The BBC has confirmed that Waterloo Road is set to return to TV screens.
Waterloo Road originally aired from 2006 to 2015, and was one of the UK’s longest-running TV contemporary dramas – going on to launch the careers of many young and emerging actors, spawn plenty award-winning and highly-publicised storylines, draw in millions of viewers each week, and amass a cult-following of fans.
Set in a comprehensive school of the same name, the show was famously set and filmed in Rochdale from series one until the end of series seven, before moving to the Scottish town of Greenock until the end of the show.
Since it dropped as a boxset on BBC iPlayer in September 2019, the series has also consistently ranked among the top five most-watched shows for young audiences on the platform.
And now, it’s back.
With the spotlight on education in the UK now more intense than ever before, and with awareness of the challenges that teachers, parents and pupils face more pronounced amid the ongoing COVID pandemic, the BBC says Waterloo Road will use its rich history of “telling entertaining and gripping human stories”, while “tackling the important issues of the day”.
The BBC also says the revival of Waterloo Road will boost drama production skills in the North of England.
Production for the show will take place right here in Greater Manchester.
Speaking on the revival of the award-winning series, 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 [with] its thrills and spills, unmissable characters and high drama, at a time when audiences across Britain need it most”.
Cameron Roach – Executive Producer – added: “I’m really thrilled to be working with the BBC in re-igniting the iconic brand of Waterloo Road [and] 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.”
Featured Image – BBC
