STAFF:
Christopher Mead - Played by Will Ash
Occupation: Science Teacher/Deputy Head
Duration: Series 7 Episode 1 - Series 7 Episode 10
Gorgeous and oozing sex appeal, Chris got through life utilising his boy-next-door charm and personable demeanour, but there is something more substantial behind his laid-back façade. Chris gives up his champagne lifestyle as a commercial lawyer to join Waterloo Road as a science teacher. Chris is a favourite both amongst the pupils and in the staffroom – no one can fault his dedication to his profession as he quickly zoomed up the ranks to become Deputy Head. A brief relationship with Kim Campbell in series five soon ended when she had a baby from a previous relationship and felt the need to dedicate herself totally to motherhood.
Karen saved Chris’s job at the end of series six, despite knowing that he’s unwittingly bedded her youngest daughter who was also a pupil at the school but Chris continues to get too involved in the lives of his pupils and decides to leave the school after getting heavily involved in Scout’s impoverished family, becoming more like a surrogate father to her. This incident made him realise that teaching was not for him and he left Waterloo Road.
Duration: Series 7 Episode 1 - Series 7 Episode 10
Gorgeous and oozing sex appeal, Chris got through life utilising his boy-next-door charm and personable demeanour, but there is something more substantial behind his laid-back façade. Chris gives up his champagne lifestyle as a commercial lawyer to join Waterloo Road as a science teacher. Chris is a favourite both amongst the pupils and in the staffroom – no one can fault his dedication to his profession as he quickly zoomed up the ranks to become Deputy Head. A brief relationship with Kim Campbell in series five soon ended when she had a baby from a previous relationship and felt the need to dedicate herself totally to motherhood.
Karen saved Chris’s job at the end of series six, despite knowing that he’s unwittingly bedded her youngest daughter who was also a pupil at the school but Chris continues to get too involved in the lives of his pupils and decides to leave the school after getting heavily involved in Scout’s impoverished family, becoming more like a surrogate father to her. This incident made him realise that teaching was not for him and he left Waterloo Road.
Candice Smilie - Played by Kay Purcell
Candice is a single mum in her early 40s who tried to better herself through adult education evening classes at Waterloo Road to improve her basic literacy skills. She is proud of her job as top dinner lady in the school canteen and is ambitious, putting aside her disapproval of Rose Kelly and then working with her to pitch for the school franchise. Since winning the pitch Rose and Candice have become firm friends – bonded not only through work but their shared experiences of trying to raise difficult sons, alone.
A firm mother to Bolton, she doesn’t shy away from keeping him in line but is ultimately very proud of her son… Candice is mouthy and blunt which some people find intimidating, but she always means well and is a big fan of Rachel Mason after everything she has done for her son.
A firm mother to Bolton, she doesn’t shy away from keeping him in line but is ultimately very proud of her son… Candice is mouthy and blunt which some people find intimidating, but she always means well and is a big fan of Rachel Mason after everything she has done for her son.
Francesca Montoya - Played by Karen David
Occupation: Spanish Teacher
Duration: Series 6 Episode 1 - Series 6 Episode 20
Cesca always found teaching Spanish easy – her mother is a native Spanish speaker, having taught Cesca and her three sisters the language from year dot so she’s a natural. Cesca teaches for the long holidays and a chance to travel the world. Highly attractive, she’s sexually confident, and is flirty even with the students. It is this which often draws her into other people’s problems, a personality trait which often finds her in hot water.
Cesca’s sense of right and wrong is challenged like never before as she finds herself falling in love with year 12 pupil Jonah Kirby. Cesca tried all sorts of tactics to stop thinking about Jonah, including dating Tom, but she eventually decided to give in to temptation and embark on a passionate affair. But this isn’t some casual fling and as the relationship reaches new levels of commitment when Cesca reveals she is pregnant and Jonah proposes. Cesca is seized by the police directly after their elopment at Gretna Green.
Jack Rimmer - Played by Jason Merrell's
Occupation: Head Teacher
Duration: Series 1 Episode 1 - Series 3 Episode 6 and 19
Jack Rimmer was Waterloo Road’s hard man head teacher. After Izzie’s death he struggles to cope, blaming himself, and it’s with Davina’s love and support that Jack is just managing to hold things together.
