Jo Joyner will be returning to our screens VERY soon! Hallelujah!

jo-joyner-back-new-school-soap-ackley-bridge-channel-4

by Emma Dodds |
Published on

Ex-EastEnder Jo Joyner will back on television very soon in a new Channel 4 school drama

We don't know about you, but the exit of Tanya Branning in EastEnders is still painful in our hearts to this day.

But there's good news in store for fans of actress Jo Joyner - she'll be back on our screens before the year is out!

Jo, who left 'Enders in 2013 and briefly making a return in 2015 for the 25th anniversary special where she famously fluffed it, is set to star in a brand new Channel 4 show about a school.

jo-joyner-back-new-school-soap-ackley-bridge-channel-4
Jo will star as headteacher Mandy Carter (Credit: Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge) ©Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge

Potentially filling the Waterloo Road-shaped hole in your life, Ackley Bridge is based in Yorkshire, and is about two VERY different schools joining together.

Ms Joyner, who will be treating us all to her best Yorkshire accent in the show, will play Mandy Carter - the headteacher appointed to join together "largely divided white and Asian populations" in one academy.

She will be joined by her No Angels co-star Sunetra Sarker, who plays dinnerlady Kaneez Paracha.

jo-joyner-back-new-school-soap-ackley-bridge-channel-4
The new Channel 4 show is thought to be similar to Waterloo Road (Credit: Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge) ©Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge

Jo recently told Metro.co.uk about her character: "It was nice to have a woman at the head of the school and she is completely career driven. She has worked so hard to lead this new venture that she has neglected her home life.

"You see that contradiction in a lot of great women – and I like that about her."

She also spoke about reuniting with her old friend Sunetra: "I had taken the job before I knew Su was on board but that's probably why I stayed!"

jo-joyner-back-new-school-soap-ackley-bridge-channel-4
Sunetra Sarter will also star in the show (Credit: Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge) ©Channel 4/ Ackley Bridge

Channel 4 described the show: "As two formerly isolated comprehensives are merged into a brand new academy, Ackley Bridge College, the lives and cultures of each are set to collide. Lessons are about to be learnt in and out of the classroom, even if education isn't the first thing on the agenda..."

Ooh... We like the sound o' that!

Will you be tuning into Ackley Bridge? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.

READ MORE...

Looks like we're going to be seeing a lot more of Lee Ryan in EastEnders...

Max Branning's EastEnders revenge plot will go on for THREE YEARS!

EastEnders Spoiler: Steven Beale is about to open a can of crazy on Lauren Branning

Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us