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Waterloo Road is back for its 16th series next week, and as always there is plenty of drama in store.
Alongside numerous returning staff and students, viewers are set to be introduced to several new faces, including new teachers.
As always, the series is set to tackle some important and challenging topics, as well as romances and rivalries between staff and students alike.
It will touch on issues including the cost-of-living crisis, addiction, support systems, mental health, exam anxiety, religion, homophobia, allergy management and grief.
With so much to discuss, let’s not waste any more time and get straight into the spoilers!
New teachers
Earlier this year, it was announced that Jon Richardson would be joining the cast of Waterloo Road for series 16.
He is set to take on the role of Darius Donovan, the new media studies teacher.
If you’re expecting comedian Jon to be playing a friendly character, then it sounds as though you will be in for a big shock, as Jon has teased that the character is ‘incredibly evil’!
‘I would describe him probably as a womanising sociopath,’ Jon admitted, adding: ‘I certainly played him as someone who makes a mistake early doors and ends up chasing his own tail a bit trying to cover it up.
‘Something really bad happens that he’s not exactly responsible for but he didn’t mean it to end as badly as it does. It’s trying to cover that up that gets him into the worst trouble, I think.’
We are also introduced to a new SENCO lead in the form of Mitch Swift, played by Christopher Jeffers, who doesn’t get off to a great start with Portia Weaver (Maisey Robinson).
‘I think he is super-excited to join Waterloo Road because he’s had a bit of a rocky past himself and SENCO staff and people really helped him through his issues and trauma,’ Chris explained. It’s an opportunity for him to give back, to pay forward. He’s really excited about that – almost a bit too eager because in the first episode he puts his foot in it with Portia.
‘He definitely needs a bit of experience but he’s really keen and excited. I think it’s a perfect ground for him to start finding his way and carving out his career and making a difference.
‘Obviously that’s never going to be easy and he does start off a bit on the wrong foot. He seems to turn it around. He helps Portia and becomes successful at what he wants to achieve.’
Returning faces
There will also be some familiar faces heading back to Waterloo Road this series, including original headteacher Jack Rimmer (Jason Merrells).
This time, however, he will be taking on the role of school counsellor, and will work alongside Mr Swift to give students the support they need.
It won’t be easy for Jack to be back in the school environment, as actor Jason explained.
‘I think coming back to the school is quite triggering for him in lots of ways. We tried to sketch out a back story for the intervening years, which are many since I was last a teacher there.
‘We came up with a story that involves him having a bit of a burnout situation at some point in the past, in a school. So coming back into that environment is quite hard for him.’
Co-star Adam Thomas, who also appeared in the very first series as Donte Charles, has also promised more returns from Waterloo Road’s past, as well as some nice scenes for Donte and Jack.
‘There have been loads of different icons throughout the show that are coming back as well. It’s a little golden nugget for the fans, particularly for the older fans who have grown up on the show, to be able to watch these characters on screen again and see how their relationship is with each other.
‘Donte’s and Jack’s, there’s a lot that’s going on in this series. He feels very conflicted about the whole situation that Jack’s in. It’s interesting and it’s great for an actor, great to play and a great storyline.’
This series will also see Izzy Charles return to Waterloo Road, with actress Scarlett Thomas reprising her role.
‘She took a bit of a mini break and then to have her back, when they said they were bringing Scarlett back I was literally jumping for joy. Being back on set with her is amazing,’ Adam, who is Scarlett’s real-life uncle, enthused.
‘In this series and the following series there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes with Izzy and Donte. To work on that with Scarlett is the best job in the world.’
Fresh tragedy
The school is set to face a major tragedy this series, which will affect some major characters.
We don’t want to give too much away, but it is safe to say that you should have a box of tissues standing by!
A ‘full-on’ time for Donte
Donte is set to have his work cut out for him as he tries to manage having all of his kids under one roof.
‘It’s very full-on,’ Adam explained.
‘With Donte looking after his three kids he’s struggling a little bit, as any parent would do, trying to hold the family down and also hold his job down. There’s definitely a lot of stress.
‘The dynamic between Ashton and Izzy as well is quite tough on the family situation. As far as Donte’s concerned, he’s doing the best job he can do right now. It’s not going to be plain sailing.’
It also seems that Donte is set to put his love life on hold for a little while.
‘Donte’s been looking for love and to fill that hole left by Chlo and it’s never worked out for him, whereas now he’s taken a step back and he’s really concentrating on helping his kids because he feels they definitely need his help right now. His main priority and his focus is definitely on them.’
Conflict for Jack and Darius
It isn’t Waterloo Road without some level of conflict, and it seems that Jack and Darius are set to form a bitter rivalry this series.
‘Jack’s had problems and gone away and dealt with them, and Darius hasn’t dealt with them but thinks he has, so he sees him as a kindred spirit,’ Jon explained, before teasing a ‘turning point’ in their relationship.
‘I think what he does to Jack is probably the worst thing. I think that’s his turning point in the first series. Viewers will understand some of the things he does and some of the points he’s backed into a corner and he defends himself.