Jack cares deeply for Waterloo Road and this, together with his drive and determination to improve exam results, leads him into taking a high risk approach to secure the school’s future success.
As a pragmatist Jack doesn’t care how things are done, as long as they work which caused trouble when his budgets failed to meet the LEA’s approval and he was suspended pending an enquiry. He decided to resign instead and moved to Dubai.
Karen Fisher - Played by Amanda Burton
Occupation: Headteacher
Duration: Series 6 Episode 1 - Series 7 Episode 10
Family: Jess Fisher, Harry Fisher, Charlie Fisher, Bex Fisher
Karen’s top priority when joining Waterloo Road as headteacher was to create a safe and positive school environment where kids can leave their troubles behind and concentrate on their schooling. Karen entered Waterloo Road with a slightly rigid ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy – but soon learned that the lives of her pupils are too chaotic to be straight-jacketed by resolute punishments and has since softened her stance. She will do everything in her power to help a child, but won’t tolerate them infringing on the education of their classmates – it’s all about what’s best for the majority. Karen certainly isn’t a woman to shy away from making controversial decisions such as the trial single-sex schooling policy.
Karen tried to keep her home life separate from the school but found this difficult as she dealt with Bex’s disappearance, Harry’s bulimia and Charlie’s infidelity and their subsequent divorce.
Karen also finds herself at the end of a personal vendetta from Richard Whitman who is determinedto get Karen sacked. She finds comfort in the unlikely arms of Waterloo Road’s caretaker Rob Scotcher and leaves to pursue a relationship with him.
Lorna Dickey - Played by Camilla Power
Occupation: English Teacher
Duration: Series 1 Episode 1 - Series 2 Episode 10
Lorna always projected an image of calm, at Waterloo Road she was known as a ‘lesson-plan’ teacher who does it by the book. Lorna loved to be needed and would always tried to help others sort out their issues but Lorna was soon revealed to have problems of her own when she saw her husband Tom In the arms of her best friend. After a period of manipulative and attention-seeking behaviour on the part of Lorna, she realises that she and Tom were not meant to be together. She finally came to accept Tom and Izzie’s relationship but took her own life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Matt Wilding - Played by Chris Geere
A talented musician, boyishly good-looking Matt is enthusiastic and will work round the clock at things that really interest him, such as the production of a Waterloo Road musical. He’s got a good rapport with the kids and as a result has found himself helping out with some of the school’s more difficult pupils as they embark on vocational training and life skills.
Matt’s first girlfriend back in Cheshire, Charlotte, was also his last.
Matt’s been with Colin, his boyfriend, for three years, but for most of it referred to him as his ‘housemate’. The fact that Matt was unwilling to live openly as a gay man was a source of constant rows between them and even after he came out, first to the school and then to his overbearing mother, the relationship was doomed to failure. Now Matt finds himself newly single and is burying his grief in a partying lifestyle.
He returns to Waterloo Road following a spell at an independent school. Handpicked by Michael to once again head up the Music and Drama departments and oversee the introduction of a school orchestra. Whilst he firmly gets his feet back under his desk at Waterloo Road his best friend Rosie has other ideas to keep him busy. Matt’s agreed to be sperm donor but will their friendship withstand the pressure of impending parenthood?
Matt’s first girlfriend back in Cheshire, Charlotte, was also his last.
Matt’s been with Colin, his boyfriend, for three years, but for most of it referred to him as his ‘housemate’. The fact that Matt was unwilling to live openly as a gay man was a source of constant rows between them and even after he came out, first to the school and then to his overbearing mother, the relationship was doomed to failure. Now Matt finds himself newly single and is burying his grief in a partying lifestyle.
He returns to Waterloo Road following a spell at an independent school. Handpicked by Michael to once again head up the Music and Drama departments and oversee the introduction of a school orchestra. Whilst he firmly gets his feet back under his desk at Waterloo Road his best friend Rosie has other ideas to keep him busy. Matt’s agreed to be sperm donor but will their friendship withstand the pressure of impending parenthood?
