According to Deadline, Charithra Chandran (Bridgerton, Fight or Flight) and Munya Chawawa (Race Around Britain, Rye Lane) have been cast for Schooled. This series is a Channel 4 comedy inspired by its creator Delia-René Donaldson (Unfamous, Venus Vs Mars)’s experience in pastoral care at a London academy.

Chawawa stars as “T” with Shiloh Coke (Cheaters, Pirates), who is playing Kayleigh Clarke, the impatient newly appointed Head of Year 10 with no formal teaching background. They are joined by Michelle de Swarte (Spent, The Baby), Chandran, and Judi Love (Taskmaster, This is My House), who play Naomi, Lara, and Anita. Alex Bhat (Gentleman Jack, Nightfall), Rebecca Humphries (The Crown, Ten Percent), and Elliot Barnes-Worrell (Black Mirror, The Killing Kind) are also joining, Deadline states.

Acquiring Chawawa and Chandran is a triumph for Channel 4. Chawawa, a YouTube star, has been working alongside Channel 4 lately and will deliver the Edinburgh TV Festival Alternative MacTaggart lecture. Meanwhile, Chandran rose to fame starring opposite Simone Ashley (F1, Picture This) and Jonathan Bailey (Wicked, Fellow Travelers) as Edwina Sharma in Netflix’s highly-rated second season of Bridgerton, Deadline adds. 

Filming has begun for Schooled, a series described as a “comedic love letter to teachers across the UK,” Deadline reports. The story follows a determined Clarke, who is set on turning her scarce credentials into strengths, despite the lack of resources, overworked staff and ruthless students. Throughout the series, she will make new discoveries and form unexpected connections, realizing that in order to survive, empathy is the best asset. 

The series is executive produced by Afolabi Kuti (Home, Youth), a BAFTA-winning producer, alongside Group M Motion Entertainment. Aboard the writing team is, Tyrell Williams (Time Bandits, Hoodocumentary), Yemi Oyefuwa (Smothered, Dreaming Whilst Black), and the script editor Jeremy Dyson (We Are Lady Parts, The Curse, Bad Education), Deadline notes. 

Kuti stated via Deadline, “We’re thrilled to be working with such a wildly funny and immensely talented cast. The magic they’ve created together is a pure joy to watch. It’s all testament to Delia’s brilliant writing and the extraordinary team effort that went into casting,” in regards to the cast and crew.

Chandran is repped at Gersh in the U.S. and  JAG in the UK, in addition to Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham, Deadline finally mentions.