The Dumping Ground (series 5)

The Dumping Ground (series 5)
Series Five Title Card
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Release
Original network	CBBC CBBC HD
Original release	20 January 2017- Present
Series chronology
← Previous Series 4
List of The Dumping Ground episodes

The fifth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground will begin broadcasting on 20 January 2017 on CBBC. The series follows the lives of the children living in the fictional children's care home of Ashdene Ridge, nicknamed by them "The Dumping Ground". It consists of twenty-four, thirty-minute episodes, airing in two halves, respectively in January and Late 2017; it is the thirteenth series in the Tracy Beaker franchise.

In the first half of the series, long-running characters Bailey (Kasey McKellar), Mischief (Sage) and Kazima (Akuc Bol) departed the show, in episodes 2 and 12 respectively. Dexter (Alexander Aze) joins the show as a regular character, after being recurring in the previous two series.

New neighbours, The Umbleby's, move in and are surprised that they are living next to Ashdene Ridge, prompting them to record a crime log and hold a meeting. Sasha is annoyed with Bailey hanging around with Dexter, so gets her stepbrother Roddy to coach Dexter's football. Sasha finds out Roddy is a bad influence on Dexter by getting Dexter to help break in and that her mother is involved. Bailey and Mischief leave for college in the USA, taking Roddy's place. Ryan overhears a conversation between Mike and May-Li and thinks he is leaving and encourages the young people to hold a vote to choose who leaves, wanting Joseph to go. Joseph volunteers to go, but it's revealed Ryan was picked to represent the home at a theme park and Chloe tells Ryan she does not trust him. Chloe meets Candi-Rose, whilst shopping and Chloe claims she goes to boarding school, like her. Candi-Rose moves into The Dumping Ground and both are hurt with telling each other lies. Mr Umbleby is annoyed with Edward spending time on his guitar and with Kazima and Kazima chooses to keep away so Edward gets his guitar back. Jody and Tyler are surprised the young people see them as a couple, so Jody and Tyler arrange for him to ask Sophie from the skate park out, but they argue, however, Jody and Tyler want to remain friends. Archie becomes attached to May-Li, seeing her as a mum, but is reassured he is special and his phase is normal. Floss gets a part in a commercial and struggles to play a daughter without ever having a mother. The young people want money, so Mike suggests they split in teams to come up with and pitch a business. Floss decides she wants to be adopted, accepting her mum won't come for her. A parcel for Archie goes missing and Sasha decides to catch the culprit, who turns out to be Dexter. Billie and Toni suspect Archie is ageing backwards after singing an old song, but the parcel, from his father, explains why he believed he was ageing backwards. Sam,a careworker, is brought in to cover May-Li whilst she goes on holiday and Kazima makes friends with a homeless boy, Alex, who is living in a squat. Floss pretends she has magic powers after falling down the steps. Tyler undertakes work experience at a radio station and meets Ralph, a man who is refusing to sell his home to property developers, and Tyler's boss, Ms Bloomfield, shows Tyler what Ralph is being offered. Ralph tells Tyler he has memories of his late wife in the house. A public meeting about the potential closure of the skate park is held and the young people resort to banging pots and pans, but Chloe tells everyone what the skate park means to them. Alex turns up unexpectedly at The Dumping Ground with George, who is poorly, whilst on a farm trip, Dexter and Sam develop crushes on a farm employee, Anjli and try to impress her. Candi-Rose lets the animals out of their enclosures, but they are rounded up and George harshly rejects Alex, but tells Kazima he did it for Alex's sake. The young people aren't happy that Alex is allowed to stay. A new wardrobe for Kazima arrives, which Mike says is cursed, but Joseph gets trapped inside. Manny, a friend of Mike's relative, takes away the wardrobe with Joseph inside and Kazima and Ryan go to the docks to get Joseph. They think they are late when the boat leaves, but Joseph says he escaped through the back. Kazima receives a message on her online appeal from someone claiming to know where her father is and she later receives a video call from him. Kazima finds out he is in Denmark and wants her to join him, which she agrees to. Alex is hurt that Kazima is leaving, but Kazima gives him advice and in Denmark, she is reunited with her father and brother. Floss is pleased when she has nits and May-Li is the one who passed them on from her own children.