Robert James-Collier joins Ackley Bridge

ob James-Collier has joined \'Ackley Bridge\'.

The 42-year-old actor - who is best known for playing Liam Connor in Coronation Street\' and Thomas Butler in \'Downtown Abbey\' - will appear in the hit Yorkshire-based drama as Martin Evershed, the new deputy head for the school, in the third series.

Robert said: "I am thrilled to be asked to play the part of Martin Evershed, the new Deputy Head at Ackley Bridge.

Ackley Bridge to return to filming in September

"Such fearless and talented young actors bring a special spirit and energy on set and I hope I can learn from that and add to it in my own way."

Former \'Emmerdale\' star Charlie Hardwick has also been added to the cast to play director of behaviour Sue Carp, and she delighted to have been cast in the show.

The soap star said: "I\'m absolutely over the moon to be joining \'Ackley Bridge\', I was already a fan.

EastEnders' Laurie Brett tried to make 'drunk' joke after Jo Joyner's live episode howler

"It has fantastic characters and brilliantly sharp story-telling which tackles the desires and concerns of a diverse school of young people and their community head on, in full-beam.

"It\'s funny and moving in equal measures and has a huge heart. Unlike the new director of behaviour Sue Carp.

"She is belligerent and unwilling, and instead of dedicating her time to the well-being and development of her teenage students, she appears to be solely concerned with counting down the next ten years to her retirement.

Jo Joyner thinks Shakespeare and Hathaway should plug EastEnders gaps on BBC schedule

"She is unwittingly witty though, and somewhat unintentionally anarchic, which gets the school into deep doodoo and herself into dangerously sackable situations.

"I can\'t wait to play her!"

Jo Joyner, Sunetra Sarker, Poppy Lee-Friar and Amy Leigh-Hickman will all be returning to the popular Channel 4 drama, which has begun filming in Halifax and will return to screens for eight new episodes later this year.