educating yorkshire cast now
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News Channel 4 Educating Yorkshire

Here’s where the Educating Yorkshire stars are now, from Bailey to Tom and Musharaf

These guys are literally unforgettable

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ByHelen Williams

2nd October 2025, 13:40

Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire came with some tear-jerking moments and unforgettable characters. Now, the show is back.

The 2013 documentary series gave us a raw, heartfelt look into the lives of students and staff at Thornhill Community Academy in Dewsbury. From Musharaf’s inspiring speech to Bailey’s bold eyebrows, the show captured moments that stayed with us long after the credits rolled.

But what about the stars of the show? Where are they now? Let’s catch up with some of the most memorable faces from Educating Yorkshire.

Bailey Hill

Bailey Hill was one of the most talked-about students at the time, and yes, it was those unforgettable eyebrows that had everyone tweeting.

Since leaving Thornhill, Bailey’s leaned into the beauty world. She trained as a hairdresser, built her own beauty business, and often shares tips and tutorials on Instagram.

She’s proof that you really can take something people once teased you about and turn it into your calling card. Bailey’s thriving, and her confidence has only grown since those school days.

Hannah Barraclough

While Bailey found her niche in beauty, Hannah Barraclough’s path has been more under the radar.

She stuck with education after her GCSEs, focusing on her studies and moving into further education. Hannah doesn’t court publicity much, but she’s often name-checked in retrospectives about the show.

She’s a reminder that not everyone from Educating Yorkshire wanted to live in the spotlight, and that’s okay.

Tom Foster

Tom Foster became an instant fan favourite for his cheeky personality and love of turning every situation into a joke. He kept his Year 10 classmates entertained, even if his teachers weren’t always laughing. The show highlighted some of his tricky moments in class.

Tom was also dealing with some difficulties in his personal life at the time. Looking back in 2020, he told Yorkshire Live he had no regrets about how the show portrayed him.

At 22 years old, he said: “Since school I haven’t done much really, just college for two years then work…”

“I’ve mainly worked in a warehouse but I’ve done a bit of everything, engineering, painting, you name it. I’m 100% happy with how the show portrayed me.

“That’s exactly who I am, loud, outgoing and always trying to make people laugh. Looking back at my episode… I saw a lot of acting from teachers to make out like they were always very nice.”

Robbie Joe Smith

Robbie Joe was one of those students everyone rooted for. Since leaving school, he’s taken a quieter route, keeping much of his personal life private.

Looking back on his time a year on from Educating Yorkshire, he said: “Now, I realise fun and games are for break time,” he added he’d “tell his younger self to get his head down.”

Musharaf Asghar

Over a decade since Musharaf ‘Mush’ Asgharappeared on Educating Yorkshire the first time, he returned for the 2025 series and it’s safe to say he had the nation’s heart once again.

Who could forget Mush? His story was one of the most moving parts of the entire series.

Mush struggled with a severe stammer, and viewers were left in tears when his teacher, Mr Burton, encouraged him to use headphones playing music (inspired by The King’s Speech) to help him deliver a speech to his classmates.

It was one of those TV moments that stuck with people for years.

Since the show, Mush has continued to inspire. He went on to university, studied journalism, and built a strong social media following where he talks openly about living with a stammer and breaking down stigmas around speech difficulties.

He’s given motivational talks, worked with charities, and even popped back on our screens for TV appearances over the years.

Mush’s journey has made him one of the most loved faces from the series.

Mr Burton

You can’t talk about Mush without talking about Mr Matthew Burton, the English teacher who guided him through that life-changing moment. Mr Burton became something of a national treasure after Educating Yorkshire, praised for his compassion and teaching style.

After the series, he continued to work in education and eventually became headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy itself, talk about a full-circle moment. He’s since gone on to appear on TV and in the media, speaking about teaching, education reform, and, of course, his time on Educating Yorkshire.

Mr Burton has written columns, popped up on shows like This Morning, and remains passionate about improving opportunities for young people. For many, he’s still the heart of the series.

Mr Steer

Another memorable face from the series was Mr Steer, the maths teacher with a tough-love approach that divided opinion among viewers. He became known for his stern but fair teaching style.

After the cameras left Thornhill, Mr Steer carried on in education and continued to be a well-respected figure among students and colleagues alike. While he hasn’t sought the media spotlight in the same way as Mr Burton, he’s still remembered fondly by fans of the show as one of the standout teachers who gave Educating Yorkshire its edge.

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