4 O'Clock Club
| 4 O'Clock Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Children's drama Musical comedy Family sitcom |
| Created by |
Paul Rose Doc Brown |
| Starring |
Khalil Madovi Doc Brown Akai Osei Jason Callender Laura Aikman Simon Lowe |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 91 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Connal Orton |
| Running time | 27–28 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network |
CBBC (2012–present) CBBC HD (2013–present) |
| Original release | 13 January 2012–present |
4 O'Clock Club is a British comedy drama[1] and musical children's television series, which premiered on 13 January 2012[2] on CBBC and CBBC HD. A second series began airing on 4 January 2013, and the third series premiered on 20 December 2013.[3] Series 4 began airing on 28 January 2015, and Series 5 was aired on CBBC and CBBC HD from February to May 2016.
The show's seventh series started airing from 24 January 2018, and ended on 18 April 2018.
Background
In March 2011, auditions were held for 4 O'Clock Club, and the show was publicly announced the next month.[4] In January 2012, the first episode aired, with the series wrapping up in March of the same year.
Synopsis
Series 1 (2012)
The first series centres on Josh Carter (Khalil Madovi), a pupil at Elmsbury High, and his older brother Nathan (Doc Brown), who works as a teacher there. Josh is portrayed as a laid back teenage schoolboy trying to maintain his cool reputation, while also being rebellious and trying to cause trouble in order to achieve his goals and humiliate or outsmart Nathan. Nathan, former Elmsbury High student and famous rapper, soon learns that only he will able to stop Josh from his schemes.
Series 2 (2013)
In the second series, Nathan leaves Elmsbury and new music teacher Dexter Harris (Jason Callender) joins the school. Dexter becomes Josh and his mother's new lodger, taking Josh's room as a result. As such, Josh antagonizes Dexter through much of the series, until he finally accepts his presence and labels him as an "honorary Carter brother". The series also featured Crispin Bell (Simon Lowe) as the new headmaster, who replaces Byron, and proved to be far stricter than Byron. Mr Thorne was a brutal enemy of Josh and Dexter for the remainder of the series.
Series 3 (2013–14)
The third series featured Nathan's proposal and marriage to Melanie Poppy (Laura Aikman), who both departed the series, and Josh is forced to share his room with his annoying younger cousin, Nero (Akai Osei). When the school burns down due to an issue with candles, Elmsbury is merged with another school, Fowlmere Manor, renaming the school Elmsmere Manor High as of the fourth episode of the third series. Molly and Ryan do not appear in the rest of the series, and attend a new school off screen.
Due to the merger, several new characters joined the series in episode three, these were PE teacher Mr Nunn (Dan Wright), Miss Parkwood (Sophia Di Martino) and pupils in Nero's year; Eli Grant (Daniel Kerr), Owen Garland (Lewis Brindley), Fleur Murphy (Chloe Davison) and Eleesha Rahad (Grace McIntosh). Sally Ann Matthews also joined the cast as head teacher Aine O'Brien.
Series 4 (2015)
The fourth series features Nero, now in the main role, and his crew have replaced Josh and the Elmsbury gang who have all temporarily departed the series (except Isaac, who becomes Elmsmere's caretaker) and Dexter is trying to make it as an accomplished teacher, but is given the new job of taking care of Nero's shenanigans, which indirectly resembles Josh and Nathan's relationship in the first series. The teachers who appeared in Series 3, Miss Parkwood and Aine O'Brien do not appear in this series, leading to the re introduction of former head teacher Anita Andress (Liz Hume-Dawson).
The series also introduced a new main character, rebellious and cynical tomboy Clem Burton (Jade Alleyne), who joins Nero's crew as well as mysterious spray paintings of Andress appear around Elmsmere, called 'The Phantom Sprayer', however it was later revealed that it was Mr. Bell who was the criminal. A new love interest for Dexter, Science teacher Lizzie Baker (Sarah Schoenbeck), is introduced in episode one.
A new recurring character, Isobel Harlow (Ruby Barnhill) appears from episode three. This series also features mini cameos from Josh's gang as shown in the series premiere and series finale. Nathan also makes his comeback in two episodes and is now a father to baby Moses.
Series 5 (2016)
In the fifth series, all the characters from the fourth series remain, but with three new characters, Lizzie's younger sister Amber (Ella Marshall Pinder) and her friends Violet (Cara Jenkins) and Darnesh (Riley McCormick) who want to fit in with the "cool" kids, like Nero and his gang. Zoe-Marie's younger sister Ingrid (Zara Thurstan) also starts at the school and quickly becomes Amber's enemy. A new head teacher is also introduced in the first episode, Mrs Helena Goodman (Victoria Carling).
