When will Waterloo Road return?

THE BBC is bringing back its drama series Waterloo Road after it axed the show six years ago.

The school-based drama originally aired from 2006-2015 over 10 seasons and featured a host of famous faces.

When will Waterloo Road return?

The show is coming back to BBC One, as part of a commitment to creating new shows across the country.

A new series of the award-winning drama will be made and set in Greater Manchester.

The high school show will focus on the challenges teachers, parents and pupils have been facing during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Radio Times reports it will feature “a fresh set of students and teachers, and maybe some old faces”.

Full details of the cast or the precise day it will return to our screens have not been revealed by the BBC.

What have bosses said?

The BBC hopes it will drama production skills in the North of England “reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country.”

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: “Waterloo Road is the perfect lens through which to explore post-Covid Britain, from the perspective of those who have arguably been affected most: young people in education. We are thrilled to be returning to this brilliant format – its thrills and spills, unmissable characters and high drama – at a time when audiences across Britain need it most – and to be collaborating with the brilliant Cameron Roach and Wall To Wall on its return.”

Cameron Roach, Executive Producer, added: “I’m really thrilled to be working with the BBC and Wall To Wall, in re-igniting the iconic brand of Waterloo Road.

“The vital and urgent stories that are playing out in schools across the UK provide incredible and emotionally powerful themes, that we’re excited to bring to a new generation of fans.

“Waterloo Road will continue its reputation for kickstarting, supporting and enabling careers both in front of and behind the camera, in a truly inclusive way, from our base in Greater Manchester.”

What is the show about?

The original show which ran from 2006 to 2015 featured a number of familiar faces including Angela Griffin, Jill Halfpenny, Neil Morrissey and Neil Pearson.

It also helped to launch the careers of Bridgerton stars Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor, as well as Emmerdale‘s Adam Thomas and Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman.

It detailed the lives of pupils and staff at the fictional school which was originally based in Rochdale.

A boxset version of the show was released on the BBC’s iPlayer in 2019 where it continued to be a big hit, with the corporation saying it was particularly popular with younger and more diverse audiences.