Jody Jackson

**merly Jody Gray)** was a main character in *The Dumping Ground*.

Jody is a prankster, just like her best friend, and later boyfriend, Tyler Lewis. She is often joking around and pulling pranks on other people. Despite this, she really cares for other people and is often willing to help them if they ask or could get into trouble. She does have behavioural problems but in series 9 went to counselling sessions to get help. But apart from this, Jody is an extremely caring and sweet friend to others who is need of help.

## Physical Appearance

Jody is a girl of medium height and appears quite slim. She has long straight brown hair, brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. When she first arrived at the Dumping Ground, she appeared scruffy and dirty, having been neglected by her mother. She mainly wore a brown fleecy jacket with brown cropped trousers in Season one. From Season two onwards, she switched to wearing t shirts with skinny jeans or leggings, and zip-up jackets.

## History

### **Before the Show**

Jody lived with her mother and her two brothers before they were put in prison and she was sent into care.

### **Series 1**

Jody leaves Ashdene Ridge for a small period of time in series 1 to go back with her mum and brothers.However,she goes back to Ashdene Ridge after Carmen and Tyler save her using morse code when Kingsley (her abusive older brother) locks her in her room.

### **Series 5**

*TBA*

**Series 6**

Episodes 1 and 2- **Jody on the ropes** and **Saved by the bell :(Main focus 2 parter)**

In series 6 Jody sees her mum Denise out of proper contact.This is because her mum gets a new boyfriend called Grant. Grant appears to be a kind and considarate man.Denise uses Jody to impress Grant and make it seem like they are a perfect family.This makes it seem to Grant as if Jody was never in care, that Kingsley her abusive brother never existed and that her mum Denise never went to prison.Jody is under a lot of pressure to help her mum impress Grant.This makes her really angry and she resorts to taking it out on the other residents in the house.May-Li takes her boxing to help with her anger.She gets invited to a ballet matinee with Grant and her mum,but doesn't go because she feels like she can't lie anymore. She walks back into Ashdene Ridge see her in the dress and laugh.She confesses to a concerned Sasha,telling her what is happening with her mum and Grant.Sasha does not react as Jody would expect so she tells her to get out of her room.Archie knocks on the door of Jody's room but she thinks it's Sasha and kicks the door,but she kicks Archie instead.Archie's nose bleeds,making him shiver as he has a phobia of blood.Jody is called into the living room by Mike and May-Li to discuss the situation between her and Archie and the residents are complaining about her. They then go to the office and dicuss Jody's placement in Ashdene Ridge. The pressure of lying gets to her too much and she runs away from Ashdene Ridge and sleeps on the street for the night.All the residents are worried about her and Alex,Tyler and Sasha go out to try and find her.Quickly the news of her disappearence is spread to the police and local area.Jody goes back to her mums house as Grant is worried about her being missing.When Jody arrives,Grant says she has already been reported missing by her childrens home.Denise tries to blame the reason Jody is in care is because she (Jody)brought it on herself. Denise says to Grant that she (Jody) was up all hours,stealing and driving cars.Jody gets angry and explains that she is in care because of Kingsley locking her up and Denise going to prison.Denise denies this by saying that Jody has no brothers,implying that n brothers used to lock Jody in her room and that she never went to prison.Grant and Denise break up when Jody finds a picture of her mum and brothers together.Denise finally admits it to Grant and Grant breaks up with her,telling Denise that she should be ashamed of herself for blaming her own daughter.He says if Denise was honest with him at the beggining of the relationship he could've maybe handled it.He shows sypmpathy to Jody by patting her on the shoulder.Denise is angry by this and tells Jody that she hates her.Jody is upset by this and she visits the boxing gym.She goes to the same one that May-Li took her to the day before, prior to running away.One of May-Li's friends see Jody and let May-Li know that they have found Jody.May-Li talks to her and reassures her that evreyone in the house likes her despite her being angry anfd that she can .Jody goes back to Ashdene Ridge with May-Li and explains everything to Mike and May-Li. Her mum comes into the office of Ashdene Ridge and says sorry to Jody and tells her that she loves her and that she is her baby.Jody tells her mum that even though she (Denise) loves her it's not enough.Then her mum leaves Ashdene Ridge regretting what has happened.

## Trivia

* She is a really good break dancer.
* She enjoys boxing and uses it as a way to control her anger issues.
* She is one of the longest standing residents of The Dumping Ground