Throughout the series, both Nero and Clem try to tell each other how they feel about each other. Dexter and Lizzie are dating but must hide it from others, though Mr Nunn (Dan Wright) tries to hit on Lizzie. Amber, and her gang try to beat their bully Ingrid and Dexter and Nero face problems living together.
Series 6 (2017)
In the sixth series, Nero and Clem have finally begun dating after their summer romance, but eventually break up after their several arguments. Clem departs in episode three to pursue a career in music. Dexter and Lizzie are expecting a baby, and eventually give birth to twins named Albert and Faraday. After his divorce in the previous series, and a brief relationship with newcomer Anastasia (Rachel Elizabeth Kelly), Bell finds himself living in a run down caravan on the school grounds with his estranged son CJ (Rufus King-Dabbs), a newcomer to the series.
Dexter and Nero are both shocked at CJ's arrival, as Bell never mentioned in any previous series that he had a child. The series also introduces the characters of Polly Morgan (Mischa Eckersley), a fellow pupil of Nero's whom he tries to impress throughout the series and Owen's younger brother Chester (Rohan Green). In Series 6, Isobel Harlow was promoted to a series regular as she appeared in every episode.
Series 7 (2018)
The seventh series started airing on 24 January 2018. All the main characters from the previous series returned apart from Isobel Harlow (Ruby Barnhill). Elmsmere School has moved to a new location after debt caused the old school to be closed. Mr. Bell becomes stand in headteacher, while Helena Goodman takes time off to reflect on the financial issues of the old site. She returns for the final four episodes of the season.
Nero's character departs in the fourth episode to pursue new experiences in America along with Dexter and Lizzie. Two new characters were introduced also in the fourth episode, science teacher Maddie Harper (Genesis Lynea) and music teacher Danny Boyd (Nathan Clarke).
Cast
Main characters
| Character | Actor/actress | Role | Duration | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mr Crispin Bell | Simon Lowe | Headteacher (2x01–3x02), Co Headteacher (3x03–3x13), History Teacher (4x01–), Deputy Headteacher (5x01–), Acting Headteacher (7x02–7x13) | 2x01– | 2013– |
| Isaac Rodgers | Layton Blake | Student, Caretaker (4x01–) | 2x01, 3x03– | 2013, 2014– |
| Owen Garland | Lewis Brindley | Student | 3x03– | 2014– |
| Eli Grant | Daniel Kerr | Student | 3x03– | 2014– |
| Mr Graham Nunn | Dan Wright | P.E Teacher | 3x03– | 2014– |
| Fleur Murphy | Chloe Davison | Student | 3x03– | 2014– |
| Eleesha Rahad | Grace McIntosh | Student | 3x03– | 2014– |
| Mrs Helena Goodman | Victoria Carling | Headteacher/Art Teacher | 5x01–7x02, 7x10– | 2016– |
| Amber Baker | Ella Marshall-Pinder | Student | 5x01– | 2016– |
| Violet | Cara Jenkins | Student | 5x01– | 2016– |
| Darnesh | Riley McCormick | Student | 5x01– | 2016– |
| Ingrid Ingham | Zara Thurstan | Student | 5x01– | 2016– |
| Katie Turnbull | Jasmine Payne | Student | 5x13– | 2016– |
| Polly Morgan | Mischa Taylor Eckersley | Student | 6x05– | 2017– |
| Chester Garland | Rohan Green | Student | 6x05– | 2017– |
| CJ Bell | Rufus King-Dabbs | Mr Bell's son/Student | 6x07– | 2017– |
| Miss Maddie Harper | Genesis Lynea | Science Teacher | 7x04– | 2018– |
| Mr Danny Boyd | Nathan Clarke | Music Teacher | 7x04– | 2018– |
| Jack Harper | Ashton Henry-Reid | Maddie's son/Student | 7x08– | 2018– |
Recurring and guest characters
| Character | Actor/actress | Role | Duration | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoe-Marie Ingham | Ruby Morgan | Student (1x01–3x13), Hairdresser (4x01–) | 1x01– | 2012– |
| Ashley 'Ash' Newman | Tom Rolinson | Student (1x01–3x13) Mechanic (4x01–) | 1x01– | 2012– |
| PC Emily Rowe | Leah Hackett | Police Offier | 2x04– | 2013– |
| Isobel Harlow | Ruby Barnhill | Student | 4x03– | 2015– |
Past characters
