It’s back to the classroom as Ackley Bridge returns for a fifth series

25 November 2021

Ashley Walters (Top Boy, Bulletproof) will make his directing debut

Award-winning Ackley Bridge will return to Channel 4 and All4 for a fifth series in 2022, with 10x30 new episodes commissioned from The Forge. 

Ackley’s back for more high-jinx plans, scams, and mad-cap adventures in school and on the estate. We’ll pick up with our trio – Johnny (Ryan Dean - The Gentleman, Penny on M.A.R.S.), Kayla (Robyn Cara -Life, Hounslow Diaries) and Fizza (Yasmin Al Khudhairi - Hilda)  - as they try to navigate the second half of the school year. Elsewhere, life gets complicated for Marina (Megan Morgan - Hollyoaks), Kayla’s popular Queen

Sky announces the return of Dating No Filter with a brand-new line-up of comedians

Joining the new series are Emily Atack, Asim Chaudhry, Sukh Ojla, London Hughes, Josh Jones, Jayde Adams and The Receipts alongside returning comedians including, Joel Dommett, Josh Widdicombe, Tom Allen and Rosie Jones.

Sky Original Dating No Filter sees some of the UK’s funniest comedians provide raw and unfiltered commentary on members of the public embarking on blind dates. The hilarious show will return for a second series in 2022 and Christmas special in 2021 on Sky Max and streaming service NOW.

An exciting line-up of comedic pairings has been announced;

Revealed: More than half of UK small businesses plan to leave current broadband provider

• More than half (51%) of UK SMEs are likely to leave their current business broadband provider. This is despite nearly three quarters investing in business broadband or adapting their business to deliver digital services over the past 12 months.
• Two thirds are currently planning to increase their investment further in digital services such as broadband, broadband security and digital customer offerings.
• More than three quarters (77%) of small businesses have been impacted by slow broadband over the past year.
• Almost three quarters (74%) of small businesses said that they would be more likely to recommend a business broadband provider to someone else if it offered 4G or 5G backup, ensuring an extra reliable connection.

A new study commissioned by Sky Connect has revealed that 51% of

Years & Years set to shine in an all star show this New Year’s Eve on BBC One

I can’t quite believe the BBC are letting me entertain and party with the great British public this New Year’s (& years) Eve!!! I’m so excited!! I feel hugely privileged to be bringing in the new year for everybody tuning in, I promise it’s going to be an extremely fun and unforgettable televisual experience! I’ll be performing all my hits and collaborating with some iconic extra special guests, you can expect choreography, vocals, lights, outfits and wild joyful abandon!

— Olly Alexander, Years & Years

Frontman Olly Alexander has confirmed that Years & Years will see out

BBC on track to reach half a billion people globally ahead of its centenary in 2022

In 2020/21, the BBC achieved record figures with an average audience of 489 million adults every week.

“I am delighted that the BBC now informs, educates and entertains more people around the world than ever before. Our global reach continues to grow and we are well on target to hit half a billion people by our centenary next year. The fact that our audience has more than doubled in the last decade shows how trusted and increasingly valued BBC services are right around the world. It also highlights the important role we play for Britain on the global stage in carrying the UK’s voice, democratic values and influence.”

— Tim Davie, BBC Director-General

The BBC has achieved the highest ever global audience, according to the

Channel 4 to broadcast live Betfred Super League

• 
  Super League live on free-to-air television for first time ever
• Ten live matches each year including two end of year Play-Off games
• Channel 4’s live coverage starts with Leeds Rhinos v Warrington Wolves on 12 February 2022

Live Super League will be broadcast on free-to-air television for the first time in its 26-year history on Channel 4.

The initial two-year partnership will see ten live Betfred Super League matches air on Channel 4 each season.

Channel 4’s Super League coverage starts on 12 February next year when

Channel 4 has commissioned Spring Films to produce a four-part documentary series, The Defenders (working title)

With unprecedented access to one of the UK’s leading defence chambers – 25 Bedford Row – we will look to  follow the barristers from the moment they are given a case, through the emotionally charged twists and turns of the judicial process, preparing for court and a dramatic, life-changing verdict. At stake could be the next 25 years of a client’s life and devastation for their families.

“It’s the courage to be able to say, this is why the state is wrong. And

Deck the halls! The Christmas Decorators are coming to town

Channel 4 has commissioned Northern Ireland-based Strident Media to produce a seasonal special following the UK’s most in-demand professional Christmas decorators.

Ever wish it could be Christmas every day? In the world of The Christmas Decorators it is. Deck the Halls: The Luxury Christmas Decorators joins Britain’s

The Great British Bake Off – The Final

Twelve bakers entered the Bake Off bubble at the start of the competition, but only one could be crowned the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2021, and tonight Giuseppe, age 45 from Bristol celebrated his win in an amazing final episode.

 

Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith judged 12 Bakers with 30 Challenges over 10 episodes for the twelfth series of The Great British Bake Off 2021.  This series the Bakers have baked everything from mini chocolate rolls and malt loaf in the very first episode onto recreating their childhood toy in biscuit week, and who could forget bread week with

World Trade Organization General Council, November 2021: UK statements

The UK's Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva, Simon Manley, spoke on a variety of agenda items at the WTO General Council 22-23 November 2021.

From:

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for International Trade, and Simon Manley CMG

Location:

Geneva

Delivered on:

23 November 2021 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

TRIPS Council Matters

Thank you, Mr Chairman… On this point, Mr Chair, look, I fear that we may repeat some of the things that we said in the meeting on Friday.

But let me first of all welcome the status report delivered by the Chair of the TRIPS Council on item 16. It is a factual, objective, and accurate report of the developments at the TRIPS Council. Like others, we have been meeting other delegations bilaterally; delegations on all sides of the debate. While, clearly, we are not yet in a position to reach consensus on these issues, we are grateful for the discussions we have had, and the constructive tone struck by many delegations including this morning.

We don’t have a lot of time left before MC12, as you have said at the start,

New levelling up plans to improve student outcomes

Universities to drive up standards in local schools and colleges through activities such as tutoring.

 

From:

Department for Education, Office of the Children's Commissioner, and The Rt Hon Michelle Donelan MP

Universities will be required to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children by driving up education standards in schools and colleges in the local community, which could include providing activities like tutoring.

They will also be required to set new ambitious targets to support students

Funding helps UK distilleries fuel a greener future

£11.3 million funding to help UK distilleries ditch fossil fuels and develop low carbon heating systems that will make production processes greener.

 

From:

Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, HM Treasury, The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, The Rt Hon Simon Clarke MP, and The Rt Hon Alister Jack MP

• More than £11 million in UK government funding will help UK’s world-famous distilleries go green, cutting emissions and supporting green jobs
• hydrogen and biogas will replace fossil fuels in production processes as part of ambitions to end contribution to climate change by 2050
• distilleries sector has the potential to cut carbon emissions by half a million tonnes every year – equivalent to emissions from powering more than 60,000 homes

Hydrogen and biogas will power whisky and spirit producers across the country following a cash boost of more than £11 million from the UK government, driving forward plans to create low-carbon green distilleries.

The multi-million-pound investment announced today will help distilleries