'Waterloo Road' Rebecca Craven: 'Rhiannon will be inconsolable'
Waterloo Road's Rhiannon Salt faces another tough time in this week's episode as some saucy photos of her are spread around the school.
The story kicks off when Rhiannon makes the mistake of sending the pictures to her new love interest Darren Hughes.
Earlier this week, Digital Spy chatted to Rebecca Craven - who plays Rhiannon - to hear how her character copes with the embarrassing situation.
What was this episode like to film?
"This episode for me was a hard one, but it was a good challenge because Rhiannon goes on a bit of a rollercoaster. There's so many emotions that she goes through, so there's quite a big journey from beginning to end. That was challenging to film, but it was also great to do."
How does the storyline begin?
"At the beginning of this week's episode, Rhiannon is very under-confident because she hasn't got a date for the school disco and she's feeling a bit left out. Dynasty then helps out by offering to give Rhiannon a makeover. Rhiannon is a bit apprehensive at first because she isn't really a girly girl and doesn't want to wear too much make-up, but when the makeover is revealed and she sees everyone's positive reaction, she is really pleased.
"This all provides Rhiannon with massive confidence to go and ask Darren out. When he says yes, Rhiannon is elated."
What is it about Darren that has caught Rhiannon's eye?
"Rhiannon just thinks that he's quite a funny lad. He's a bit of a class clown and Rhiannon reckons he'd be fun to go to the disco with. They're also from similar backgrounds, so she thinks they'll get on really well. Rhiannon just wants a date so she looks around that morning and thinks, 'Well, he's alright!' Some of the girls aren't so sure, but Rhiannon is just happy to have a date!"
What happens next?
"Darren asks Rhiannon to send some inappropriate pictures. She agrees because she's scared that he might cancel the date if she doesn't. Unfortunately, she's then left in complete turmoil because the pictures get spread around the school."
Barry Barry is very much involved in this, so is he being a bad influence on Darren?
"Yes, it's peer pressure. Throughout series nine, you'll see that Darren succumbs to the peer pressure of Barry because he wants to be more like him - the lad of the school. Barry basically says that if Rhiannon is willing to give her number out so quickly, what else is she willing to give out? Darren isn't so sure that it's a good idea, but Barry rules the roost at the school and eventually talks him into asking Rhiannon for the pictures.
"Darren is quite an immature character, so he really doesn't realise what he's letting himself in for and how much trouble he's going to get into. It's not nasty and vindictive on Darren's part."
Is it Darren or Barry who spreads the pictures around?
"Barry grabs the phone and forces Darren to send him the pictures. Barry is very much the ringleader of it all."
How does Rhiannon react when she finds out the pictures are being shared?
"First of all, she's in science class and she notices that everyone is on their phones. When she finds out why, the initial reaction she has is absolute anger. She's furious at Darren, so she finds him down in a classroom and literally tries to beat lumps out of him!
"Rhiannon is so humiliated and angry, so the realisation that she's the laughing stock of the school then sets in. She's inconsolable and distraught. Rhiannon is a broken mess until Sonya and Christine talk to her, promising that everything's going to be okay."
Rhiannon gets the support of the other female students, doesn't she?
"Yes, Dynasty and Imogen have got her back and are really annoyed at Barry and Darren for what they've done. Sonya then rallies the girls round to humiliate the boys. They go into the boys' changing rooms and take photos of them while they're coming out of the showers in PE. That is obviously not the right thing to do, so Christine is furious at Sonya and calls a massive school assembly about how serious the situation is."
Do you hope this makes an impact on the viewers? It's quite a topical storyline.
"Absolutely. What's great about Waterloo Road is that it's a programme people can watch as a family. There are lots of issues raised on the show and parents can then discuss it with their children.
"This is a great storyline to have and I'm really chuffed about it. With this generation, so many people are on social networking sites and iPhone apps. It only takes one click for a picture to be sent around the whole school, so I think this story is a great way to raise awareness.
"Another thing is that whenever a young person goes through something like this, they'll probably think they're the only ones in that situation. Watching my character go through it is a great way to show teenagers that they're not alone."
Can you give us any other gossip on what's coming up for Rhiannon?
"I'm always very busy at work, which is a great thing - I'm really lucky. I've got quite a busy schedule, as Rhiannon is always being feisty and getting into trouble! There'll be some trouble for Rhiannon at the schoolhouse with Harley, Maggie and Grantly, but apart from that, you'll have to wait and see…"
The last time we spoke, Rhiannon was the villain in a bullying storyline. How have the viewers' reactions to her changed since then?
"It's great, because I came into the show with a big bang and Rhiannon provoked a reaction because she was such a bully. Once her self-harm story aired, people warmed to her a lot more. At the end of the day, she is a character that every school will have - a feisty girl who just wants to be liked by everyone but has a mouth that she can't control! The reception that I've had has been fantastic. There's been a positive turnaround."
Which aspect of her personality do you prefer playing?
"I love it when Rhiannon is being the class clown and doing little pranks. All sides of her are great, but the bullying has definitely gone now."
We know that Grantly is leaving the show very soon. Were you sad to say goodbye to Philip Martin Brown, who plays him?
"Definitely - he's like the King of Waterloo Road! He was great to have on set and he's really missed. I like that he became a bit of a father figure for Rhiannon at the schoolhouse. We had loads of fun with the scenes we filmed."
Have you made many friends among the new cast members who have joined for this series?
"Yes, especially Joe Slater and Mark Beswick who play Lenny and Darren. They are the funniest boys I've ever met in my life, and I'm sort of their mum now, because they're so young and away from home! I'm looking after them and teaching them how to use the washing machine and how to cook!"
How do you feel about Katie McGlynn, who played your Waterloo Road rival Scout, moving on to Coronation Street?
"I'm so proud. Katie is one of my best friends and we speak as often as we can. She's doing fantastically well. I recently saw her at the TV Choice Awards, where Corrie won 'Best Soap'. I know that she's absolutely loving it there at Corrie, and it's great to see her moving on to bigger and better things. She's a talented one, that girl!"
'Waterloo Road' Philip Martin Brown: 'I didn't expect show to last'
Waterloo Road star Philip Martin Brown has said that he didn't expect the show to last more than two series.
The actor is due to bow out of his role as Grantly Budgen, having played him since series one.
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Philip Martin Brown as Grantly Budgen in Waterloo Road
© BBC / Shed Productions (WR)
Philip Martin Brown
Speaking to Inside Soap, Brown said: "I thought Waterloo Road had two series in it - but lo and behold, it has gone on and on!
"It just goes from strength to strength, and I've had a ball playing Grantly. He's had such a variety of storylines - all the way from tragedy to comedy breakdancing."
Speaking about filming his final scenes, Brown added: "I didn't think filming my last episode would be emotional - but it was.
"There were some real emotions thrown into those scenes."