<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> ← Previous Series 4 Next → Series 6 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> List of The Dumping Ground episodes </Td> </Tr> <P> The fifth series of the British children's television series The Dumping Ground began 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 - two, thirty - minute episodes, airing in two halves, respectively in January and October 2017; it is the thirteenth series in the Tracy Beaker franchise . </P> <P> 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 . In the second half of the series, Billie and Toni Trent (Gwen and Nelly Currant) left the series in episode 16 . Former regular cast members Mia McKenna - Bruce, Joe Maw and Jessica Revell all return for guest appearances in episodes 21 and 22 in the second half of the series, reprising their roles as Tee Taylor, Johnny Taylor and Elektra Perkins . Chris Slater returned in episode 22 as Frank Matthews . </P>

When does the new dumping ground come out