Waterloo Road
Series 13
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of episodes8
Release
Original networkBBC One
BBC iPlayer
Original release2 January 2024 (2024-01-02)[1] –
present
Series chronology

The thirteenth series of the British television drama series Waterloo Road began airing on 2 January 2024.[2]

The show follows the lives of staff and pupils of the eponymous secondary school in Greater Manchester while tackling a range of social issues. Topics covered include discussions around transforming the school into an academy, grief, catfishing, truancy, cultural identity, teen pregnancy, cancer, child abuse, planning for the future, theft, isolation, student-teacher crushes, abortion, family conflict, and relationship issues.

Production

Casting

Previously news reports had revealed that series thirteen would introduce five new cast members as pupils, namely Hattie Dynevor as Libby Guthrie, Zak Sutcliffe as Schumacher "Schuey" Weever, Tillie Amartey as Stacey "Stace" Neville, Maisie Robinson as Portia Weever, and Aabay Noor Ali as Mollie 'Mog' Richardson.[3][4]

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Angela Griffin as Kim Campbell; Headteacher
  • James Baxter as Joe Casey; Deputy Headteacher and languages teacher
  • Ryan Clayton as Sergeant Mike Rutherford; School security officer
  • Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell; PA to Headteacher Kim Campbell
  • Neil Fitzmaurice as Neil Guthrie; History teacher
  • Vincent Jerome as Lindon King; Deputy Headteacher and science teacher
  • Rachel Leskovac as Coral Walker; Head of English
  • Kym Marsh as Nicky Walters; School canteen worker
  • Katherine Pearce as Amy Spratt; Early career English and drama teacher
  • Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers; Music teacher
  • Adam Thomas as Donte Charles; School caretaker
  • Jamie Glover as Andrew Treneman; Chief Executive Officer of Lowry Community Academies Trust and a former colleague of Kim's

Pupils

  • Noah Valentine as Preston Walters
  • Priyasasha Kumari as Samia Choudhry
  • Adam Ali as Kai Sharif
  • Alicia Forde as Kelly Jo Rafferty
  • Francesco Piacentini-Smith as Dean Weever
  • Liam Scholes as Noel McManus
  • Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams
  • Summer Violet Bird as Tonya Walters
  • Scarlett Thomas as Izzy Charles
  • Thapelo Ray as Dwayne Jackson
  • Inathi Rozani as Zayne Jackson
  • Chiamaka Ulebor as Shola Aku
  • Hattie Dynevor as Libby Guthrie
  • Zak Sutcliffe as Schumacher "Schuey" Weever
  • Tillie Amartey as Stacey "Stace" Neville
  • Maisie Robinson as Portia Weever
  • Aabay Noor Ali as Mollie 'Mog' Richardson
  • Zanele Nyoni as Jess Clarke
  • Teddy Wallwork as Declan Harding

Recurring

  • Sonia Ibrahim as Jamilah Omar, School social worker
  • Hollie-Jay Bowes as Debs Rafferty, Kelly Jo's mother
  • Marie Critchley as Barbara Rafferty, Nicky and Debs' mother
  • Tom Wells as Marc Todd, Maths teacher
  • Kerry Howard as Serena Michelle Davies, Deputy Chief Executive Officer / Acting Chief Executive Officer of Lowry Community Academies Trust
  • William Fox as Pete Weever, Schuey and Portia's father

Guest

Episodes

No. in
series		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
215"Episode 1"Vicky ThomasDavey Jones2 January 2024 (2024-01-02)TBD

Kim decides to tackle truancy with a new life skills initiative, starting with letters to parents of the most persistent offenders, employing a carrot and stick approach. The carrot being the promise of a free bus to Waterloo Road on the first day of the new term, and the stick highlighting that truancy is a criminal offence with a potential £2000 fine.

Tonya is spotted shoplifting at the local off-licence, but an intervention by new pupil Schuey, results in them getting away. Pursued by the shopkeeper, they make it onto the school bus, but when the driver refuses to drive until the kids sit down, Schuey pushes him out and commandeers the bus.

When Dean bumps into his cousins Schuey and Portia, despite the shared rebellious streak, it seems that they have little in common. In the meantime aided and abetted by Noel, he creates a fake profile for Coral on social media and proceeds to 'catfish' Neil.

Samia, Val and much of the school is still reeling from the death of Danny. Kai proposes the retirement of Danny's basketball shirt number with many signing the framed top. With the frame damaged by the unruly new pupils, Lindon takes the shirt for reframing, but fails to notice it is stolen by Stace. Confronted by Samia and a cohort of Danny's friends, the rival groups trade insults before the all too predictable partisan punch-up, during which Tonya lands a right hook on the loud-mouthed Schuey, resulting in a bloodied nose.

