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.
Waterloo Road has boosted Greater Manchester’s economy by a staggering £6.5 million
Thomas Melia
Waterloo Road has boosted Greater Manchester’s economy by a staggering £6.5 million, according to the BBC.
The British high school classic has seen strength after strength following the new BBC reboot.
Waterloo Road first reached our TV screens in 2006, where we saw Salford’s-own Chelsee Healey burst onto the scene as the fiery Janeece Bryant, a disruptive but loveable student who always found herself getting into trouble.
Since then, the school-based drama has gone on to see 14 seasons and more than 200 episodes, with an eight year interval in between, befoore returning to our screens again in 2023.
And with a new season dropping just yesterday (10 September), the love for the show certainly isn’t over yet.
The show has been filmed in Greater Manchester since airing, with three seasons retreating to the Scottish lowlands of Greenock in Scotland.
The first seven series of the TV drama were filmed in the former Hill Top Community Primary School in Rochdale, with the filming location for the most recent season taking place at a former Manchester College building in the city centre.
In new statistics provided by the BBC, it was revealed that the production of the first three new series generated more than £9.5 million for the broader North West area, and at least £6.5 million for Greater Manchester’s economy alone.
“It’s a series that helps nurture and champion local talent and directly supports the economy in the North West,” commented Charlotte Moore, who is the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, “and it’s also part of a much bigger story.
“The BBC now invests more than 60% of its TV budget outside of London – supporting hundreds of production companies and suppliers.”
You can catch Season 14 of Waterloo Road on BBC one every Tuesday at 9pm, or all episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer here.
Featured Image – BBC
TV & Showbiz
Open UK casting call for new Harry Potter TV series announced
Thomas Melia
It may have been just over a year since rumours of the show had been confirmed, but now the search is officially on.
Harry Potter is one of the most successful and cherished franchises on screen, paper, and stage, and the book series by JK Rowling is the world’s number one best-selling in history, with over 600 million copies distributed across the globe.
The new original series adaptation will be produced by the American television network, HBO, known for its involvement in huge dramas like Game Of Thrones and Euphoria.
Currently, the show is looking for UK actors to audition for one of the three wizarding friends.
These roles were originally played by the now Hollywood-greats, Daniel Radcliffe, who starred as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, and Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley.
Recently, Francesca Gardiner – known for her work on Killing Eve and Succession, was announced as the showrunner, and she will oversee all the writing and producing of the show, with full creative control.
In the description for these leading roles, a statement reads: “We are committed to inclusive, diverse casting. For every role please submit qualified performers, without any regard to ethnicity, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis protected by law unless otherwise specifically indicated.”
Although the statement pulled from the casting call is open to all actors, with no concern over their protected characteristics, this new original series may be affected by controversy surrounding the author, JK Rowling.
She has previously been criticised for her opinions on gender identity, especially in her condemnation of transgender people and the LGBTQ+ community.
Currently, producers are only considering children who are between the ages of 9-11 in April 2025, and the only way to officially apply is through the CastIt website here.
Applications must be submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
Emily Sergeant -
20th December 2021 
