Waterloo Road's Joe Slater promises Lenny drama: 'He's vulnerable'
Waterloo Road airs a big episode for Lenny Brown tonight (November 12) as he hits rock bottom due to exam stress.
Desperate to do well in his preliminary tests, Lenny relies on all-night study sessions and excessive energy drinks to get him through - but his bad decisions soon catch up with him in dramatic fashion.
Joe Slater, who plays Lenny, recently caught up with Digital Spy for a chat about the worrying times ahead for his character.
What was it like to film such a big episode for Lenny?
"I loved filming this episode and David Innes Edwards, the director I was working with, was amazing. He was great with me, but it was really challenging because it was the very first time in the show that I'd been heavily featured in an episode.
"When I was reading through the script, my name was on every page so it was a big task for me and a lot of pressure, but I loved it."
Lenny gets much more nervous about the exams than the other students. Why is that?
"Lenny really wants to do well for himself and go to college and uni. He wants to make something of himself, so with anything that he does, he always wants to do his best. Because Lenny wants to do so well, he just starts getting himself all worked up and he stays up all night trying to study.
"Lenny's sister Lisa is not like that and a lot of the other pupils in the school aren't either, not even his best friend Darren. They haven't got the responsibility to stand up and say that they want to do well for themselves.
"Lenny is different because he really wants to pass these exams. They're only mock exams, they're not even proper ones - but it just shows that Lenny wants to put his mind to things. That's why he gets stressed out. The problems he has are self-inflicted, but Lenny only means well!"
Given Lenny's troubled background, have you enjoyed showing him genuinely wanting to do well?
"Yeah, definitely. When Lenny first came into Waterloo Road, his life was rubbish but he really does want to turn himself around now. He also wants to prove some things to himself, as he doesn't come from the best background. He wants to achieve something and live for something, so that's why he's very passionate about anything he does."
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Lenny struggles in his exams
© BBC / Shed Productions (WR) Ltd/Alan Peebles
Lenny struggles in his exams
We'll see Lenny suffer a panic attack when the pressure becomes too much. Was that challenging to film?
"Yeah it was, but like I said, the director was great with me. I've had panic attacks myself before so I know what it's like, but trying to portray that with a character on screen is hard.
"When you suffer a panic attack, it's one of those moments in time where everything else around you means nothing at all and it's just you in that moment. I hope it does look as real as possible, but it was quite hard."
Lenny's sister Lisa really opposes his hard work in this episode. Is she jealous?
"She is. When I was playing Lenny, I tried to change him so that he was growing up a lot throughout his story. Lisa is jealous because she doesn't really have the brains or the responsibility to turn around and say that she wants to make something of herself. Lenny does and that's where they're different.
"Because Lenny is trying to do good, Lisa knocks him down for it and calls him a nerd! Deep down she probably does understand, but it's just not her style to support him. I felt a little bit sorry for Lenny in this story because all he's trying to do is do well, but everyone around him is knocking him down a little bit. That's the way it's always been for Lenny, which is why he's quite a shy and vulnerable person."
What else is coming up for Lenny in the longer-term?
"What I can say is that Lenny is featured more than last year in this series. He's got a little bit of drama going on, but then in the next series which comes on television next year, he's in it a hell of a lot more. Lenny gets a new best friend and there could be a lady involved!"
How do you feel about Waterloo Road coming to an end?
"I love Waterloo Road. I've never aspired to be an actor - I'm a musician and singer-songwriter and that's what I do - but Waterloo Road is a period of my life that I'll never forget. I'll always remember the people I worked with, everything I learned and everything I experienced. It was great and I wouldn't change it for the world. If I could turn back time and do it all over again, I would!"
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Christine will try to help Lenny
© BBC / Shed Productions (WR) Ltd/Alan Peebles
Christine will try to help Lenny
Who were you closest to on set?
"The people I spent most time with were Mark Beswick who played Darren, Max Bowden who played Justin, Becky Craven who played Rhiannon, and Zebb Dempster who played Leo. We always did our own little thing. I still say hello to the others every now and again and see how everyone's doing."
In real life, you have a Liverpool accent so was it a challenge to take on a Scottish one for the show?
"People ask me this a lot and I never know what to say! For me, I just do it and I don't think about it. I lived in Scotland for a few years before I did Waterloo Road and I think I just picked it up through socialising with people and going to school there. I don't know how I do it, it just comes out!"
We know that music is your passion and you also appeared on The X Factor this year. Have you closed the door on acting now?
