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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Ellie Kemp

Waterloo Road series 12: release date, cast and how to watch as BBC drama returns

Waterloo Road is returning for its twelfth series, following its successful reboot which aired earlier this year.

The popular BBC school drama ran from 2006 to 2015 before being taken off air, but was revived back in January with faces old and new. In September 2021, broadcast bosses announced that the drama, which is filmed and set in Greater Manchester, would be making its much anticipated return.

Now, the show will be picking up where it left off - with plenty more drama on the way for both the pupils and staff members during its seven episodes. Former deputy head Andrew Treneman, played by Jamie Glover, will also be making a return this series.

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Some fresh faces will grace our screens, as new boy Myles Massey, played by Osian Morgan, joins the school after being let go by a football academy. He is struggling to come to terms with life back in mainstream education and soon makes it clear that he’s not there to make friends.

Elsewhere, love is in the air this term as new couples get together and hidden feelings come to the surface. As ever, the staff and students are all navigating life at school while dealing with their own issues, including mental health, racism, the cost-of-living crisis and being LGBTQ+.

Warning - the below contains spoilers from season 11.

Angela Griffin is back as head teacher Kim Campbell (BBC/Wall To Wall/Rope Ladder Fiction/Helen Williams)

Who is the cast in Waterloo Road?

Returning for another term is headteacher Kim Campbell, played by Angela Griffin. She joined the cast of Waterloo Road for its first series back in 2006, and despite being absent from series three, she played the school's head of pastoral care up until 2010.

The Leeds actress is a familiar face on TV having starred in Coronation Street for six years as well as appearing in Emmerdale, Holby City and hosting her own daytime show on Sky1.

Adam Thomas returns as Donte Charles, who is a dad-of-two, and will have his family joining him with his son real-life Teddy and his niece Scarlett, daughter of his brother Coronation Street's Ryan Thomas, playing his on-screen children. Last series Donte dealt with the devastating loss of his wife Chlo.

Kym Marsh will reprise her role of Nicky Walters, a school canteen worker and mum to two pupils. The Manchester actress, who recently starred in Strictly Come Dancing, is best known for her long standing role as Michelle Connor on ITV's Coronation Street, which she played from 2006 to 2019.

Joining the cast this series is Paul Bazely and Jenny Platt, who will be the parents of pupils. Paul is known for his role as Troy Ramsbottom in Benidorm, and he's also appeared in Black Mirror, Cruella and Pirates of the Caribbean. Meanwhile Jenny Platt was Rover's Returns barmaid Violet Wilson in Coronation. She also played Emma Wilson in series 3 of ITV crime drama The Bay.

Kym Marsh returns as Nicky Walters and Adam Thomas reprises his role of Donte (BBC)

Olwen May, who you'll recognise from Coronation Street, Happy Valley and Emmerdale, and James Quinn, who has appeared in Coronation Street and Early Doors, will also be spotted at the school.

Among the returning cast includes Vincent Jerome as Lindon King, James Baxter as Joe Casey, Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell and Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers. Neil Fitzmaurice will return as Neil Guthrie, Rachel Leskovac will reprise her role of Coral Walker and Katherine Pearce will return as Amy Spratt.

Meanwhile Ryan Clayton will once again play Mike Rutherford and Sonia Ibrahim will return as Jamilah Omar on the series.

Waterloo Road will air on BBC One at 8pm on Tuesday, May 16. All seven episodes will be available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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