Rachel Mason - Played by Eva Pope
Occupation: Headteacher
Duration: Series 3 Episode 8 - Series 5 Episode 20
Family: Melissa Ryan, Philip Ryan, Adam Fleet
When Rachel joined Waterloo Road she was considered by the LEA to be one of the best head teachers around. As an innovator she was never afraid to take risks to deliver quality education to the poorest sectors of society. Her own background as a high class prostitute turned teacher means that Rachel has daily proof that people can change. Despite trying to keep this and other aspects of her personal life private she does sometimes find it clashing with her life at school. The arrival of her sister Melissa, in particular, brings Rachel’s personal life firmly into the school. After a brief relationship with Melissa, Eddie finally came to his senses and after much will, they won’t they, Rachel and Eddie finally got together. But when Melissa returned to the school pregnant with Eddie’s child, Rachel felt she had to stand by her sister – something she couldn’t do if she was still with Eddie.
She later found love with Adam Fleet who showed her all the fun she was missing out on. It was a difficult lesson for workaholic Rachel and not without its hurdles but Rachel makes the big decision of marrying Adam and leaving the school to go travelling with him.
Rob Cleaver - Played by Elyes Gabel
Rob Cleaver is the new PE teacher at Waterloo Road - he's young and charming, but extremely driven and competitive. Once a successful professional athlete, Rob's hopes of representing Britain in the hurdles came to an abrupt end when he suffered an injury at the height of his career.
He threw himself into his new profession with passion and vigour and quickly realised he had the ability to inspire and encourage kids, but still harbours a sense of resentment for his lost career.
Jasmine Koreshi finds Rob's forceful nature compelling and with her enthusiasm for sport, they quickly realise they have a lot in common and they soon get together.
When Rob finds Bolton Smilie has an extraordinary talent for boxing, he knows he's found what he's been looking for, someone he can live his sporting career through again.
He threw himself into his new profession with passion and vigour and quickly realised he had the ability to inspire and encourage kids, but still harbours a sense of resentment for his lost career.
Jasmine Koreshi finds Rob's forceful nature compelling and with her enthusiasm for sport, they quickly realise they have a lot in common and they soon get together.
When Rob finds Bolton Smilie has an extraordinary talent for boxing, he knows he's found what he's been looking for, someone he can live his sporting career through again.
Ruby Fry - Played by Elizabeth Berrington
Occupation: Food Tech Teacher
Duration: Series 5 Episode 1 - Series 6 Episode 20
Ruby Fry joined the Waterloo Road staff when the school merged with John Foster’s. Whilst Ruby showed she was passionate about food and cooking she was also quick to demonstrate her snobbery by looking down her nose at Waterloo Road pupils and staff alike. Ruby warmed to the school and even brash secretary Janeece when she was in the process of adopting Janeece’s unborn child. After Cheryl was born Janeece changed her mind and whilst Ruby respected her wishes she took the loss hard. Ruby poured all her energy into writing a book and leaves the school when she draws the interest of a publisher.
Roger Aspinall - Played by Nicholas Sidi
Roger is a dynamic, designer-suited Waterloo Road "old-boy" turned self-made millionaire. An undiagnosed dyslexic, he was picked on during his school days by his teachers - in particular Grantly Budgen, who accused him of being lazy and stupid.
Driven by a determination to prove him wrong, he went on to become one of the richest men in the north of England.
His plans to turn Waterloo Road into an academy within the year are for mainly altruistic reasons, but the advertising opportunity of the "Roger Aspinall Academy" is an added bonus he can't ignore.
Driven by a determination to prove him wrong, he went on to become one of the richest men in the north of England.
His plans to turn Waterloo Road into an academy within the year are for mainly altruistic reasons, but the advertising opportunity of the "Roger Aspinall Academy" is an added bonus he can't ignore.
Steph Haydock - Played by Denise Welsh
Occupation: French Teacher
Duration: Series 1 Episode 1 - Series 5 Episode 20 THEN Series 6 Episode 9 and 10.
Family: Maxine Barlow
Steph has little control over her classes, limited respect from the pupils and is a pretty hopeless teacher. Whilst this does bother her deep down, she manages to remain in denial about her failings. Everyone is fond of her and they turn a blind eye to the brutal fact that she’s a rubbish French teacher. Steph left Waterloo Road with Oliver Mead, but has proved a loyal friend to members of staff by returning several times when they have needed her.