"Right now I'm focusing on music, but if acting jobs came up along the way, it's not that I wouldn't take them because I'd love to do it again. When I was acting in Waterloo Road I loved it, but at the same time it's putting my time onto acting when I could be putting my time into music and progressing with that.
"You can do both, but I want to take it seriously. I want to do my music first of all, because that's where my heart lies and it's what I want to do for the rest of my life. For now that's what I'll be focusing on."
Do the Waterloo Road fans support your music as well as your role as Lenny?
"Yeah they do - they support my music, but I think they're always going to see me as Lenny! I'm always posting stuff to do with my music on Twitter and at the moment I'm working towards a little EP. Once that's finished I'll get it out there, and I'm quite lucky that the fans do support me for both."
How did you get into the business in the first place?
"It does take a lot of hard work. I'd be lying to you if I said that I just went into the audition for Waterloo Road, got the part and started filming the next day - it doesn't work like that. In this industry - whether you're an actor, singer or dancer - it's really hard work and you've got to graft for it.
"For years, my family and me spent loads of money on getting on trains, buses and planes or driving to places like Newcastle and London for five-minute auditions where you could end up getting a no. Waterloo Road was my first ever acting job, but since I was about 14, that's what I'd been doing by going for different jobs. It can all come down to little things like what colour your hair and eyes are. I don't think people understand how hard it is, but we do work hard and that's the most important part about it."
Nicola Stephenson to leave Waterloo Road - Interview
Justin's impulsive actions will have far-reaching consequences that will undoubtedly change the course of the family's future forever.
We recently caught up with Nicola Stephenson, who plays Allie, to chat about her exit from the show and what the future holds.
How would you sum up your time on Waterloo Road?
"It went by in a flash, really. I was there for three months and we finished filming it a year ago now, weirdly. It has just taken a long time to come on screen. It was a really intense three months of lots and lots of filming. They double bank the episodes and there are two units on the set all the time, so if you are not on one unit, you will be on the other one. I wouldn't say it was hard work because I don't think my job is ever hard work as it is essentially just pretending for a living, but it was long hours, intensive and challenging, but also really good fun.
"My character has a real journey throughout the series. She starts off by being really capable, confident, kind and accommodating, but she ends up getting really worn down by the situation she is in and loses her grip by the end."
Fans will be quite surprised that you're only in these 10 episodes. Was that all you wanted to do, or was that just the way the storyline turned out?
"That was the way it panned out really and I had other commitments. It just worked out like that with my availability and also the storyline."
The Allie and Justin storyline has been great to watch. How did you feel about filming so many intense scenes with Max Bowden?
"It was really good fun. He is a really good, young actor and very confident. All the young actors and actresses in the show are really professional, confident and fun to work with. It was good from that point of view and we had some good stuff to do, especially in this episode - the conflict really comes to a head. Justin's behaviour really spirals in this episode and there will be far-reaching changes for the whole dynamic of the family."
Can you understand why Allie has been so against the relationship between Justin and Tiffany? Is it because Tiffany is only 15, or is it because Allie doesn't trust Justin?
"I think Allie uses the fact that Tiffany is only 15 as an excuse really. I don't think she genuinely thinks that people don't have sex until they are 16 and I think she knows that these things happen when you are teenagers. I think her real problem is that she doesn't trust Justin and she thinks that Justin will chew Tiffany up and spit her out. All he really wants to do is come between Allie and Vaughan. From day one, Justin has been violent - he slammed the door in her face, he has been threatening and he has generally just been trouble! She just doesn't trust him and out of everybody that Tiffany could confided in her about sleeping with, the fact that it is Justin is the worst thing."
Does Allie think Justin is only with Tiffany to cause trouble and split the family up then?
"Yes absolutely. She doesn't trust that he has got any feelings for Tiffany whatsoever."
What kind of reaction have you seen on Twitter? Are the fans backing Justin and Tiffany or do they see Allie's point of view?
"I think generally the reaction has been a bit like "Mum's a bitch" because she is coming between them. I think people are probably all behind them because everybody likes a romance, don't they?"
Do you think other mums will be able to see Allie's point of view?
"Yes I do. I think it is all very well to be liberal and "down with the kids" but when it is your own daughter, you would do anything to protect her."
At the start of the series, Allie was determined that Justin couldn't come between her and Vaughan, but now she's starting to doubt their future. Why would you say she's starting to give up?
