The well-loved BBC One drama Waterloo Road is back on screens for viewers to enjoy. It has been almost eight years since the show was last aired in 2015 and many viewers were delighted to see the show returning.
It was announced in 2021 that the show would be returning and the new series sees some familiar faces back in the show. Waterloo Road joins the list of great dramas airing in January 2023 including Happy Valley, which you can read about here, and Stonehouse on ITV, click here for more on that.
Here is everything you need to know about the new series of Waterloo Road.
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When does Waterloo Road begin on BBC One?
Waterloo Road will return to BBC One on Tuesday, January 3. The episode will air at 8pm and the series is expected to continue airing on BBC One on Tuesday nights at 8pm. All previous series and the full series of Waterloo Road will be available on iPlayer.
What is the Waterloo Road plot?
As a new school year begins, a peaceful protest turns into a school riot and the events of the day will have huge ramifications for everyone involved. Across the term, Waterloo Road’s teachers and parents are going to have to learn on their feet as they try to navigate the ever-changing social landscape - from teen homelessness to the cost of living, being LGBTQ+, racism, sexism, mental health and everything else facing young teens today.
Amongst the chaos, the students, faculty and parents still make time for friendships, fun, and a few romances. The pupils have a lot to contend with this term, but they will learn to lean on one another to survive the year and try to stay out of detention as much as possible.
Riots, scandals, fractured families and challenging kids – for Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) and her team, fire-fighting is a way of life.
Who is in the Waterloo Road cast?
Kym Marsh as Nicky Walters
Famous for her role as Michelle Connor in the ITV soap Coronation Street Kym Marsh will be stepping into the role of Nicky Walters. Nicky is a dinner lady and mum to two children at the school. Recently Kym has starred in The Syndicate and presented her own show Murder at My Door with Kym Marsh.
Angela Griffin as Kim Campbell
Angela Griffin has starred in Waterloo Road since the very first series, with her character, the art teacher Kim Campbell, leaving and reappearing in the show multiple times. Kim is now back as the headteacher of Waterloo Road. Since Waterloo Road viewers last saw her, Angela has starred in the ITV detective drama Lewis and the Channel 4 drama Help. Angela has also recently had her own radio show on Radio 2 on Sunday nights.
Katie Griffiths as Chlo Charles
Also appearing in the show in the first series, as a pupil at the school, is Katie Griffiths as Chlo Charles. Chlo had a very rocky romance with Donte Charles. Katie remained in Waterloo Road until series four and has since appeared in the BBC medical drama Casualty and Doctors.
Adam Thomas as Donte Charles
One of the top stars to come out of Waterloo Road is Adam Thomas, who played and will resume playing Donte Charles. Adam has gone on to star in Emmerdale from 2009 to 2018 and took part in the 2016 series of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!
Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell
A new cast member of the show is Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell, the personal assistant to headteacher Kim Campbell. Previously Jo starred in the BBC soap EastEnders but playing Wendy is her biggest role to date.
Vincent Jerome as Lindon King
Sharing the role of Deputy Head is Lindon King, who will be played by Vincent Jerome. Vincent has starred in the 2020 film Wonder Woman 1984 and the 2017 film Transformers: The Last Knight.
James Baxter as Joe Casey
Working alongside Lindon in the role of joint Deputy Head is Joe Casey played by James Baxter. He is known for his roles in Alma's Not Normal, the BBC comedy Still Open All Hours, and Red Dwarf.
Sonia Ibrahim as Jamilah Omar
Another Coronation Street actress to join the cast is Sonia Ibrahim as Jamilah Omar, the school's social worker. Previously Sonia has starred in Coronation Street and Whiskey Cavalier.
Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers
Taking on the role of music teacher Valerie Chambers is Shauna Shim. Before Waterloo Road Shauna had starred in the BBC medical drama Holby City and The Worst Witch.
Neil Fitzmaurice as Neil Guthrie
In the role of Neil Guthrie, the school caretaker is Neil Fitzmaurice who is an actor, comedian, and writer. He has starred in the Channel 4 sitcom Peep Show, Clink, and The First Team.
Rachel Leskovac as Coral Walker
English teacher Coral Walker will be played by Rachel Leskovac who has also been in Coronation Street. As well as Coronation Street Rachel has been in Holby City and Hollyoaks.
Katherine Pearce as Amy Spratt
Recently starring in Rules of the Game, Katherine Pearce will be playing early careers teacher Amy Spratt. Katherine has also starred in Coronation Street as Lolly in 2019 and in the ITV detective drama Vera.
Ryan Clayton as Mike Rutherford
Mike Rutherford, who is played by Ryan Clayton, is a police sergeant and married to Joe the deputy head, they have two foster children who attend Waterloo Road. Previously Ryan has starred in Coronation Street and Two Wrongs.
Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis
Adam Abbou plays Danny who has had a difficult time at home. At school, headteacher Kim does all she can to support Danny and help him to get back on track. He promises not to let her and Val down, but it might not be a promise he’s able to keep. Adam's other credits include Casualty, The Rising and Time.
Priyasasha Kumari as Samia Choudry
Taking on the role of Samia Choudry is Priyasasha Kumari. Samia is the other half of the Year 11 Golden Couple, with Preston Walters. On paper Preston is her perfect match – but the more she thinks about it, the more she’s starting to realise their relationship is based largely on looks and not much else. Priyasasha has starred in Olivia Twist and Doctors.
Noah Valentine as Preston Walters
Dating Samia is Preston Walkers who is being played by Noah Valentine. Preston is ace at sports, bright, popular and incredibly good-looking – he seems to have it all or did have it all. Noah has starred in Creeped Out and Emmerdale.
Adam Ali as Khalil 'Kai' Sharif
Feeling stifled at home is Kai Sharif, who is played by Adam Ali. Kai is a basketball ace with Dennis Rodman good looks and his own flamboyant style on the court – and in life. Easy in his own skin, he’s comfortably gay and pretty camp – even if he does tone it down a bit at home. Adam has starred in Baba and Little America.
Alicia Forde as Kelly-Jo Rafferty
Troublemaker Kelly-Jo Rafferty is being played by Alicia Forde. Kelly-Jo loves disruption, and all the staff dread having her in their lessons. It’s not that she's not bright, she really is, she just can’t concentrate. Kelly-Jo Rafferty has starred in Ryan Can't Read and The Painter & The Poet.
Francesco Piacentini-Smith as Dean Weaver
Francesco Piacentini-Smith is playing Dean Weaver. Dean Weaver suits his name. A ducker and a weaver, into all sorts; like a modern-day Artful Dodger, who only eats bread, chips and crisps, preferably slathered in mayo. Previously Francesco has starred in The Nest and Mayday.
Liam Scholes as Noel McManus
Dean's best friend is Noel McManus, who is played by Liam Scholes. Big daft Noel is Dean Weaver’s best mate and lives just down the road from him on the estate. Often finding himself in the same trouble as Dean (and always caused by Dean), Noel is more likely to swerve serious consequences due to his cheeky charm and boundless good humour. Liam has starred in Peaky Blinders and Coronation Street.
Where was Waterloo Road filmed?
Waterloo Road was filmed in Manchester, Salford and Greater Manchester. The series has returned to Manchester after filming for the previous series took place in Scotland.
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