Everything we know about the Waterloo Road reboot – release date, cast and plot

After more than six years off the air, Waterloo Road is set to make a comeback in 2022 as BBC bosses start filming the 11th series of the high school inspired drama this Spring.

From Donte Charles (Adam Thomas) accidentally killing his best friend Adam while joyriding his dad’s limo in the first series to Lindsay James (Jenna Coleman) murdering her own dad, it’s fair to say the BBC One drama was one of the wildest shows on TV.

When it first aired in 2006, the show quickly grew a loyal fanbase which left fans glued to their screens as they tuned in for their weekly dose of the TV series.

So, it was hardly surprising that fans jumped with joy when they heard the show was returning to the silver screen.

And it’s sure to draw in a huge following after consistently remaining among the top five most-watched shows among young audiences on BBC iPlayer after it was released as a boxset in September 2019.

Now, Daily Star has taken a deep dive through everything there is to know about the new series of series 11 so far.

When is Waterloo Road returning?

An official release date is yet to be announced but we can expect the new series to drop some time in 2022.

Long-standing actors Katie Griffiths – who played the role of Chlo Grainger in the original series – confirmed that the 11th series would be coming to BBC iPlayer “later this year” with an exciting Instagram post as she confirmed her return.

Her onscreen husband Adam Thomas hinted “@waterlooroad coming soon …" in an Instagram post as he confirmed he was reprising his role as Donte Charles once more.

The news first came when the broadcaster announced that Waterloo Road would be returning to the BBC in a statement on September 23, 2021, while they confirmed the series would once again be filmed in the heart of Greater Manchester.

When the show first launched, the first seven series were set and made in Rochdale before they relocated the show by making the move up to Greenock, Scotland.

Director of BBC Drama, Piers Wenger recently told What To Watch: “It was an incredibly difficult decision that took time to come to you.

“We had clear direction on wanting to make more drama across the UK. We had EastEnders, Holby in the south and Casualty in Wales.

“We need dramas to better reflect life in the north of England which is why we’ve chosen to bring back Waterloo Road.”

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

Waterloo Road season 11 staff

At the start of the year, the BBC revealed that three much-loved Waterloo Road characters would be back to reprise their roles for the new series.

Angela Griffin – who played the role of Kim Campbell – is returning to Waterloo Road as the school’s newest headteacher alongside Adam Thomas and Katie Griffiths who will be back playing Donte and Chlo Charles.

The new head said: “I feel really honoured to be joining the new series of Waterloo Road. It is exciting to be stepping back into Kim’s shoes and I can’t wait to explore her life, and how she has evolved since we last met her.

“The writers have some amazing storylines planned and I’m looking forward to welcoming viewers back to Waterloo Road.”

The trio appeared in a short video while they took a break from filming on the new set where they hinted that fans would be hearing more about the new series over the next few months.

Speaking about joining the cast, Kym Marsh said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the fabulous cast of Waterloo Road, it’s such a joy to get the opportunity to film in Manchester again and I can’t wait to get going!”

Since then, more staff have been confirmed to be appearing on the show and what staff members they will be playing in the reboot.

EastEnders star Jo Coffey is set to play the role of Wendy Whitwell, PA to the Headteacher, and Wonder Woman 1984’s Vincent Jerome will play Lindon King, the joint Deputy Headteacher.

Still Open All Hours’ James Baxter is set to take on the role of Joe Casey, another Deputy Head and Coronation Street’s Sonia Ibrahim will join the staff as Jamila Omar the school’s social worker.

Chip & Kipper’s Shauna Shim will appear as music teacher Valerie Chambers, Peep Show star Nail Fitzmaurice is history teacher Neil Guthrie, Coronation Street’s Rachel Leskovac is Coral Walker, Head of English, and Rules of the Games’ Katherine Pearce plays Amy Spratt, an early career teacher.

Former Coronation Street star Ryan Clayton has also revealed that he has joined the show after he shared the news on Twitter as he posted a photo of a sign on his dressing room door that confirmed that he would be playing the role of Mike.

Elsewhere, Waterloo Road legend Heather Peace – who played teacher Nikki Boston in the school drama back in 2011 – is also eyeing up a return to the show however her role in the show is yet to be announced.

Peace is currently portraying Stacey Slater’s wife Eve Unwin in the BBC One soap EastEnders.

However, the actress confirmed she would be thrilled to be join the cast at some point in the future.

Responding to a fan asking if she’d return to Waterloo Road on Twitter, Peace replied: “Obviously that would be amazing at some point!”

Waterloo Road season 11 pupils

After the teaching staff was announced online, the TV chiefs finally revealed which young actors would be playing the role of pupils in the 11th series of Waterloo Road on February 21.

One of the first names to be revealed was Adam Thomas’ niece and daughter of former Waterloo Road star Tina O’Brien, Scarlett Thomas, who will be following in her family’s footsteps after she was cast in the role as Donte and Chlo Charles’ daughter Izzy in the show.

Joining Scarlett are Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis, Priyasasha Kumari as Samia Choudhry, Noah Valentine as Preston Walters, Adam Ali as Kai Sharif, Alicia Forde as Kelly-Jo Rafferty and Francesco Piacentini-Smith as Dean Weever.

Also joining the young cast are Liam Scholes as Noel McManus, Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams, Summer Violet Bird playing Tonya Walters, Ava Flannery as Verity King, Thapelo Ray as Dwanye Jackson, Inathi Rozani as Zayne Jackson, and Chiamaka (ChiChi) Ulebor appearing as Shola Aku.

The final star cast in the series is Sahil Ismailkhil who joined the cast after they were talent scouted following a production research trip to a school in Leeds.

Waterloo Road season 11 plot

So far, BBC bosses have kept the plot of the upcoming series under tight wraps which will be taking part in its original home in Greater Manchester.

In the press release that announced the return of Waterloo Road, the BBC said: “The spotlight on education in the UK is more intense now than ever before, with awareness of the challenges that teachers, parents and pupils face even more pronounced amidst the ongoing pandemic.

“Waterloo Road will use its rich history of telling entertaining and gripping human stories while tackling the important issues of the day.”

The Director of BBC Drama, Piers Wenger, added: “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 – it's 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.”

From the sounds of it, viewers can expect the new series of Waterloo Road to be filled with drama based on current contemporary issues that teaches, parents and pupils face right now.

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