"I think the whole thing gradually over the series has just worn her down. Not just Justin's behaviour but the whole situation like finding out that Vaughan was paying thousands for Olga's treatment in the clinic. She has kind of lost faith in him and in their relationship as well."
We know that this week's episode will see the storyline come to a head in a dramatic fashion. Can you give us any hints on what we can expect
"Some really outrageous behaviour from Justin! And Allie being put in a really difficult position."
Justin has obviously been violent before, but how far does he go this time?
"It's quite shocking - there is definitely a real shock. I won't say much more than that."
Can you say whether it's a sad ending for your character or does she leave on a high?
"I think it's quite sad, but you will have to wait and see. The viewers will hopefully like the ending. I think it comes to a good climax and hopefully everyone will enjoy it."
Is there a part of you that's sad over Allie and Vaughan's relationship seemingly not working out?
"It makes good drama, doesn't it? I suppose it is sad and these things do happen, but if it was happy families all the way through then there wouldn't have been any drama. I think it is played out really well and what the writers have done with it has been really good and really juicy."
Did you enjoy working with the younger cast and did they ever approach you for advice?
"No, they don't need any advice from us! [laughs] I think young actors these days are so clued up - I am in awe of them. I think it is a much more competitive industry than it was when I was that age and starting out. You've got to be so much more disciplined now and able to sell yourself on social media and through your showreel and agent etc. They just seem so much more on it nowadays and much more professional and hard-working than I remember being when I was younger. It's really impressive."
Who did you most enjoy working with?
"Neil and I got on very well because obviously we had most of our stuff together and like I say it was a really intensive shooting schedule. I would spend 12 hours a day with this man so we had a good laugh, worked hard and it was good fun."
How do you feel about still being associated with Brookside (and the lesbian kiss) after all the other work you've done?
"People really remember Brookside fondly, don't they? They always want to talk about it and it was a really loved show. I had a real gift of a part on it and it was the first big thing that I did. People do always talk about it and I don't mind at all. I think it's really nice that people remember it and I am really flattered."
What does the future hold for you? Would you like to do another soap in the future?
"Not at the moment I don't think. I am really enjoying doing lots of different kinds of work. I obviously did Waterloo Road which is an ongoing series and then this summer I did a children's show which was a a really high energy, slapstick comedy for CBBC. That was so much fun because it was really over the top mucking about. I have also just been in the Lake District doing a four-part thriller for ITV and that was really heavy, gritty drama. I am really enjoying doing a real varied mix of work at the moment and so unless a really amazing part came along, I am enjoying having those opportunities. I think I would feel a bit sad if I was doing a soap and I was in it for a few years and I was missing those opportunities. I am really lucky to have them."
Waterloo Road newcomer Andrew Still: 'Scott is a troublemaker'
Waterloo Road introduces a troublesome new student to the school in early January as former Hollyoaks star Andrew Still takes on the role of Scott Fairchild.
Scott has been expelled from several other schools, but is given a chance by headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald along with a handful of other new pupils with difficult backgrounds.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Andrew to hear more about his new character and his memories of playing Joel Dexter on Hollyoaks.
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Andrew Still as Scott Fairchild in Waterloo Road
© BBC / Headstrong Pictures (WR) Ltd/Laurence Cendrowicz
Andrew Still as Scott Fairchild
How did your new role come about?
"I originally auditioned for a character for the Waterloo Road series that has just gone out. It went really well, but with different things happening, we were unable to go for it.
"When we came back around for this series, all of the producers had changed so it wasn't like they'd already seen me and wanted me to play Scott - I still had to go in for a regular audition process. It ended up working out really well for me and I can't thank the guys enough for giving me the opportunity."
How was it to join for the show's final series?
"Waterloo Road has been on screen for ten series now and it was a fantastic place to work. The atmosphere in the place was electric. Everyone knew the show was winding down, but they really wanted to go out with a bang. I think that showed in the writing and in everyone's performances."
What can we expect from Scott?
"Scott first appears to be quite a self-assured and arrogant smart-****! (Laughs.) But as the series goes on, one of the most interesting things about Scott is that he's a really three-dimensional character.
"The great thing was that, because everyone knew this was the final series, there was a real character arc for Scott from beginning to end. He really changes as the series progresses and you'll see a lot of different sides to him. It was definitely the most challenging role I've had to do so far."
