more than her job if they were ever discovered.

Fan favourites Nas (Amy-Leigh Hickman) and Missy (Poppy Lee Friar) were among those who left at the end of the last series, but there are plenty of pupils joining the returning cast to fill the gaps.

Among the newcomers are Kayla Azfal (Robyn Cara) and Fizza Akhtar (Yasmin Al Khudhairi), loyal best friends but both lovestruck by new boy Johnny Cooper (Ryan Dean).

Given the two-year hiatus and all the new faces, we thought viewers new and old could do with a little refresher course. Find out who's who in Ackley Bridge.

Monday

Ackley Bridge series four

Channel 4, 6pm

This series love is in the air at Ackley Bridge academy, as best friends Kayla (Robyn Cara) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi) both fall for new boy Johnny (Ryan Dean), a cocky heartthrob from the traveller community.

From Father Ted to Derry Girls, Channel 4’s reputation for Irish comedy is second to none. Now comes Frank of Ireland, a new, six-part series made by Sharon Horgan’s production company, Merman, producer of BBC Two’s Motherland. The show stars Brian Gleeson, who plays the eponymous Frank, and his brother Domhnall. The Gleeson family are, of course, Irish acting royalty.

The four-part series will serve up new ideas for meals and reducing food waste, helping our pockets and the planet.

In the UK, the equivalent of 1 in 6 shopping bags or 1 in 8 prepared meals end up in the bin, and most of this waste is destined for landfill or incineration. If this food waste was a country, it would be the third biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions.

Hellmann’s will sponsor the series as part of their mission to enable British households to “make great taste and less waste,” highlighting the simple ways we can all make a difference.

The first of two images show best friends Kayla (Robyn Cara) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi), new to viewers but existing pupils at Ackley Bridge, and Johnny (Ryan Dean), a new student and heartthrob.

Johnny catches the eye of both Kayla and Fizza but he’s suspicious of his new school.

The second shot shows teachers Kaneez Paracha (Sunetra Sarker), Sue Carp (Charlie Hardwick) and Hassain Hussein (Hareet Deol). They return alongside fellow teachers Martin Evershed (Rob James Collier), Mandy Carter (Jo Joyner) and Rashid Hyatt (Tony Jayawardena).

The hour-long programme will see Davina McCall recall the details of her own menopause journey while busting the myths, fear and shame surrounding hormone replacement therapy.

In order to shed some light on the lack of understanding and misinformation that still prevails, the film will take a deep dive into the science of the menopause and how it impacts women’s health.  

With personal contributions from a variety of women who have lived through the highs and lows of the menopause, the film aims to spark a frank discussion about a topic that should no longer be a taboo.