Country of origin United Kingdom Original network CBBCCBBC HD | No. of episodes 20 | |
Original release 29 January (2016-01-29) – 2 December 2016 (2016-12-02) | ||
The fourth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began broadcasting on 29 January 2016 on CBBC. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves, respectively in January and September 2016; it is the twelfth series in the Tracy Beaker franchise.
Contents
Series synopsis
All of the main cast from the second half of the third series reprise their roles in the fourth series. Series 4 saw the departure of 3 cast members who'd been in the series since Tracy Beaker Returns began. Harry (Philip Graham Scott) departed in episode 12, but returns for a guest appearance in episode 19. Both Carmen (Amy-Leigh Hickman) and Tee (Mia McKenna-Bruce) departed in episode in 19.
The Dumping Ground is inspected whilst Bailey meets a woman claiming to be his mother and forgives his father. Jody enters a street dance competition with Tee and Carmen, but it turns out she suffers from stage fright, caused by her past at home. However, Jody overcomes her fear. When things break, Billie and Toni help Mike fix them and they like to fix things as it reminds them of their mum. When Billie owns up to causing the accidents, Billie and Toni finally talk about their mum. Ryan met with his sister, Chloe, who was paralyzed due to falling out of the window as a toddler and Ryan was blamed for the accident. Ryan and Chloe made amends when it turns out it wasn't Ryan's fault. Tee has interview for a college place, but she walks out of the interview and admits to Mike she is not ready to leave, but he reassures her they are all there for her whilst the other young people put adverts around town for families. Sasha meets an old friend called Tommo, who shows an interest in Sasha and he plans for him and Sasha to live together with his brother, but Sasha realises Tommo has planned a break in and she is caught and Kazima persuades Sasha to stay. Carmen forgets Kazima's birthday and everyone decides to throw her a party, but Kazima doesn't want a party and instead, they have a party for a Somalian singer. Tyler and Floss compete against each other to represent Ashdene Ridge for a kids in care forum, which Tyler wins. Mike struggles with his workload and accidentally takes his stress out on the kids. May-Li is shocked to learn Mike took Carmen's file home to update and when Mike goes to get it from his car, he finds it has been broken into. Mike leaves Ashdene Ridge whilst the police and head office do their investigation. It emerges that Ryan took Carmen's file. Following Mike's suspension, the young people are miserable, so May-Li suggests a trip out to a theme park. Carmen and Ryan remain behind to take care of an upset Harry, but he goes missing. Carmen confesses to Ryan she got Mike suspended by telling the police and they find Harry at Mike's house. On the trip, the minibus breaks down and whilst May-Li and Mo find help, the other young people go off wandering and build dens to hide in. On the day of Mike's hearing, three replacements are brought in to help out, but May-Li is unimpressed with the young people's attitude towards them and they all leave. Carmen and Tee try to stop the hearing, but Mike doesn't want them too. Instead of giving himself up, Ryan plants Carmen's folder in the office and the young people later find it. They rush to the council and manage to save Mike's job. Mike finds out it was Ryan and they end their feud.
Sasha decides she wants to be fostered after learning her mum is pregnant and meets a potential adoptive couple, Lou and Ange, who also have dwarfism. Mike holds an upcycling competition for the young people to make things with rubbish for the council to make them the greenest care home. Carmen makes friends with an elderly woman named Doris and is stunned with Doris' house and dress collection, yet angry towards Doris' son, Felix, after Doris tells her he is forcing her to leave her home. However, Carmen learns Doris has dementia and is moving into a care home. Floss wants a cat and works with Ryan to get one, but Floss is disappointed when Mike brings home an adult cat, Nigel, and not kitten. Floss turns out to be allergic to cats and Nigel is given to Doris. Bailey decides to enter a young entrepreneur competition and meets a girl, Hollie and they decide to combine their businesses. However, Bailey is arrested when customers accuse him of stealing money, however, Hollie is responsible for the thefts. Jody struggles to take care of a baby stimulation doll, but is encouraged not to give up and a new boy, Sammy, takes the rules literally. Floss feels ignored by everyone and decides to fundraise so the young people can go on their adventure trip. After meeting an artist, she decides to hold an art show, but everyone backs out. Floss takes Finn to the artist with Tee's art, passing it off as Finn's. Floss threatens Finn and when Finn tells everyone, Floss wants to be transferred, but May-Li gets Floss to make up with Finn. Sammy annoys the other young people and Tyler agrees to teach him practically jokes. Ryan gets things ready for Chloe's arrival and when she arrives, Ryan settles her in. Ryan is hurt when Chloe joins the girls for a pamper party and Tyler looses his cool with Sammy. Sammy gets stuck on the roof when doing a practical joke, but is rescued and collected by his aunt. Tyler is delighted when his mother wants him back and Mo falls for a girl named Kara. Mo is given relationship advice to impress Kara, but decides to be himself, which wins her over. Sally and Tyler realise they need to get to know each other and the young people, Mike and May-Li are family. The young people decide to have an Ashdene Ridge festival and Ryan wants to sabotage it, admitting to Chloe he use to get told ghost stories. Tee and Sasha spook Ryan and Ryan burns Chloe's poster, thinking it's Sasha's. Chloe wants Ryan to stay away from her when she finds out he was responsible and refuses to apologise. Bailey and Joseph are woken in the night and a new boy, Archie Able, arrives to stay for a while. Tyler wants to learn to dance to impress a girl and Kazima wants to be adopted in order to stay in the UK. Kazima wants to be adopted by May-Li, who agrees to think about it, so some of the others try to impress May-Li. Kazima doesn't want to be adopted and gets the news she can stay. Tee and Carmen are devastated to learn that a housing policy reform means they cannot live together, but their social worker manages to arrange for them to do so. Jody takes some items from The Dumping Ground to a flat, but returns them. Tee and Carmen leave after saying their goodbyes.
Casting
In March 2015, an open casting call was announced for the character of Chloe. The requirements were for the actress to be a genuine wheelchair user aged between 10 and 14 years old, who could pass for 11 to 13 years old. Hannah Moncur was cast in the role.
Production
Production began on 24 May 2015, and was completed on 12 November 2015.