Rush focuses on the lives of six students at a mainstream college – on their relationships and their ambitions, and on their struggle to make sense of their lives.

Rush is written and directed by Ray Harrison Graham and produced by Hilary Durman, who together with Cilla Ware created the award-winning dramas Strong Language (Japan Prize, Prix Jeunesse) and Dream On (BAFTA and Royal Television Society).

The story so far

Rush focuses on the lives of six students at a mainstream college – on their relationships and their ambitions, and on their struggle to make sense of their lives.

Rush is written and directed by Ray Harrison Graham and produced by Hilary Durman, who together with Cilla Ware created the award-winning dramas Strong Language (Japan Prize, Prix Jeunesse) and Dream On (BAFTA and Royal Television Society).

Kelly has had a traumatic time. Her mother Vicky thought she was jealous of her relationship with Alan, but there was more to it than that. At the end of the first series, the truth is finally revealed: Alan has sexually abused her.

Kelly's friend Adam is the sort of person others depend on. He's always been very fond of Kelly and protective towards her; he also fancies her.

Adam is also very close to Troy, who has been in a deep dilemma about having a cochlear implant. Troy is a talented basketball player but has been overlooked in favour of hearing players. Troy's hearing uncle, Errol, challenges Troy to forget Deaf politics and embrace his Black identity – and go ahead with the operation. But at the end of the first series, Troy seemed to put the issue of the implant behind him.

Nicky is the bad boy of the group. Funny and clever but easily bored and unable to focus, he has a disturbed family background. In trouble with the law over a string of incidents, at the end of the first series he is waiting for a court appearance that will decide his future.

Mel is partially deaf and is caught between the deaf and hearing worlds. She hangs out with hearing men, and one particular married man gives her a lot of pain. Her drinking and partying with her hearing friends makes her miss college and get behind with her studies. Challenged by the teacher, Michael, she tries to discredit him by accusing him of sexual harassment, and he is suspended. It is Mel who spitefully reveals Kelly's eating disorder to the others.

Maya is always the big sister to her friends, supporting Kelly, advising Nicky and finally encouraging Michael to face up to the conflict between his openness about Deaf issues and his secrecy about his own sexuality. Maya is strong, warm-hearted and very direct, attacking Mel for her lies about Michael and her spitefulness to Kelly.

Maya is worshipped by Nigel, the caretaker, who mentally transforms her into Xena, Warrior Princess, every time he sees her. Nigel hangs around the students in an endearing, clumsy way, telling bad jokes and stories.

Annie, Michael's teaching colleague, wants a relationship with him and can't understand why he keeps his distance. She supports him when he is suspended after Mel's accusation of sexual harassment.

Finally Michael decides to go public about his sexuality at a party after a BSL march. The first series ends here, with Michael's reputation cleared and a sense of new beginnings.

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