The Dumping Ground (series 8)

With Mike gone, the day arrives for a new head care worker to be appointed. May-Li is hoping to be promoted, so to make sure she is, Jody makes sure the kids don't step out of line so she gets the job. However, Floss sees that May-Li is basing her case study presentation on Jody including everything she's been through and even her personal information. When she learns about this, Jody is furious and rebels against May-Li, stopping her from giving her presentation and forcing her to resign. Another man, Al, becomes head care worker instead. This makes everyone else hate Jody but Jody ignores them.

While on a tour with a well known street artist, Sasha discovers that his latest piece is almost identical to a piece she has made for her college exhibition. Convinced the artist, K'Alias, has stolen her idea, she enlists Tyler and Jody's help to try and prove it. While on another tour of his studio, she discovers a picture of him in front of her work, solidifying her suspicions. After angrily confronting him, during which he claims to not even remember any of her work, she storms out. Now convinced she has wasted her life trying to be an artist, Sasha proceeds to vandalise K'Alias' piece. Elsewhere, Candi-Rose decides to take up vlogging, wanting to try and gain large numbers of followers. She is dismayed to learn that her own efforts are attracting little attention and most of her followers are down to Finn and Sid making their own vlog on hers. Finn assures her that she doesn't need the attention of anonymous people online as she is already liked by everyone in the house, cheering her up greatly. Meanwhile, Floss has a row with Scott about an upcoming trip and writes an angry note saying he should be sacked in retaliation. After hearing him talk about her more leniently she regrets it and tries to get the note back, only to learn that he had already seen it. Sasha gets a visit from K'Alias, who assures her that it can be difficult to find someone has already thought of your idea, but that she shouldn't give up her dream because one piece didn't work out. He offers to be her mentor, and Sasha accepts. Together the pair properly unveil K'Alias' piece, with Sasha's sprayed additions still in place.

Floss meets a dream family who want to foster her. The Mum and sister in the family seem perfect so Floss looks at her weaknesses to try and become the perfect daughter but it doesn't go to plan. Meanwhile, new girl Viv arrives and she and Sasha get competitive on a challenge about general knowledge on the other young people and both soon become enemies whist Scott and Jay become competitive in yoga.

First Appearance: Chloe Lea as Viv

Tyler discovers from his step-dad that his real Dad has passed, away. He doesn't care at first as his Dad left Tyler and his Mum when Tyler was just a baby but later learns that his father came back and lived nearby. Tyler and his step-dad explore his Dad's flat and learn more about him and Tyler finally starts to feel the impact on him because of his Dad's death and discovers that he needs help from family and friends to get through life. Meanwhile, Sasha notices how some of the YP need money as their allowances have run out and as Sasha has spare, they start asking for loans and Sasha and Jay eventually start off their loan bank. However, Sasha uses almost all her money on loans and can't afford to buy tickets for a concert she wants to go to and soon finds herself begging for loans. Taz discovers her Dad was unable to pay for his electricity bills and uses her talent for playing the piano to raise money for him so he can afford the bills.

Tired of being considered a "goody two shoes", Chloe decides to become a "fixer" in the DG, forcing her to take huge risks to get the other kids out of trouble. Meanwhile, after spending the day with Alex, Finn decides that he wants to live with him but soon realises that it isn't as simple as it seems. Elsewhere Sid's ventriloquist dummy is taken and held to ransom, forcing him to provide different treats to get him back.

Guest Appearance: Connor Lawson as Alex Walker

Tyler is offered the chance to go to St. Lucia to live with his Mum but because of the ongoing relationship between him and Jody, he can't risk leaving Jody behind. Sid observes them kissing and when word gets to May-Li and Scott about this, they make life harder for Jody and Tyler - separating them in order to keep them both at the DG. Meanwhile, Jay tries to prove to new boy Nazeer that he practically owns the DG.

Tyler and Jody prepare to go to the airport and have a life in St. Lucia together but when they realize that Jody's passport is sill at Ashdene Ridge, they risk going back there, break in (with help from Elektra who is helping the pair get to the airport) and collect it but are spotted by May-Li. She arranges for Tyler and Jody to go to St. Lucia but the threat of leaving her old life and her friends behind stops Jody from going and Tyler ends up going to St. Lucia with Jody staying behind. Meanwhile, the DG olympics begin and the two groups get rival in the olympics.

Last Appearance: Miles Butler-Hughton as Tyler Lewis

Bec becomes friends with new girl Ruby after seeing the similarities between them but this leads to shocking discoveries. Meanwhile, Scott realizes he's being strict and boring to the kids so he tries to make it more fun for them which makes everything worse. Jay reads a love story given by Candi-Rose (in order for money) and tries to convince everyone that he isn't getting into it.

First Appearance: Liv De-Vulgt as Ruby Butler

Scott encounters a girl stealing from a food bank and goes to approach her about it. After she tells him about her situation, he becomes determined to help, only to discover not all is as it seems. Meanwhile, Candi-Rose feels that she and Chloe have nothing in common anymore and decides to divorce their friendship, whilst Sid and newcomer Max try to make the house as safe as possible.

First Appearance: Jed Jefferson as Max

During a power cut on Halloween night, Jay, Bird and Viv decide to scare the others with ghost stories. Though they delight in scaring the little ones, the trio find themselves in a scary situation themselves as everyone prepares to go trick-or-treating.

Absent: Jed Jefferson as Max

After a visit with her mum, Katy wants do more to support her and she and Jody try to find her. Meanwhile, Viv tries to give the other kids good advice and Scott's lottery ticket gets the whole DG searching for it.

Jody is looking forward to spending a day doing work experience with her brother Luke, but she soon learns that it won't be all fun and games as she had hoped. Meanwhile, Candi-Rose invites a social media influencer to the house after winning a competition, while Scott finds himself distracted by an online game.

Jay and Bird encounter their dad, who tries to convince them he's changed and that they can be a family again. While Jay believes him, Bird continues to distrust him, leading to the truth about their dad's claims coming out, along with a bigger, more personal bombshell. Meanwhile, Taz is convinced a monster is on the loose in the house, whilst Sid and Max try to learn new survival skills.

After a run-in with a rival at the boxing club, Jody is accused of physical assault. As she struggles to control her anger, she fears she may have more in common with her family than she hoped. Meanwhile, Scott tries to challenge the idea that he's forgetful, while Viv enlists Candi-Rose's help to make a film about the DG.

Finn spends the day doing work experience at the local hospital. As he goes about trying to help both his supervisor and an elderly patient with their problems, he finds himself struggling to work out what he wants to do with his own life, causing him to retreat to his imagination to assess his options.

Absent: Annabelle Davis as Sasha Bellman

Departed: Ava Potter as Bec Hyde