Age: 17 Year: 13 - A Level Duration: Series 8 Episode 1 - ??
Life is never easy for Connor, thanks to a difficult relationship with his mother Christine (Who is played by Laurie Brett as the new English Teacher). But his instant chemistry with Imogen could be about to change all of this.
Imogen Stewart - Played by Kirstie Steele
Age: 17/18 Year - 13 Duration: Series 8 Episode 1 - ??
Most teenagers try to fit in and want to be normal, but Imogen isn't like most girls her age. What shes afraid of is her big secret being outed.
Intelligent and outspoken, Lula often finds herself clashing with her new school mates, but behind the veener is a vulnerable girl who doesn't want to draw anyone close for a reason.
Rhiannon Salt - Played by Rebecca Craven
Age: 16/17 Year: 12 - AS Level Duration: Series 8 Episode 1 - ??
Former Rochdale pupil Rhiannon is determined not to be the invisible member of the gang, but who exactly will she have to stand on to get noticed?
Rhiannon is Overweight. She is a manipulative, troubled & feisty. Deeply insecure, and acutely conscious of her status as a ‘skanky chav’ from an estate, Rhiannon is capable of deceitfulness and cruelty as she seeks to establish herself in the class hierarchy.
Series 8A Scout will find herself on the receiving end of Rhiannon’s attentions, and will be completely at a loss as to how to counter it. Rhiannon’s craftiness, intelligence and wicked imagination will often not only successfully deflect blame, but more often than not make her out to be the victim
Jade Fleming - Played by Paige Meade
Age: 16 Year: 12 - AS Levels Duration: Series 8 Episode 1 - ??
Jade just wants her chance to get a decent education, but the new life she envisaged for her boyfriend Drew may not be as easy to achieve as she thinks.
Jade joins Waterloo Road in traumatic circumstances. She and her boyfriend have been on the run from London and hiding out in the woods after he absconded from his juvenile detention centre. Though deeply in love with Drew, Jade realises that she wants a life and sees that Waterloo Road could offer her one. Initially Drew doesn’t want to let Jade out of his sight but learns he needs to set her free. Drew goes back on the run leaving a heartbroken Jade behind. Determined to reintegrate into society and leave her past behind, she finds Waterloo Road to be the haven she has been searching for, and is placed in the Boarding House.Jade has vunerability but with an edge.
Returning Series 8 cast:
Harley Taylor - Played by Kane Tomlinson Weaver
Age: 14 Year: 10 Family: Pheonix Taylor Duration: Series 7 Episode 11 - Present.
Harley Taylor lives in the shadow of his older brother. Harley is trying to be just as ‘bling’ as Phoenix, but it’s all an image out of step with the real Harley – a vulnerable and more insular boy.
Harley came to dote on his Nan. He would spend hours at night playing cards with her or simply sitting together reading. When she dies Harley is haunted by her death and struggles to come to terms with it.
Having always had Phoenix or his Nan to make decisions for him, he is a little too gullible. Harley yearns for affection and with the death of his Nan, he will search for it in his father. But in looking up to his father, Harley opens himself up to manipulation which could see falling out with his brother.
Josh Stevenson - Played by Will Rush
Age: 16/17 Year: 12 - AS Level Duration: Series 5 Episode 1 - Present Family: Tom Clarkson
Josh is Tom’s son. Josh rejects more macho pursuits like sport and football in favour of music and is a capable, if not utterly dedicated, student. He now has a good relationship with Tom, but can find it hard to give his dad the benefit of the doubt – understandable considering he spent the first sixteen years of his life believing Tom (who never knew of Josh’s existence) had abandoned him at birth.
Josh’s close relationship with Finn was threatened when Josh realised he had a crush on him. But Josh has learnt to be truthful to himself and their friendship survived intact when Josh came out.
Series 7b became a massive shock to Josh and everyone around him as he began taking drugs. In no matter of time after struggling terribly without the drugs, Josh takes himself to a doctor. Heartrendingly he finds out he has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia changing his life forever.
Scout is a dishevelled tomboy with a quick wit and sharp humour. Potential bullies give her a wide berth for fear of being humiliated by her cutting observations. A modern day artful dodger, Scout knows all the tricks to get out of trouble, spinning complex yarns at the drop of a hat to outsmart her accusers whether they be teachers, the police or fellow pupils.
Scout is a match for any teacher and will give them relentless lip, but it is never malicious and her charm keeps her out of the cooler for the most part. She’s an intelligent girl who scores consistently high marks across all subjects.
