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Continuing C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s commitment to the North of England, Damian Kavanagh, Controller C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, has announced his in-house drama line-up of new and returning series for next year and revealed that three series will be filmed in the region.

The diverse range of commissions, The 4 O'Clock Club, Young Dracula, Sadie J and Tracy Beaker Returns feature a tantalising mix of vampires, feisty teens, squabbling siblings and care home antics.

Damian Kavanagh said: "C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ is committed to providing children with a diverse range of quality home grown dramas. With fantasy, comedy, real life issues and even a spot of rapping covered in this quartet of new series I am confident there is something for everyone."

Sibling rivalry is the name of the game in The 4 O'Clock Club, a brand new 13x30 minute comedy drama punctuated with stylised raps. Nathan and Josh Carter are brothers who both attend the same school. They each like to have the upper hand, but things are not as simple as they sound, as Nathan is a teacher and Josh a pupil. Josh dreams of becoming a rapper but Nathan, having already struggled to succeed in this industry, knows only too well the pitfalls that lie ahead. Nathan is determined to try to stop his young brother from making the same mistakes he did. This sets the siblings on a collision course which, more often than not takes place in the school detention room, ironically nick-named the 4 O'Clock Club. Produced by Spencer Campbell with Connal Orton as executive producer, The 4 O'Clock club is due to start production in Bolton in the next few months and stars former rapper turned comedy actor Doc Brown.

By popular demand Young Dracula is swooping back to C³ÉÈËÂÛ̳. We pick up the story four years on and Vlad and the Count have fled from Stokely. Pursued by slayers and radical vampires alike, The Count and Vlad keep a low profile and "hide in plain sight" by buying a school. The Count is determined that Vlad fulfils his destiny to lead the vampire race, but this is threatened by The Count's own tendency to create mayhem and disaster on a daily basis and by the re-emergence of the anarchic Ingrid, who brings a trail of destruction in her wake.

An irreverent, gothic comedy, Young Dracula shines a mischievous light on family relationships and what it is to be a teenager trying to make his way in the world. The third 13x30 minute series will be filmed around Liverpool and promises some exciting new characters as well as the return of familiar favourites. The series is produced by Lis Steele and executive produced by Josephine Ward.

Sassy teen Sadie J is sidling back for a second series. The feisty teenage girl making her way in a male-dominated world returns for another helping of this studio-based comedy drama starring Georgia Lock and Mel Giedroyc. The 13x30 minute series will be filmed in the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ studios at Elstree and produced by Paul McKenzie and Simon Nelson; Gina Cronk is executive producer.

Finally, the already announced Tracy Beaker Returns will begin filming its third series in the summer. Dani Harmer and her co-stars will be returning to Newcastle to film the new 13x30 minute series following the ups and downs of a group of children and staff at a care home, known by the residents as The Dumping Ground. Series three promises more twists and turns for the home's inhabitants. The series is produced by Gina Cronk and executive produced by Josephine Ward.

VT