‘What he does to Jack is such an open act of abuse and hostility, that’s when people will really start to hope he gets his medicine, I think.’
Jason agreed, saying: ‘They’re both quite strong characters. They both have pasts. Initially they connect quite well, but that becomes more complex as things develop. Their opinions of each other start to get stronger and stronger. There is conflict ahead, definitely.’
The introduction of Stella’s family
This series is set to introduce us to headteacher Dame Stella Drake’s (Lindsey Coulson) extended family as she takes custody of her grandchildren, Ben and Hope Drake (Fintan Buckard and Savannah Kunyo).
With her grandchildren now students at Waterloo Road, Stella is forced to navigate a fresh set of challenges, and this family dynamic will undoubtedly alter her approach on how she manages things, as well as relationships with students and fellow teachers.
‘I think she struggled with it a little bit because she didn’t want to show any favouritism, and I think she makes that quite clear with them. However, that’s always going to be a little bit difficult in those circumstances,’ Lindsey explained.
‘She hasn’t seen them for a while – I think we know that from the last series – and she’s got some catching up to do and some stuff left with her daughter.
‘I think she’s trying to do things with her grandchildren that she maybe didn’t do with her daughter, and I think some of that is haunting her a little bit because I think she was very work-oriented.
‘Stella’s finding it difficult to navigate. She feels an emotional pull towards them and she’s a great stickler for the school rules.’
It sounds as though Ben and Hope are set to be quite a handful, with Fintan teasing: ‘They’ve already been hopping between various schools, and that very much fed into their attitude of “We’re not going to be here for very long. Why bother? Why try? Let’s just have fun while we’re young, and live”.’
‘I think me and Hope think alike because we’re really wannabe performers and singers and we love being in front of a camera,’ Savannah added, painting the picture of a very outgoing new pupil.
‘I think she believes she can do that because she’s only been given good feedback. Obviously her nan’s the head of the school so she’s got a lot of privileges that other people won’t have.’
Also set to join the cast this series is Christine Bottomley, as Stella’s daughter Sam, who has some ‘fun scenes’ with her on screen son, as Fintan revealed.
‘Christine was brilliant to work with. I was a fan of her work and when I found out she was playing my mum I thought it was brilliant. I have more scenes with Christine as the show continues and we get up to some exciting stuff, some fun scenes!’
A ‘messy’ time for Schuey and Agnes
Schuey Weaver (Zak Sutcliffe) is at the centre of the drama once again this series as he navigates life with foster parents Joe Casey (James Baxter) and Mike Rutherford (Ryan Clayton).
‘It does get really messy! Things with Schuey this season are already dead complex. There’s stuff with the church and him living with two gay men, and the fact that one of them’s a teacher and the other one is a cop. It’s stuff Schuey has been taught, even if he doesn’t hate, he rebels against, so it’s a very odd position for him to be in. Especially as it’s the only safe space he’s ever had.
‘His nature tells him that it’s absolutely lovely, it’s the best, it’s everything he’s ever needed, but the nurture he’s had until this point tells him it’s all wrong. It’s very complex for complex little Schuey.’
On top of this, his relationship with Agnes Eccleston (Niamh Blackshaw) continues this series, and actress Niamh has teased that perhaps her priorities aren’t quite in the right place.
‘Throughout the season we start to see the cracks in her character – she can’t keep up this angelic, perfect persona. What I will say is she’s far too much in Schuey’s business. She needs to back off a little bit but she’s so invested in him.
‘It comes from a really nice place – she cares for him, she wants the best for him. She can see bad influences come in and we see that throughout the series. She’s kind of like the angel on the shoulder. She wants him to be happy and make good choices but she’s doing that to her own detriment. She always finds herself where she shouldn’t be.
‘By the end of the series she finds herself in a situation where she witnesses something where it would be really ideal if she didn’t see that. Her and Schuey have already been through so much. Her heart is always telling her to do the right thing but those cracks start to show and her perfectionism starts to fall.’
A different side to Joe
Things are set to take a different direction for Joe this series too, with actor James Baxter teasing that he’s worried the choices the character makes may make him ‘unlikeable’.
‘It was fun seeing a different side of Joe that I’ve not really had a chance to open up and I can have a crack at. That was really fun. I think it’ll be interesting for the audience to see it as well – and unexpected, which is always quite nice.’
A special episode
This series will also see Angela Griffin return as a director for a special episode shot entirely on location.
The episode will see more familiar faces return as the Waterloo Road student-body heads to the local estate to participate in a community clean-up that doesn’t quite go to plan.
‘Filming on location was great. I enjoyed filming that whole episode so much. It was nice to get out of the school, for starters. It felt like we were shooting a short film or something, it was great,’ Zak Sutcliffe enthused.
‘We shoot two episodes at a time and we jump between scenes and episodes on the fly throughout the day. For that episode everything was dedicated to that ep and it felt almost like its own story.’
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