| Character | Actor/actress | Role | Duration | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Carter | Khalil Madovi | Student (1x01–4x01), Relative (4x07, 4x13) | 1x01–4x01, 4x07, 4x13 | 2012–2015 |
| Nathan Carter | Doc Brown | English Teacher(1x01–2x13) Husband (3x02) Relative (4x07, 4x13) | 1x01–2x02, 2x12–3x02, 4x07, 4x13 | 2012–2015 |
| Ryan Wood | Oscar Lloyd | Student | 1x01–3x03 | 2012–2014 |
| Molly Finnegan | Alana Thornton | Student | 1x01–3x03 | 2012–2014 |
| Agness Addo | Sade Malone | Student | 1x01–4x01, 4x13 | 2012–2015 |
| Mrs Melanie Carter | Laura Aikman | Music Teacher(1x01–3x02) Wife (3x02) | 1x01–3x02 | 2012–2014 |
| Mr John Byron | Steve Huison | Headteacher | 1x01–1x13 | 2012 |
| Darius Phillips | Adam Kavanagh | Student | 1x02–3x03 | 2012–2014 |
| Mr Jeff Thorne | Myles Keogh | P.E Teacher | 1x07–2x13 | 2012–2013 |
| Natalie Harlow | Beth Chaplow | Student | 1x10–3x12 | 2012–2014 |
| Rachel | Lauren McQueen | Student | 2x01–3x11 | 2013–2014 |
| Bebe Johnson | Kerry Stacey | School Receptionist/Nero's Mother | 3x02–3x13 | 2014 |
| Miss Aine O'Brien | Sally Ann Matthews | Headteacher | 3x03–3x13 | 2014 |
| Miss Emma Parkwood | Sophia Di Martino | Music Teacher | 3x03–3x13 | 2014 |
| Miss Anita Andress | Liz Hume-Dawson | ICT Teacher (1x01–3x03, 3x13–4x13), Deputy Headteacher (2x01–3x02), Headteacher (3x13–4x13) | 1x01–3x03, 3x13–4x13 | 2012–2015 |
| Liz Carter | Dystin Johnson | Nurse, Parent, Auntie | 1x01–5x01 | 2012–2016 |
| Anastasia | Rachel Elizabeth Kelly | Mr Bell's ex girlfriend | 6x01–6x03 | 2017 |
| Clem Burton | Jade Alleyne | Student (4x01–6x03) | 4x01–6x03 | 2015–2017 |
| Dexter Harris | Jason Callender | Music Teacher, Head of Music (3x03–7x03) Head of Woodwork (7x03-7x04), | 2x02–7x04 | 2013–2018 |
| Nero Johnson | Akai Osei | Student | 3x02–7x04 | 2014–2018 |
| Mrs Lizzie Baker | Sarah Schoenbeck | Head of Science | 4x01–7x04 | 2015–2018 |
4 O'Clock Files
4 O'Clock Files is a spin off from 4 O'Clock Club, following Josh Carter's departure for Hillview Academy. Set during the end of term at Elmsmere, it focuses on Crispin Bell, filming a documentary with the help of Fleur Murphy. He focuses on Elmsmere's curriculum, sporting activities and education, and also discusses the history of Elmsmere, about how Elmsbury and Fowlmere merged.
The series features clips from the second and third series, as the many topics of the documentary are discussed. The series also features Nero and his friends, who discuss the events of the third series. Isaac and Ash made their final appearances in Elmsmere uniform, discussing Josh's mishaps with Rachel and the adventures they had in Elmsbury and Elmsmere.
Dexter and Nunn were also caught teasing each other, at the expense of Dexter's end of year reports, whom he did Josh's and Zoe-Marie's reports. Josh is absent from the series (due to his departure for Hillview). He only appears in clips from previous series.
The programme aired on CBBC, between 14 and 19 December 2014.
Production
Constructed raps are featured in every episode, usually relating to the current situation. As such, the series takes a musical style.
Since the show began, all series have been filmed on location in Greater Manchester. For the first series, filmed in 2011, 4 O'Clock Club was filmed in a secondary school that is still in use: Smithills School, Bolton. The second series was filmed at Overton High School (now Fairway Primary School) in Stockport in 2012, which was also used briefly in 2013 for the third series. From 2013 to 2016, the series was filmed in the former site of St Ambrose Barlow RC High School in Swinton. As of the seventh series, the show is filmed in a former Walkden secondary school: St George's Roman Catholic High School.
References
- ↑ https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/4_oclock_club/
- ↑ "BBC iPlayer – 4 o'Clock Club: Back To School".
- ↑ CBBC Casting for 4 O'Clock Club (28 January 2014) ScreenTerrier. Retrieved 31 January 2014
- ↑ "CBBC announces in-house drama line-up". BBC Press Office (21 April 2011). Retrieved 31 January 2014
