Showbiz
Sinead Butler
Sep 23, 2021
Class is officially back in session at Waterloo Road after it was confirmed that the BBC school drama will return for a new series - and fans are elated at the news.
After a six-year break, the series will return and focus on the timely issue of how the school has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
From 2006, we followed the drama surrounding the lives of teachers and students at Waterloo Road comprehensive school located in the town of Rochdale and continued to watch when the school moved to a new location in Greenock, Scotland from series eight.
Psst. We've heard a rumour going around school 🤩 For more info, head over to 👉 https://t.co/lmJldnUnBL… https://t.co/RbBcAAF4yB— Waterloo Road (@Waterloo Road) 1632387927
When it came to storylines, viewers saw it all - from a canteen explosion to car crashes, teen pregnancies, tragic deaths and even murder - no doubt there will be even more drama to come in the new series which will be set and filmed in Greater Manchester.
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The eleventh series of the show comes after BBC director-general Tim Davie pledged in March that there would be a new long-running drama series from the North of England.
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.”
In 2015, the series originally came to an end after 10 series as the BBC said at the time it had “reached the end of its lifecycle”.
Further updates, including casting, are yet to be announced, but the show has been the launching pad for many well-known UK actors such as Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor, Doctor Who and Victoria actor Jenna Coleman and Emmerdale’s Adam Thomas.
Fans of the show have taken to Twitter to share their delight at the news and reminisce over the previous series.
Waterloo Road was a lawless nonsensical show & for that I’m glad it’s coming back Remember when the school relocat… https://t.co/OTWKfaoerO— Dan Egg (@Dan Egg) 1632389068
The wanted being reunited, JLS being reunited, Waterloo Road coming back, beat that 2020, 2021 is a better year than you— JadeLovesDawnandAmy (@JadeLovesDawnandAmy) 1632388130
Waterloo Road is back 🎓 The iconic school drama will now be set and made in Manchester 📺 DONTE!! SAMBUCCA!! BOLTO… https://t.co/2aoLdF1TSn— The Nikki Diaries (@The Nikki Diaries) 1632390938
WATERLOO ROAD BACK IN MANCHESTER https://t.co/YEILV2wXkF— becs (@becs) 1632389563
WATERLOO ROAD IS COMING BACK!! 😭 https://t.co/ElBTNlmhYo— Lewis (@Lewis) 1632389115
Waterloo Road is making a comeback???????? https://t.co/eBlqiLZPN9— adil ~ hates YG Entertainment (@adil ~ hates YG Entertainment) 1632395040
whenever we thought waterloo road was trending we always thought it was coming back and now it is https://t.co/0E745FuRWA— amy (@amy) 1632388706
New Waterloo Road?! THANK U LIFE FOR HAVING A PURPOSE AGAIN— Liv🌻 (@Liv🌻) 1632389751
WATERLOO ROAD IS COMING BACK NAHHHHHHHH MY CHILDHOOD YASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS— Shan Ban ⚡️🖤 (@Shan Ban ⚡️🖤) 1632392740
Omg Waterloo road is coming back https://t.co/hrlardGLju— Jack💗 (@Jack💗) 1632399842
WATERLOO ROAD IS RETURNING?! MY INNER TEENAGER CANT CONTAIN THEIR EXCITEMENT.— ThePurestofSeaWarriors (@ThePurestofSeaWarriors) 1632400936
#WaterlooRoad is coming back! https://t.co/Q1Z19DYFSn— James Dwyer (@James Dwyer) 1632403935
While some are still not over the death of beloved characters Tom Clarkson in series eight and Grantly Budgen in series nine.
Waterloo Road will never be the same without these characters tbh https://t.co/StUTZHucwI— A.🦋 (@A.🦋) 1632393100
MY BEST SHOW EVER IS COMING BACK ????? Omf but waterloo road will never be the same without my king 🤍 https://t.co/a0ANzKfGGt— jas (@jas) 1632390393
knowing he can never return to Waterloo Road 😩😩 https://t.co/HWgKpQaWOk— charlotte (@charlotte) 1632400426
the only thing about waterloo road coming back is that they killed off half of the most iconic characters - no tom… https://t.co/sqdH70E1T7— adam england (@adam england) 1632397648
Some of the actors who starred in the show previously (Shannon Flynn who played Emily James and Shane O’Meara who played Connor Mulgrew) were also happy to hear the show is coming back.
Great news hearing Waterloo Road is making a return. I had a blast with my years on the show and the platform it gi… https://t.co/lgDMJDBg15— Shane O'Meara (@Shane O'Meara) 1632390774
So excited to hear Waterloo road is coming back! My first ever tv job and the best experience with the most amazing… https://t.co/iHPPryTwUP— Shannon Flynn (@Shannon Flynn) 1632394117
Elsewhere, others have shared which past characters they would like to see in the new series.
One request please bring back Rachel&Eddie Waterloo road isn’t the without these two #waterlooroad #rachelmason… https://t.co/WijRfBYEK5— Samantha (@Samantha) 1632398586
Please say Adam and Rachel got a divorce and Rachel got back with Eddie and they are returning back to Waterloo roa… https://t.co/VPfV0SCqbr— Samantha (@Samantha) 1632393562
So we have some emotional investment in the characters in Waterloo road they’re gonna have to bring back some ex st… https://t.co/971hFf5G09— R (@R) 1632389805
👀 yessss used to love watching this back in the day. Be good to get as many of the original cast back too… https://t.co/dWqgvs6BFd— Matt Crane (@Matt Crane) 1632404478
So if Waterloo Road is coming back, can we get @justanactor back as a teacher please?? #waterlooroad— Sophie-Jane (@Sophie-Jane) 1632403563
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