Series 7 delved beneath the bravado – a girl who has been forced to grow up too quickly and take on responsibility for a struggling family living in abject poverty. Her mum, Tina Allen, would rather bury her head in bottles of beer than face the reality of their situation, which is why Scout has been left providing for her mum and younger brother, Liam, juggling her school life with odd jobs to put food on the table.
Scout and Liam were put into foster care despite Chris’s attempts to help when their ineffectual mother left them home-alone.
In the latest episodes Scout and Em embark on a friendship that will take them on a journey of rebellion and fun until Em takes it a step too far, leaving Scout questioning the morality of their actions. Could this mark the end of their friendship?
Madeline Diamond 'Madi' - Played by Georgia Henshaw
Age: 18 Year: 13 - A Levels Family: Sian Diamond, Jez Diamond, Zack Diamomd. Duration: Series 7 Episode 12 - Present
Jez Diamond’s daughter is a classic Princess: needy, vain, gorgeous and high maintenance! Madi was the apple of her father’s eye when her parents were together and took the break-up of their marriage personally – why would her dad leave her? As a result Madi’s self-confidence is on the floor. She desperately seeks affirmation and wants to be adored.
Following in her father’s footsteps, Madi has grown into quite a vain creature – spending hours applying make-up, fake tans and false eyelashes. Given free reign of her dad’s credit card, Madi will think nothing of spending big wads of his cash on getting her eyelashes permed, if it makes her more eligible. We first meet Madi when their mother publically dumps her with her younger brother Zack at Waterloo Road and she comes face to face with her biggest competitor for her dad’s affections – Sian.
Used to getting her own way, Madi will get into sulk if she doesn’t, which Lauren, Trudi or Vicki would have no patience for…She soon finds Ronan’s easy-going, cocky sense of humour reassuring, and his confident attitude builds her own confidence. Madi becomes a devoted friend to him, but their friendship grates on Vicki.
After finding out that her step-mum cheated on her dad. Madi turned evil towards her however it wasn't long before the hatred turned back on her father. As a confused young teenager, rumors filled the school that her dad had sexually assisted a fellow pupil. Humiliated by the news, Madi lashed out abuse at her father causing the father and daugher relationship to be broken. Failing that her father end's his relationship and leaves both herself and brother Zack in the careful hands of her step-mum.
Pheonix Taylor - Played by Kaya Moore
Age: 15 Year: 11 Family: Harley Taylor Duration: Series 7 Episode 11 - Present.
Phoenix Taylor is a year 11 fifteen year old with bags of attitude and a unique style to match. Phoenix and his younger brother, Harley, have lived with their nan since their mum died despite their dad still being alive. Phoenix has distant memories of his dad’s abusive alcoholic nature from when they all lived together.
Their nan gave the boys the care and love they needed until she fell ill a couple of years ago. Phoenix, fearing that they would be shipped off back to their dad, stepped into the role as his nan’s main carer. Inevitably, this led to him missing time from school. Phoenix loves his nan and would do anything for her, which is why her death comes as such a blow to him.
Phoenix’s bad boy image is attractive to girls and he enjoys the attention but, because of his Nan’s influence, he actually treats girls with gentle respect.
Tariq Siddiqui - Played by Naveed Choudhry
Age: 18 Year: 13 - A Levels Family: Naseem Siddiqui, Trudi Siddiqui. Duration: Series 7 Episode 11 - Present.
Tariq joins Waterloo Road in the sixth form. He is the eldest child of immigrant parents. Despite being born after his parents moved to the UK, Tariq has a large chip on his shoulder about the ‘West’, accusing the UK of belittling and undermining his culture and religion. Tariq has always been a handful for his parents who themselves embraced UK life. Although smart, he’s mouthy, disrespectful and disruptive and occasionally uses his religion as an excuse for his behaviour. Following the death of his mother, Tariq’s behaviour worsened and saw him fall in with a gang, getting mixed up in petty crime which resulted in him spending long stretches of time inside a Young Offenders Institute.
The shame that Tariq has brought on his family has left deep scars within the family, who are now on the verge of giving up on him altogether as a lost cause. His younger sister Trudi is weary of the bad reputation he brings to the family name.
He joins Waterloo Road having been released from a Young Offenders Institute where he was doing time for ABH. He’s every teacher’s worst nightmare. Reluctant to integrate with his peers, disruptive with an unpredictable violent streak makes disciplining him a nightmare. Tariq knows this is his last chance, one more foot out of place and he’ll be back inside and lose his family forever. Will Michael’s tutelage finally see Tariq change his ways?
Falling into a gang trap of the DSC, Tariq's world begins to fall apart as his sister ends up pregnant with his opposing gang member's baby.
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