Hello everyone! Okay, so I posted earlier about the project Beverley Terrace. I did write a few episodes, but I felt that they weren't up to my best standard and wanted to prove to myself that I can make it worth while. That's when Ashwood came about. Ashwood is a small hidden village on the coastline of North-East London. Cut off from the rest of the city, this village is home to a group of villagers who live within the small community, knowing each others business and prime to the family affairs on conflicts that they bring with them.

I wanted this project to be personal, thus I have written drafts of storylines that relate to things that have happened in my life, whether to me or in the environment around me. This means that I am able to write honestly about the feelings experienced, and be able to connect more with the storyline.

Schedule

I have given myself the target of writing up to 50 episodes, each episode being posted here on Fridays at 8:00 PM. This means that the last episode will take place Christmas next year, unless I decide to continue which may happen. Right now I will focus on my target, but closer to the time I will take time to think about whether I want to continue the project. Of course, it also reflects off of your feedback and if the response to the series is good.

The first four episodes have been written up, with scripts being written at least a month prior to the airing of the episode to give me time to change and swap things from previous episodes as I go along.

Setting

In the centre of the village is a park, with the local café sitting directly in front. To the right is a small restaurant called Maniseta, owned by character Candice Maniseta who simply wants to move on and make something of her life after the year anniversary of a terrible tragedy strikes. Two curved streets of houses point away from the centre, with several bigger homes being given their own space, dotted around the village. Aerial shots show endless fields surrounding the village, adding to its "hidden town" effect. Within the village is also a church and an accompanying graveyard, and a train track that runs across Cliff's Edge, coincidentally named after Cliff Holmes who had committed suicide by jumping off the cliff.

Community

Campbell family
- Jake Campbell (Daniel Coonan, EastEnders)
- Mikey Campbell (George Sergeant, EastEnders)

Jake and his son both have hard-edged personalities and have always had a close bond, as Mikey had never got on with his mother when he was younger. Relationship strains forced Jake to split with his wife and move out with Mikey, with the two deciding to settle in Ashwood for a fresh start.

Dean family
- Gerry Dean (Roger Sloman, EastEnders)
- Samuel Dean (Ross Kemp, EastEnders)
- Terry Dean (Terry Alderton, EastEnders)
- Reinette Wood (Laila Rouass, Holby City)
- Laila Dean (Aine Garvey, EastEnders)

Samuel and Terry are twin brothers who have found it difficult to bond since they can remember. Although their father Gerry is keen on making the two see eye-to-eye, Samuel is jealous of Terry's wealth and family life after his family had left him. Terry is a family guy, who cares a lot about the wellbeing of his girlfriend, Reinette, and their daughter Laila.

Dickson/Walker family
- Anthony Walker (Nick Pickard, Hollyoaks)
- Diana Dickson (Emma Atkins, Emmerdale)
- Millie Dickson (Madeline Duggan, EastEnders)
- Kyle Beaumont (Jody Latham, EastEnders), affiliate

Anthony and Diana are the perfect happy couple, and are keen on playing happy families with Diana's daughter from her previous marriage with Kyle. Set to be getting married in Easter, Diana feels like there is an unnecessary strain between her and Anthony and feels like a baby will bring them closer together, but is it ever that easy?

Egan family
- Dave Egan (Sean Gallagher, EastEnders)
- Aaron Egan (Matt Di Angelo, EastEnders)
- Ben Egan (Nathan Sykes, N/A)

The Egan family has always been loose. Since Dave separated from his wife, his relationship with his two sons had taken its toll, pushing Aaron away and forcing him to say spiteful things and exchange harsh insults. Ben puts a plan into action to bring his family together again, but there's no saying how it will turn out.

Gibson/Young family
- Owen Young (Shane Ritchie, EastEnders)
- Polly Gibson (Kirsty-Leigh Porter, Hollyoaks)

Owen and Polly are the next big couple. They live in and own the local café in the village’s centre and are known by the entire community. However, Polly is unsure of where their relationship is going when Owen refuses to speak about his past, and never mention his family who live in Hertfordshire.

Hardman/Johnson family
- Denise Hardman (Lindsey Coulson, EastEnders)
- Glinda Hardman (Danniella Westbrooke, EastEnders)
- Russell "Russ" Johnson (James Forde, EastEnders)

Russ' teenage lifestyle provides angst for his mother, Glinda, who is worried about her son's inability to speak up about his feelings. Although Glinda's mother Denise reminds her often that Russ is a teenager and that's what they do, Glinda is still hesitant and saddened that Russ may have finally had enough of her.

Ranstone family
- Gemma Ranstone (Lin Blakley, EastEnders)
- Peter Ranstone (William Roache, Coronation Street)

Gemma and Peter are childhood sweethearts, and have grown up together in the village of Ashwood in order to follow in the footsteps of their descendants. The Ranstone family alongside the Maniseta family are iconic to the village, and have lived amongst the fields for centuries. Gemma brings a maternal instinct to the village, having never had children.

Singular characters
- Candice Maniseta (Charley Webb, Emmerdale)
- Kieron Anderson (Adam Fielding, Emmerdale)
- Ella Cartwood (Sammy Winward, Emmerdale)
- Carly Mellen (Kym Marsh, Coronation Street)
- Claire Dawson (Claire Rushbrook, N/A)
- Katie Gibbins (Jenna Coleman, Emmerdale)

Website
Opening Titles

If there’s any more information you wish to know or suggestions you have, feel free to post them below or private message me!

Ashwood was conceived through an original idea called "Beverley Terrace", centring around fewer than twelve characters and their lives in the town. The premise of the show has since changed, carrying many names such as "Yellow Plains" and "Ashbrook" before Ashwood was settled on.
Full Article

Characters


Episode 1 - 9 January 2014
Mikey and Russ' chaotic plan unfolds, but Russ is worried about the consequences. Candice is unsure about her attempt to move on when her past continues to haunt her, and Diana has a proposal for her fiancé.

Episode 1 Cast List


Episode 2 - 16 January 2014
Russ is nerved when he realises the devastation that he has caused, and recent events force Diana to make a heartbreaking decision. Meanwhile, Aaron's actions take their toll on Ben.

Episode 2 Cast List


Episode 3 - 23 January 2014
Ben's behaviour provides even bigger consequences for his family, but will he speak out? Samuel and Terry decide to bury the hatchet, and Reinette makes a shocking discovery in her own home.

Episode 3 Cast List


Episode 4 - 30 January 2014
Mikey is confused by his latest discovery, and decides to let Jake in on his ordeal. Elsewhere, Ben is left bewildered at Dave's latest actions, and Polly advices Reinette to face her demons.

Episode 4 Cast List

Reinette is sitting at a table in the café when Polly walks over, carrying two mugs of tea. “Right then. Are you going to tell me what’s wrong or do you want me to guess?” Polly asks sternly as Reinette responds with a smile. “It’s nothing, honestly.” She says. Polly sits down opposite her. “Are you telling me, that I’ve been watching you for the last hour drooping over nothing? This may work with Terry, the blindest bat of them all, but it doesn’t flow by me.”

What's Reinette hiding?
Watch as the drama unfolds in the fourth episode on 30 January.

Ashwood premieres this Friday, 9 January, at 8pm.