Have you heard that the iconic BBC drama Waterloo Road is returning to our 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.
The show has consistently ranked among the top five most-watched shows for young audiences on the BBC iPlayer.
Set in a comprehensive school of the same name, Waterloo Road 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.
But, back in September, the BBC announced that the show would be rebooted and make a return to our TV screens.
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”.
Waterloo Road originally aired from 2006 to 2015, and was one of the UK’s longest-running TV contemporary dramas / Credit: BBC & Shed Media
The BBC also says the revival of Waterloo Road will boost drama production skills in the North of England, with production for the show will take place right here in Greater Manchester.
“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,” explained Executive Producer, Cameron Roach.
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Early next year, Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall Media will be establishing a major production base in the region, and alongside the production, they will also be starting a new ‘Production Development Trainee Scheme’, which aims to inspire and encourage “a new generation of talent” for the sector.
With the support and assistance of Screen Manchester, the six-month paid programme – which begins in February 2022 – will give eight people the Greater Manchester area the broadcast industry experience needing to access careers in the creative sector.
The show has consistently ranked among the top five most-watched shows for young audiences on the BBC iPlayer / Credit: BBC
The available trainee roles will cover key scripted departments across the drama – including production, sound, camera, make-up, costume, electrical, locations, art department, and music supervision – to allow the trainees an insight into the production process more broadly.
“Through production of Waterloo Road, we want to open doors and create valuable career opportunities for aspiring behind-the-scenes talent, and we look forward to unearthing the next generation of crew in the north on such an exciting and large-scale drama production in Greater Manchester,” explained Leanne Klein – Managing Director of Wall to Wall Media.
If you’re looking to be a part of the revival of Waterloo Road right here in Greater Manchester, then trainees will be required to work 11-hour days and must be able to commit to the six month engagement.
The production base will be in Salford, and the roles are seeking passionate, hardworking individuals who are keen to learn and take on responsibility on a working production.
Bury actress Kate O’Flynn wins big at 2026 Emmys with record-breaking comedy show
Emily Sergeant
Did you know that one of the big winners at the 2026 Emmy Awards last night was actually an actress from Bury?
In case it wasn’t on your radar, American television‘s biggest night, the Emmys, took place yesterday evening over in Los Angeles, and several records were broken in the process – including Apple TV’s comedy horror Widow’s Bay taking home the most Emmys ever for a single series of a comedy show, with 14 of them.
Widow’s Bay tells the story of mayor Tom Loftis, played by Welsh actor Matthew Rhys, who is trying to boost tourism on his rugged New England island, but must navigate several strange events that suggest it might be cursed.
Created by Katie Dippold, and executive produced and directed by Hiro Murai, Widow’s Bay was released in late April to widespread critical acclaim.
At the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards last night, the show scooped a record 14 awards, including for Outstanding Comedy Series, several acting wins, and wins for directing and writing too.
One of those acting wins was Kate O’Flynn for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series – an actress who hails from the Greater Manchester town of Bury.
Kate stars as Patricia Moyer, mayor Tom’s eccentric assistant in the show.
She grew up in Holcombe Brook near Ramsbottom, and was educated at Bury Grammar School, before she went on to train at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Acting in 2006.
Taking to the stage to accept her award last night, Kate said in her speech: “I want to thank our mayor [Matthew Rhys] and all the residents of Widow’s Bay, in front and behind the camera – you’re amazing. This is the role of a lifetime, thank you Katie and Hiro for trusting a Lancashire lass to play a sassy broad like Patricia. And thank you Apple [TV] for saying yes.
“Thank you Nicky and Tony for looking after me, my family back home, my mum and dad, and the loves of my life, my husband and our darling daughter – another sassy broad in the making.
“This is for all the Patricias out there, see you at Sunset Cocktails to celebrate. Thank you.”
Featured Image – The Television Academy (via YouTube)
TV & Showbiz
Bolton-born celebrity makeup artist claps back at ‘nasty’ and ‘evil’ Katie Price comments
Daisy Jackson
Bolton-born celebrity makeup artist Made By Mitchell has hit back at social media users who criticised Katie Price’s appearance, describing some of the comments as ‘so evil’ and ‘downright rude and nasty’.
The makeup artist, whose real name is Mitchell Halliday, was responsible for Katie’s glam for a recent red-carpet appearance at the NTAs, with the pair opting for a bold and distinctive look.
While thousands of people took to social media to share their opinions on the reality star’s makeup and outfit, Mitchell said he was comfortable with people disliking the look – but was upset by the personal nature of some of the comments aimed at Katie.
“Thousands and thousands and thousands of people have given their opinion on the glam and outfit,” he said.
“A lot of it is positive and a lot of it is negative as well, and that is so okay – everyone is allowed to have their own opinion.”
While Mitchell said he was not bothered by people criticising his makeup, he admitted that some of the reaction left him upset.
He said: “I was genuinely a bit upset by some of the comments and what I was reading, and not because people didn’t like my makeup, that is so okay, it’s literally fine, again my client was happy and that’s all that matters to me.”
Mitchell said it was the comments directed specifically at Katie that affected him most.
“How people were speaking about Katie just really got me to be honest,” he said.
“It was so so evil. So many evil comments.”
He questioned why users felt the need to leave such harsh remarks rather than simply moving past content they did not enjoy.
“What is wrong with people? Just scroll on. Scroll on,” he said.
He also defended the decision to create a more dramatic look, arguing that it reflected the style Katie and Mitchell had set out to achieve together.
“This is a Katie Price and Mitchell glam,” he said.
“If Katie asked me to go and do her makeup for a red carpet and she asked me to do ‘please just do a really soft clean girl look’… really? I would’ve said ‘why have you brought me all the way down here?'”
Mitchell stressed that he was not trying to prevent people from having their say, acknowledging that social media users were entitled to their opinions.
“Opinions are so valid, I’m never gonna stop someone from giving their opinion in a comment section, that’s completely fine especially on my page,” he said.
“However, you don’t need to be nasty about it. And some of those comments were just downright rude and nasty.”
He added that he did not want his social media platforms to become a place where people could target Katie personally.
“Some of the comments about Katie were just so uncalled for and my page is not the place for that,” Mitchell said.
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His message to those commenting on the look was simple: “Just be a bit kinder, it’s not that hard.”
Emily Sergeant -
20th December 2021 