Schuey accuses Donte of being his assailant. Feeling neglected, Tonya joins forces with Schuey in an attempt at making Donte's life difficult. Having blocked a toilet to get him out of the way, they enter his office and steal a bracelet belonging to Izzy. When the police arrive, having identified her as the shoplifter, Donte defends Tonya like he would one of his own children, leading to a crisis of conscience.
216"Episode 2"Vicky ThomasJayshree Patel9 January 2024 (2024-01-09)TBD

Andrew and Kim's personal relationship continues apace, and having highlighted the benefits that Waterloo Road could gain by becoming an Academy, finds Kim gradually starting to come round to the idea. She is keen to join his trust-led group of schools, but decides to keep it under wraps from her staff until Neil, now teachers' representative on the board of governors, reveals all. Some of the staff suspect Kim's judgement may be clouded by her personal feelings for Andrew.

Preston is welcomed back to school by Kai, but is surprised to learn that his friend is now basketball team captain. Feeling displaced by Kai, he decides that his future lies at a specialist sports college where he can make a fresh start. Amy convinces him to become a peer mentor to new year 9 student Mog who had been previously home-schooled. Astute and intelligent, she trades barbs with Preston but when he insults her, storms off. Eventually, the two find common ground participating in an online multiplayer game.

Kelly Jo discovers Dean's catfishing and becomes part of the conspiracy. Meanwhile, Neil misconstrues conversations with Coral to comic effect. When Kelly Jo suggests that Neil might be the type to have a foot-fetish, the gang send a picture of Dean's feet with painted toe-nails to him. Finding the terrible tootsies a turn-off, Neil eventually confronts Coral in person about their 'situationship' and it finally dawns on him that he has been the victim of some skullduggery by person or persons unknown. In cahoots with Coral, he turns the tables on the culprits. That afternoon as he is leaving for an after work drink with Coral he receives an unexpected visitor.
217"Episode 3"Angela GriffinNatalie Mitchell23 January 2024 (2024-01-23)TBD
Shola tells a white lie that spirals out of control, and when her innocent obsession is exposed, it sends shockwaves through the school. Meanwhile, Mike finds himself in a sticky situation, and Joe struggles to clean up his mess. For Kim, a crucial meeting proves to be a disaster, but when she learns of some life-changing news, she’s forced to make a difficult decision. Elsewhere, Libby is on a mission to stay at Waterloo Road and will do whatever it takes to get her own way.
218"Episode 4"Angela GriffinJayshree Patel & Jessica BarnesTBATBD
It’s a big day for Kelly Jo as she presents her work to the whole school as well as trying to work out who she is and where she is going. Dean’s support leaves a lot to be desired. Whilst proving to be a thorn in Kelly Jo’s side, Libby masterminds a plan to get Amy out of her family home. Meanwhile, Nicky and Donte are presented with a fresh set of challenges, and their situation raises an intriguing topic of discussion.
219"Episode 5"Mickey JonesGareth McLeanTBATBD
Schuey fumes at Amy over an innocent mistake, and when he lashes out, they soon come head-to-head. Battling to keep a lid on her emotions, Amy has some choice words for Schuey, but with the school up in arms, Amy’s left regretting her actions. There’s an exciting discovery for Dean and Noel, but Kelly Jo brings Dean crashing back down to earth with a life-changing revelation. For Samia and Libby, their friendship hangs in the balance when their plan to fluke their mocks spectacularly backfires.
220"Episode 6"Mickey JonesJulia KentTBATBD
Kelly Jo makes a momentous decision with the support of Samia, whilst Dean continues to spiral, proving that he’s his own worst enemy. With most of the teachers away on an inset day, year 11 is busy with revision. Leading the pack, Libby coaxes the teens away from their study session, and they soon run riot in school, leading to a dramatic turn of events. Meanwhile, Joe discovers some unsettling news regarding the academy takeover, and Andrew has a setback after pushing himself too hard.
221"Episode 7"Paulette RandallRebekah HarrisonTBATBD
Tonya is forced to take drastic action after a scandalous discovery, and the school is plunged into darkness after a blackout. Preston keeps a keen eye on Tonya, but when Schuey continues to cause chaos, Preston takes the law into his own hands. Neil and Coral butt heads, and Libby goes to extreme lengths to keep her dad on side. Elsewhere, Kai’s presented with an exciting idea regarding his future.
222"Episode 8"Paulette RandallNeil JonesTBATBD
Donte is rocked by a ghost from his past that threatens life as he knows it. Meanwhile, Kim and Nicky find Schuey in a precarious situation, and when they’re forced to act, anarchy soon strikes Waterloo Road. Coral faces repercussions, and as the rumour mill goes into overdrive, Neil is left wondering how well he truly knows his daughter. Elsewhere, Andrew finds hope in the unlikeliest of places, and Dean pleads his case to Kelly Jo.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ttwk
  2. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001ttwk
  3. ↑ "Exclusive: Waterloo Road confirms five new characters for next series". Digital Spy. 30 June 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Spackman, Maisie (30 June 2023). "Waterloo Road confirms new cast as Coronation Street star's daughter joins". Metro. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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