Original Waterloo Road star Jason Merrells will return to his old role in the rebooted series.
The actor played headteacher Jack Rimmer in the first series of the Greater Manchester-based show until he resigned in the third season to take up a similar role in Dubai.
New episodes will see him return to the show as a counsellor, living in Manchester, and no longer working in education.
Merrells said he left the show “with very fond memories of building a character in such a great ensemble and with such an important story”.
“When I saw the renewed interest from another generation – who weren’t born when we made the original – I was heartened and surprised,” he added.
“Jack Rimmer was probably my favourite long-running character I’ve played on television, and going back for this new incarnation to tell this story of who Jack has become over the intervening years has been an absolute pleasure.
“It’s a different building but the same ethos, drama, humour and integrity are still in place. It felt like coming home.”
The soap was axed in 2014 before returning in 2023 for an 11th series and other characters have since returned to the show including pupil-turned-caretaker Donte Charles played by Adam Thomas, who remains a leading cast member.
Cameron Roach, founder of production company Rope Ladder Fiction and executive producer for Waterloo Road, said: ‘The very possibility of Jason reviving the character of Jack Rimmer has always excited our writing team – to see it happen has been explosive.
“We know how much the OG (original) fans will love the reappearance of Jack but for the new era it brings incredible story twists that fans new and old will enjoy. The cast and crew have loved Jason’s return to the show and we know the audience will too.”
A clip released by the BBC previewing February’s series revealed that the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake (Lindsey Coulson), who takes over the role from Steve Savage played by comedian and actor Jason Manford, will ask Jack for his help.
Jack’s storylines on the show involved him acting as a stabilising force during some of the school’s most difficult early years, as well as his romances with Davina Shackleton (Christine Tremarco) and other staff.
Merrells is also known for appearing in Emmerdale, Happy Valley, Clocking Off and Queer As Folk.
Waterloo Road returns in February to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
