BBC CONFIRMS 2027 RETURN FOR WATERLOO ROAD, SCHOOL DRAMA HANDED FURTHER RECOMMISSION AS NEW CAST ARE REVEALED
The BBC has confirmed that Waterloo Road will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One with series 18 in January 2027, and it has been recommissioned for a further series, which will start filming in Greater Manchester this Autumn.
In March, drama celebrated its 20th anniversary. The return of original cast member Chelsee Healey as Janeece Bryant was also confirmed for the upcoming 2027 series, this time joined by newcomer Lauren Hylton as her on-screen daughter, Cheryl Bryant, a new student at Waterloo Road.
Joining the student cast in the upcoming series are Leo Ashton (Liam Shaw), Callum Broome (Nathan Clark), Yousef Naseer (Ibrahim Azzi), Lewis Pemberton (Cane Morris), and Keelan Wright (Marshall Clark).
The series will also introduce a wave of newly qualified teachers (NQTs), including Tashinga Bepete as Edward Connell, Cora Kirk as Leah Merchant, and Mollie Winnard as Gemma Tully.
The new series of Waterloo Road will continue to explore real-life issues affecting teens, families and school staff, with the drama continuing to tackle bold storylines, balanced with comedy, friendship and romance, all brought to life with Waterloo Road’s trademark warmth and wit.
Cameron Roach, Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction and Exec Producer for Waterloo Road says: " When we brought Waterloo Road back, we were hopeful of a long-term future, so to be commissioned for a tenth series of the reboot really is an incredible achievement and testament to the exceptional creative team, cast and crew...
"To have evolved a sustainable base for training and development of crew with our partners at Screen Manchester has been central to our mission and ensures clear pathways for new entrants into the sector.
Above all, we thank the fans of the show who, series after series, are asking for more. It drives us all to be creatively ambitious for the iconic world of Waterloo Road.”
Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama says: “We’re so pleased to announce a new series of Waterloo Road, giving audiences the opportunity to follow the drama of the characters they’ve come to know and love. We look forward to seeing what the next chapter holds for the pupils and staff of Waterloo Road and can’t wait for the series to return this January.”
Series 18 of Waterloo Road will air in January 2027, with filming on Series 20 now underway.
