Educating Yorkshire favourite reunites with teacher in emotional Channel 4 scenes

Educating Yorkshire fans are set to watch a tear-jerking moment in tonight's episode (28 September) as a star pupil is returning to Thornhill Academy and reuniting with the teacher who changed his life.

Fans of the original series will remember Musharaf Asghar, the pupil with a debilitating stammer. Twelve years ago, English teacher Matt Burton, who is now the headteacher of Thornhill, helped Musharaf overcome his stammer in front of the whole school. Now a journalist and keynote speaker, Musharaf returned to the school to talk to the Year 11s and had an emotional reunion with his teacher.

As the two embraced in the school hallway, Matt recalled how he had helped Musharaf years earlier and the amazing moment when everything clicked for the then teenager. "We were having a bit of a practise of speaking and listening, just trying a few things out. And I think at that point we were going through a phase of him trying to almost tap the words out and get a rhythm going.

"But the massive game-changer was putting the headphones on and putting some music on. And I remember just being absolutely blown away. Completely and utterly blown away."

READ MORE: Get an £83 Perricone MD serum free in this £50 dermatologist-approved beauty box

Musharaf had come back to the school for a "mystery guest assembly" to inspire the anxious students about to sit their GCSEs. He told them what life was like for him when he went to Thornhill and was first diagnosed with his speech impediment.

"After visiting the doctor's surgery, I got told I couldn't ever speak fluently ever again," he explained. "I thought if I couldn't get these words out, I couldn't achieve anything at all in life."

He went on to add that having Matt to help and support him meant he was able to push through and finally deliver a speech to his classmates in what was "one of the best moments" of his life. That speech was emotional for everyone, as Musharaf's classmates broke down in tears and gave him a standing ovation.

"Being in that classroom, and having a teacher that put all that time and effort into making sure that you could speak, and finally getting those words out - it was one of the best moments I could ever sort of have or live.

"And I guess, for me, it was having a friend who was in my corner, having a person that really pushed me and believed in me. And I realised that if I actually put the time and the effort in, I can get these words out."

Musharaf featured in the first series of the documentary show in 2013. Then, it was a follow-up to the Bafta-winning 2011 series Educating Essex. The popular show was brought back by Channel 4, focusing on the same school in the Yorkshire town of Dewsbury.

Educating Yorkshire airs Sunday on Channel 4 at 8pm

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads .