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Ep 12/20
Thursday 10 January
8.00-9.00pm
BBC ONE
It’s all about the money this week when Phoenix and Harley win the lottery, but their good fortune is overshadowed by the arrival of their father, Nelson. Nikki is forced to question her actions towards Scout, and Michael finds a friend in Christine when he gets news about his court case.
All Phoenix and Harley want to do is spend, spend, spend, but Nelson’s arrival casts a shadow and causes division. Phoenix reckons Nelson’s only interested in their winnings and feels vindicated when their father reveals his business is in financial trouble.
Angry at his father’s deception, Phoenix wants nothing to do with Nelson, but Harley, and then Lorraine, suggest it might be a good idea to invest some of their lottery win into the family business. But, Phoenix has one condition – he wants an apprenticeship in the firm. With the blessing of his brother Harley and the school, Phoenix prepares to bid an emotional farewell to Waterloo Road.
Elsewhere, Nikki suspects Scout has stolen her car and handbag and sets about punishing the pupil. However, Scout discovers Barry is the real culprit and threatens to expose him, but master manipulator Barry suggests another course of action to wronged Scout.
Meanwhile, guilt-ridden Connor can’t bear to look Imogen in the eye and she believes it’s because of her scars. As Connor struggles with his terrible secret, Christine tries to intervene but he’s wracked with remorse over what he’s done to the girl he loves.
There’s division in the staffroom after Michael gets unexpected news about his impending court case. Feeling isolated, Michael confides in Christine, bringing the pair closer together.
Chalky can’t contain his excitement he’s fostering Kevin. But it soon becomes clear Chalky will need to tread carefully if he’s to win Kevin’s trust.
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Angus Deayton has been unveiled as a new addition to the cast of Waterloo Road.
The former Have I Got News For You host, who has acted before in comedies such as One Foot in the Grave and Nighty Night, will take on the role of George Windsor.
Deayton's character Mr Windsor is a modern languages teacher who is returning to school after travelling for a quieter life.
George Windsor's cynical attitudes towards education will be similar to those of veteran English teacher Grantly Budgen.
The 56-year-old will make his first appearance on the BBC serial in the spring of next year, from episode 27 of series eight.
The Deayton announcement comes soon after the casting of Daniela Nardini as an eccentric science teacher.
Waterloo Road returns to screens on Thursday, January 3 at 8pm on BBC One.
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Ep 13/20
Thursday 17 January
8.00-9.00pm
BBC ONE
Imogen challenges Dynasty over her plans to get cosmetic surgery and quit school to become a pole dancer; Nikki’s antagonism towards Scout grows; and romance is in the air for Christine and Michael.
While Imogen receives devastating news that there’s nothing she can do to reduce her scar, schoolgirl Dynasty makes plans to go under the knife and get a boob job, supported all the way by her pushy mother, Carol.
At school, guilt-ridden Connor still can’t bear to look at Imogen but she’s convinced he’s repulsed by her scars. So when she overhears Dynasty bragging about getting a boob job, Imogen snaps at her shallowness and outs her plans to Michael and Audrey.
Later, Imogen offers a less-than-heartfelt apology whilst Dynasty practices her pole dancing. Later, Dynasty finds Imogen crying and, realising it’s because of Connor, she tells her she’s better off without him.
Imogen admits she thinks its wrong Dynasty’s mother, Carol, is encouraging her to give up school to become a pole dancer. She tries to make her see she’s worth more but their conversation is cut short when Carol arrives to whisk Dynasty off to the dancing auditions.
In the club, Dynasty challenges her mother but Carol dismisses Dynasty’s academic achievements telling her pole dancing is her true vocation. But, encouraged by Imogen’s support, Dynasty starts to doubt her mother’s grand plans.
Elsewhere, Chalky struggles to understand foster son Kevin; Michael asks Christine out on a date; and Scout and Nikki’s fractured relationship worsens when the finger of blame is pointed at Scout after Lorraine’s expensive sports car is stolen. But it looks as though Barry might have a hand in that incident.
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Zoe Lucker has revealed that she was "shocked" by the actions of her new character in Waterloo Road.
The former EastEnders actress will star as Carol Barry, the head of a Liverpudlian criminal family in the BBC drama.
Carol's husband is currently in prison, leaving her as the lone parent of three unruly children - Barry (Carl Au) and daughters Dynasty and Kacey (Abby Mavers and Brogan Ellis).
Lucker spoke of her surprise upon being told that her character had to hit her children, as it is something she would never do in real life.
"When I read that I was going to hit my son I was pretty shocked, as it is not something I could ever do as a mum," she told The Sun.
"Carol is physical with her kids, she is threatening, feisty and angry. She is a very hard woman.
"I couldn't actually hit the actor in real life, but when he saw the power behind my punch, I think he was really grateful I hadn't hit him across the face for real!
"It is very difficult to get to that stage in your head where it is OK to physically hurt someone. I have to take myself off into a corner and psyche myself up, before giving it as much as I can."
The former Footballers' Wives actress said that she is very different from her on-screen roles, saying: "Everyone thinks I'm hard, feisty and angry because of the characters that I have played.
"I'm nothing like that at all. I worry about everything and I'm a real pushover in comparison.
"I am more drawn to those roles though, as they are really meaty parts and it is the way people have come to see me."
She revealed that she was nervous about her first day on the Waterloo Road set. "Growing up, there were a few people around me with that hard edge to their character," she said.
"When I read the part it felt familiar to me. Although I didn't base Carol on anyone, it is inspired by a couple of mums that I knew when I was younger.
"I do have an element of sympathy for Carol because even though she does behave quite appallingly a lot of the time, she has been left to look after three wayward kids when her husband is banged up for armed robbery."
She added: "Carol is not glamorous, she looks very hard. It was a real contrast to the floaty big blonde hair of Vanessa Gold and the white suits.
"She is very uniform with her hair always scraped back, with the same jewellery and jacket on.
"Carol alternates her top but that is about it. It was a choice - I felt this was a woman who, back in the day, would have taken a lot of care of herself but these days it is a practical thing."
Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2oggXGdkU
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Waterloo Road's Heather Peace has revealed why she returned to play Nikki Boston in the school soap.
Peace, who has also starred in BBC Three drama Lip Service, released her debut album Fairytales earlier this year.
The actress told the Daily Record: "I couldn't do the first 10 episodes when they moved [to Greenock], because I had my tour booked and it clashed.
"But when they knew I would like to come back, they brought me in a different role. So they have put me in as head of the pupil referral unit, which is where all the naughty kids go.
"She is the ultimate disciplinarian so, if they step out of line, she has them running around the school grounds like it's some kind of military base. It's quite funny, really. I do think there is a comedy element to it."
Speaking of her singing career, which at one point saw her working with Simon Cowell at Sony/BMG, Peace revealed why she finds it better having her own independent label.
Peace said: "I'm happier, absolutely. We have complete control and it is literally just me, my manager and a lady who does the PR. It is brilliant. I would rather it was this size with me having control than being huge and losing all of that.
"We have released it on our own record label. I think that unless you get in the charts, Joe Public thinks you are not a success. But the way I measure success is that I don't have to get another job to supplement my mortgage. Success to me is having a job you love. That's what's happening.
"We are coming up for our third tour next March, dates are selling out and it's got bigger again. We play the Fruitmarket in Glasgow, and then tour Australia.
"There is so much out there now. It is not completely owned by the big label. There is a way of doing your own thing, and I think a lot of people want to go and find new music. It is not just about people finding the same song."
Peace also said of Cowell: "I've met him a couple of times since the whole experience, and he's a gent. He always remembers your name."
Waterloo Road airs on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC1.
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Waterloo Road welcomes Zöe Lucker to the show's cast this evening (January 3) as she takes on the role of Carol Barry.
Carol is the head of a hellraising criminal family, and her three children Barry, Dynasty and Kacey will be causing chaos at the school when they arrive as the latest recruits for headmaster Michael Byrne's pupil referral unit.
How have you found being part of the Waterloo Road cast?
"I've loved it. Initially I was very nervous about it, but that was mainly because the show is shot in Scotland and at the time when I was due to start filming, my partner Jim was working in Los Angeles for a couple of months. I was wondering how I'd manage to juggle the job with my childcare, which is the most important thing for me.
"But my parents and Jim's parents pulled together and were absolutely brilliant. That meant that I could go off, do the job and enjoy it without panicking about whether my 4-year-old daughter Lily was alright.
"The actual job has been great. They're a lovely cast at Waterloo Road. All actors bond when they get together for a show, but especially when lots of people are away from home. It's been fantastic, and I've got a couple more episodes still to do. It's six episodes in total - it started out as three and developed from there."
What was the main appeal of Waterloo Road to you?
"I think it was the fact that it's a challenge, because I'm playing such a different type of character. After I left EastEnders, lots of job offers came in for theatre tours, but as much as I love the theatre, those just wouldn't be appropriate for my circumstances because I want to put Lily first.
"When Waterloo Road came up, it was great that I could make it work with my family commitments. I've also enjoyed playing someone who's slightly controversial and very hard-edged."
What more can you tell us about Carol?
"Carol is the mum of three children - Barry, Kacey and Dynasty - and her husband Neil is in prison for armed robbery. They're a family who've had to move around a lot because the kids are often getting into trouble.
"You'll see that Carol's principles are slightly distorted, to say the least! She often finds herself on the wrong side of the law - that's how she's always been and how she was raised. It's also how she raises her own kids.
"They're a really interesting family and it's good fun to play. Wherever they go, they have a reputation that follows them. They'll stay somewhere for a couple of years, but then they'll have to move and start afresh. They're quite dodgy characters."
Even though she's an extreme character, is there a chance that viewers could warm to Carol?
"I think you can never tell how people are going to react until it's aired. When you're doing a long-running role like in Footballers' Wives or EastEnders, the audience really get to know your character as they follow all the ups and downs. I think the viewers then take a slightly more sympathetic point of view, because they see you at your lowest and then climbing back up again.
"With Waterloo Road, it's six episodes and it's quite spread out. I'm in episodes 11, 12, 13 and 19, and then later I'm back for 28 and 29. I just hope the audience are happy to pick up where they left off!
"Carol does some things that are not very nice, but you can see that she's a fighter and she's trying to keep her head above water. She's trying to survive as a single mum as she hasn't got a job, Neil is in prison and they're short of money. Carol would do anything to pay the bills and keep her family having a decent lifestyle - she does what it takes."
Is Carol still loyal to Neil even though he's in prison?
"She's incredibly loyal to him and they've got a really strong relationship. Neil has been in prison all through their married life, so I think Carol has got used to him being in there. She actually condones his illegal behaviour while it's happening, so she stands by him if it goes wrong and he gets caught."
Carol and her family are from Liverpool, so was it a challenge to take on a new accent for the role?
"Normally I just keep my own natural accent for roles, so it was a challenge. But I just went into the audition and thought, 'If it's really bad, I don't think they'll cast me in it!' Also, I'm working with the three kids who are all from Liverpool and have quite strong accents. That was great, because if there were any moments where I felt unsure about the pronunciation of something, I'd just run it by one of the kids.
"I think it's a lot about confidence and when I read the script, the voice that I spoke with seemed natural to that character. I'm hoping people won't think too much about the accent. Also, as the family have moved around so much, it's less concerning than if I was playing someone who was actually based in Liverpool."
Some of your previous characters have been quite glamorous. How would you describe Carol's appearance?
"Well, I would never call her glamorous - I think she's very rough around the edges! Because of the type of person she is, the look that we went for is very hard. She has a uniform dress sense, which doesn't really vary at all apart from her tops. Her jewellery and hair are always the same, so it's a big departure from my EastEnders character Vanessa.
"I didn't want Carol to be really glam, because I didn't feel like she was that type of person. There's no rollers, flowing hair or beautiful make-up."
Do we mainly see Carol at home or at the school?
"We never see her at home ever! You see Carol bringing the kids into school to introduce them, and then also when she's called in for various different reasons for each individual child. She's always causing some chaos down at the school."
Did your on-screen kids approach you for any advice?
"They're all really confident kids and they just got on with it. They were brilliant and such lovely kids. I gave some advice about other stuff, but that was just life advice because I'm older than them. In terms of the acting, they're so competent and absolutely great to work with."
Have you enjoyed filming at Waterloo Road's base in Greenock?
"Definitely - when it's a lovely day, the views are absolutely stunning and the buildings are beautiful. Unfortunately it rained quite a lot, so often it was quite grey! Greenock itself is a really lovely place.
"One funny thing was when I went into the school for the first time. It took me back to my own school days and made my stomach go really weird!"
Do you look back fondly at your time on EastEnders?
"Absolutely yes - it was a lovely job. I really loved playing that character and going to work every day. The only thing that was ever boring about that job was the M25 on the way home on a Friday night - sometimes it would take three hours! That was the only part that was in any way negative."
Would you ever go back?
"The door was left open and I think with EastEnders, you often see people go off and come back again. They reintroduce characters all the time, so you never know.
"At the moment, I'm still doing Waterloo Road so for the upcoming few months it's definitely not on the cards, but you never know. As I say, I loved playing the character, so it's something that I'd definitely consider if that offer ever came my way again."
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Waterloo Road welcomes Zöe Lucker to the show's cast this evening (January 3) as she takes on the role of Carol Barry.
Carol is the head of a hellraising criminal family, and her three children Barry, Dynasty and Kacey will be causing chaos at the school when they arrive as the latest recruits for headmaster Michael Byrne's pupil referral unit.
How have you found being part of the Waterloo Road cast?
"I've loved it. Initially I was very nervous about it, but that was mainly because the show is shot in Scotland and at the time when I was due to start filming, my partner Jim was working in Los Angeles for a couple of months. I was wondering how I'd manage to juggle the job with my childcare, which is the most important thing for me.
"But my parents and Jim's parents pulled together and were absolutely brilliant. That meant that I could go off, do the job and enjoy it without panicking about whether my 4-year-old daughter Lily was alright.
"The actual job has been great. They're a lovely cast at Waterloo Road. All actors bond when they get together for a show, but especially when lots of people are away from home. It's been fantastic, and I've got a couple more episodes still to do. It's six episodes in total - it started out as three and developed from there."
What was the main appeal of Waterloo Road to you?
"I think it was the fact that it's a challenge, because I'm playing such a different type of character. After I left EastEnders, lots of job offers came in for theatre tours, but as much as I love the theatre, those just wouldn't be appropriate for my circumstances because I want to put Lily first.
"When Waterloo Road came up, it was great that I could make it work with my family commitments. I've also enjoyed playing someone who's slightly controversial and very hard-edged."
What more can you tell us about Carol?
"Carol is the mum of three children - Barry, Kacey and Dynasty - and her husband Neil is in prison for armed robbery. They're a family who've had to move around a lot because the kids are often getting into trouble.
"You'll see that Carol's principles are slightly distorted, to say the least! She often finds herself on the wrong side of the law - that's how she's always been and how she was raised. It's also how she raises her own kids.
"They're a really interesting family and it's good fun to play. Wherever they go, they have a reputation that follows them. They'll stay somewhere for a couple of years, but then they'll have to move and start afresh. They're quite dodgy characters."
Even though she's an extreme character, is there a chance that viewers could warm to Carol?
"I think you can never tell how people are going to react until it's aired. When you're doing a long-running role like in Footballers' Wives or EastEnders, the audience really get to know your character as they follow all the ups and downs. I think the viewers then take a slightly more sympathetic point of view, because they see you at your lowest and then climbing back up again.
"With Waterloo Road, it's six episodes and it's quite spread out. I'm in episodes 11, 12, 13 and 19, and then later I'm back for 28 and 29. I just hope the audience are happy to pick up where they left off!
"Carol does some things that are not very nice, but you can see that she's a fighter and she's trying to keep her head above water. She's trying to survive as a single mum as she hasn't got a job, Neil is in prison and they're short of money. Carol would do anything to pay the bills and keep her family having a decent lifestyle - she does what it takes."
Is Carol still loyal to Neil even though he's in prison?
"She's incredibly loyal to him and they've got a really strong relationship. Neil has been in prison all through their married life, so I think Carol has got used to him being in there. She actually condones his illegal behaviour while it's happening, so she stands by him if it goes wrong and he gets caught."
Carol and her family are from Liverpool, so was it a challenge to take on a new accent for the role?
"Normally I just keep my own natural accent for roles, so it was a challenge. But I just went into the audition and thought, 'If it's really bad, I don't think they'll cast me in it!' Also, I'm working with the three kids who are all from Liverpool and have quite strong accents. That was great, because if there were any moments where I felt unsure about the pronunciation of something, I'd just run it by one of the kids.
"I think it's a lot about confidence and when I read the script, the voice that I spoke with seemed natural to that character. I'm hoping people won't think too much about the accent. Also, as the family have moved around so much, it's less concerning than if I was playing someone who was actually based in Liverpool."
Some of your previous characters have been quite glamorous. How would you describe Carol's appearance?
"Well, I would never call her glamorous - I think she's very rough around the edges! Because of the type of person she is, the look that we went for is very hard. She has a uniform dress sense, which doesn't really vary at all apart from her tops. Her jewellery and hair are always the same, so it's a big departure from my EastEnders character Vanessa.
"I didn't want Carol to be really glam, because I didn't feel like she was that type of person. There's no rollers, flowing hair or beautiful make-up."
Do we mainly see Carol at home or at the school?
"We never see her at home ever! You see Carol bringing the kids into school to introduce them, and then also when she's called in for various different reasons for each individual child. She's always causing some chaos down at the school."
Did your on-screen kids approach you for any advice?
"They're all really confident kids and they just got on with it. They were brilliant and such lovely kids. I gave some advice about other stuff, but that was just life advice because I'm older than them. In terms of the acting, they're so competent and absolutely great to work with."
Have you enjoyed filming at Waterloo Road's base in Greenock?
"Definitely - when it's a lovely day, the views are absolutely stunning and the buildings are beautiful. Unfortunately it rained quite a lot, so often it was quite grey! Greenock itself is a really lovely place.
"One funny thing was when I went into the school for the first time. It took me back to my own school days and made my stomach go really weird!"
Do you look back fondly at your time on EastEnders?
"Absolutely yes - it was a lovely job. I really loved playing that character and going to work every day. The only thing that was ever boring about that job was the M25 on the way home on a Friday night - sometimes it would take three hours! That was the only part that was in any way negative."
Would you ever go back?
"The door was left open and I think with EastEnders, you often see people go off and come back again. They reintroduce characters all the time, so you never know.
"At the moment, I'm still doing Waterloo Road so for the upcoming few months it's definitely not on the cards, but you never know. As I say, I loved playing the character, so it's something that I'd definitely consider if that offer ever came my way again."
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Ep 14/20
Day and time to be confirmed
BBC ONE
Christine’s world is turned upside-down by the arrival of her estranged husband, Joe; Nikki is forced to reassess her view of Scout; and Connor wrestles with telling the truth about the fire to Imogen.
Christine is unsettled by the arrival of her ex-husband Joe Mulgrew, who wants to talk to her about his father’s will. And when Joe shows a renewed interest in Connor, the son he’s never seen or acknowledged, Christine is horrified.
As Christine’s lies about Joe start to unravel, Connor turns against his mother, little realising he’s being manipulated. For Joe, he’s only back for business – to get Christine to sign away her rights to a farmhouse she’s been gifted by his late father.
Joe’s presence sends Christine into a spin. And after Michael rebuffs her pleas for support, she turns to a bottle of vodka for solace, falling off the wagon in spectacular fashion. When Connor finds Christine drunken and distraught in her classroom, it’s the final straw and he announces he’s leaving to live with his father.
But Christine isn’t about to let her son go without a fight and delivers some stinging lies to ensure Joe walks away forever. Later, she confides in Michael the truth about her past which shines a light on her troubled life and relationships, bringing the pair closer together.
Nikki’s bullying campaign against Scout continues but Barry Barry drops a bombshell which forces her to rethink her behaviour; and Sian employs a ‘divide and conquer’ approach to the troublesome Barrys - believing Barry Barry is exerting an unhealthy influence over his sisters, Dynasty and Kacey.
Elsewhere, guilt consumes Connor and he considers telling Imogen the truth about the fire which scarred her.
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Waterloo Road newcomer Abby Mavers has predicted that viewers will "fall in love" with the show's troublesome Barry family in the coming months.
The actress last week made her first appearance as Dynasty Barry, who arrived at the school with her brother Barry (Carl Au) and sister Kacey (Brogan Ellis). Meanwhile, Zöe Lucker plays the trio's mother Carol.
Viewers have already seen the Liverpudlian clan cause chaos at Waterloo Road, leading to some viewer complaints about "Scouse stereotyping".
However, Mavers told the Liverpool Echo: "My family have just come into the school, my father's in prison and my mum's trying to be strong and find as much money as she can. Dynasty's in top set, but my brother Barry and sister Kacey are in the pupil referral unit (PRU).
"You could see it as stereotypical, but I've filmed about 20 episodes so far and I've seen these characters grow. Some people see kids from these types of families and think they're scum and good for nothing, but if they're given that little bit of attention they will grow and develop.
"It's important that people watch it, especially teachers who have maybe got a kid like one of the Barry kids in their school."
She continued: "I think it could make people think twice about dismissing kids in places like the PRU and realise they do have a brain but some of them haven't had any guidance.
"I think viewers will fall in love with these Scousers as they watch the characters grow."
Waterloo Road continues on Thursday (January 10) at 8pm on BBC One.