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Waterloo Road actors Andrew Still, Charlotte Beaumont, Max Bowden, Holly Jack
© BBC / Headstrong Pictures (WR) Ltd/Laurence Cendrowicz
Scott, Kenzie, Justin and Bonnie
Scott has been expelled from many other schools! Is it fair to describe him as a troublemaker?
"He is! Scott is a troublemaker but he's so blasé about it. He thinks however he falls, he's going to land on his feet. Scott doesn't quite realise that Waterloo Road is his last chance. He's been kicked out of seven schools before this, but he doesn't seem to care. Over the course of the series, though, he finally discovers some things about himself and has a bit of a realisation."
We've heard that Scott has a history with Kenzie, one of the new female pupils…
"Yeah, straight off the bat in the first episode, Scott and Kenzie cross paths in the playground. You can already feel that there's a tension there and a bit of history. They've definitely met before! At first you're not quite sure what's happened, but that will play out and you'll see there's definitely something there. You'll have to wait and see what that could be, though!"
There's also an interesting dynamic between Scott and another new character called Bonnie…
"Yeah, Scott's a bit of a ladies' man, I'll give him that! He's a bit of a dirty dog! Scott has got a lot of things going on with a lot of different people and you'll see how he tries to worm his way out of different situations - sometimes a lot more successfully than others! He sometimes backs himself into a corner!"
Does Scott clash with the show's current bad boy Justin?
"Yeah, he does. Max Bowden who plays Justin was a real pleasure to work with. He'd just come off the back of doing his first series, which has just been on TV, and he totally knocked it out the park in that.
"Max really stepped it up a gear for this final series and me and him had a really, really good working relationship. I haven't seen anything yet so I'm excited to see how it plays out!"
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Waterloo Road's Bonnie, Kenzie, Justin, Darren, Rhiannon and Scott
© BBC / Headstrong Pictures (WR) Ltd/Laurence Cendrowicz
Bonnie, Kenzie, Justin, Darren, Rhiannon and Scott
What was the atmosphere like on set when Waterloo Road shut down production for the final time?
"It was really bittersweet because we all knew that we'd done a really good job and really pushed ourselves, but of course it's sad when you're saying goodbye to all of these people who you've been working with.
"A lot of them had been working with each other for a lot longer than me. I was there for three months, but some of them had been working together for years and years! I think we're all happy with how it's all turned out and how it's going to look, though."
Have you kept in touch with the cast since then?
"Yeah I've met up with a couple of them. I really like the guys and me and Max keep in contact. It's nice because a lot of times you can come out of a job and lose contact with people, but I can't be more complimentary of the people I was working with. They're such good guys."
You seemed to take some time out from acting after Hollyoaks. Was it a conscious choice to take a break for a while?
"I came out of Hollyoaks and I was still really young. I was pretty homesick so I just wanted to get back to Glasgow. When I got back, I was still acting and still loved acting but I think I needed a bit of time to look at myself and figure out what was going on with me, which is what I did and I'm a lot happier now.
"After doing Waterloo Road, I've got a lot more confidence in myself and I think that's really important for any actor. You have the down times and then you have the up times and it's learning to deal with both of them."
Do you look back fondly on your time playing Joel on the show?
"I do! I look back and go, 'Oh God, I was young and I made a lot of mistakes' but I think the essence of the character was there. I'm very proud of the work that I did in Hollyoaks Later. When I look back on my time, I see a very young guy who wasn't sure what he was doing, but I do look back fondly. Actors like Emmett [J Scanlan] and Rachel [Shenton] were fantastic to work with and they really taught me a lot."
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Joel follows Walker in Hollyoaks
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Andrew as Joel in Hollyoaks
Do you keep in touch with any of the Hollyoaks gang?
"Everybody's so busy and a lot of the people that I worked with have gone away and they're doing crazy things! I saw Emmett in Guardians of the Galaxy and I thought, 'Jeez, he's done well for himself!' Of course he was always going to do well for himself!
"Everybody is so busy and it's hard to keep in touch, but they'll always have a place in my heart. They were my family for a year and a half."
You did some music work in a band called Peppermint Fiction after Hollyoaks - are you still involved with that?
"Yeah, I'm still doing music stuff. I've been doing that for a good while now. We're releasing our first EP in the New Year. That should come out January, February time so I'm really excited about that."
What else is coming up next for you?
"I've been doing some filming for a BBC Three comedy that'll be coming out in the summer. I'm just trying to keep working away. Like I said, Waterloo Road has given me that confidence back, so I'm ready to throw myself into the acting world again and see what happens."
