Cast of Educating Essex (5)
I believe the answer is:
tinge
'cast' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'of educating essex' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates a hidden word.
'TINGE' can be found hidden inside 'educating essex'.
(Other definitions for tinge that I've seen before include "Slight but perceptible amount" , "suggestion" , "Hint; shade" , "Suffuse" , "Hint of colour" .)