The fifth series of the British television drama series '' Waterloo Road'' began broadcasting on 28 October 2009 and ended on 15 July 2010 on

BBC One BBC One is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network owned and operated by the BBC. It is the corporation's flagship network and is known for broadcasting mainstream programming, which includes BBC News television bulletins, ...

. The series follows the lives of the faculty and pupils of the Eponymous school, a failing inner-city comprehensive school. It consists of twenty episodes, divided into two half-series of ten episodes each. Due to extensive news coverage on 11 May 2010, '' EastEnders'' and '' Holby City'' were instead shown on 12 May, and ''Waterloo Road'' was postponed for two weeks, due to the already scheduled ''Holby City'' episode on 19 May. The final two episodes of the series were delayed by four weeks, due to the

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, airing on 14 and 15 July respectively. The fifth series achieved an average of 5.03 million viewers in the ratings. It featured one of the biggest cast changes in the show's history.

Plot

The show follows the lives of the teachers and the pupils at the eponymous school of Waterloo Road, a failing inner-city comprehensive, tackling a wide range of issues often seen as

taboo A taboo or tabu is a social group's ban, prohibition, or avoidance of something (usually an utterance or behavior) based on the group's sense that it is excessively repulsive, sacred, or allowed only for certain persons.''Encyclopædia Britannica ...

such as murder, binge drinking,

child sexual abuse Child sexual abuse (CSA), also called child molestation, is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include engaging in sexual activities with a child (whet ...

, suicide pacts,

schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wit ...

, bankruptcy,

workplace bullying Workplace bullying is a persistent pattern of mistreatment from others in the workplace that causes either physical or emotional harm. It can include such tactics as verbal, nonverbal, psychological, and physical abuse, as well as humiliation. ...

hemangioma A hemangioma or haemangioma is a usually benign vascular tumor derived from blood vessel cell types. The most common form, seen in infants, is an infantile hemangioma, known colloquially as a "strawberry mark", most commonly presenting on the ski ...

, bribery,

clinical depression Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Intro ...

, prescription drug abuse and false accusations of rape.

Cast and characters

Staff

Eva Pope Eva Rebecca Pope (born 16 November 1967) is an English actress, best known for her portrayal of longest-serving headmistress Rachel Mason in '' Waterloo Road'', and appearances in '' Coronation Street'', ''Dream Team'', '' Baby Boys'' and ''He ...

as Rachel Mason; Headteacher (19 episodes) * William Ash as Christopher Mead; Deputy Headteacher and Science teacher (20 episodes) *

Angela Griffin Angela Mellissa Griffin (born 19 July 1976) is a British actress and television presenter who has been active on British television since the early 1990s. She is best known for portraying the roles of Fiona Middleton in the ITV soap opera '' ...

as Kim Campbell; Head of Pastoral Care and Art teacher (20 episodes) *

Denise Welch Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster. Her roles include Natalie Barnes in ''Coronation Street'' (1997–2000), Steph Haydock in '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2010), and ...

as Steph Haydock; French teacher (20 episodes) *

Elizabeth Berrington Elizabeth Berrington (born 3 August 1970) is an English actress and graduate of the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art; she is best known for her roles as Ruby Fry in '' Waterloo Road'', Paula Kosh in '' Stella'', Mel Debrou in ''Moving Wall ...

as Ruby Fry; Head of Food Technology (20 episodes) * Philip Martin Brown as Grantly Budgen; English teacher (20 episodes) *

Jason Done Jason Done (born 5 April 1973) is an English actor who appeared as Mordred in the 1998 TV miniseries ''Merlin'', opposite Sam Neill. He is best known for his role as Stephen Snow in ITV drama '' Where The Heart Is'' from 1999 to 2001 and Tom ...

as Tom Clarkson; Head of English (18 episodes) * Sarah-Jane Potts as Jo Lipsett; Head of Modern Foreign Languages (18 episodes) * Elaine Symons as Rose Kelly; Canteen Assistant (14 episodes) * Tom Chambers as Max Tyler; Executive Head (10 episodes) *

Vinette Robinson Vinette Robinson is a British actress, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Her TV appearances include roles in '' Sherlock'', ''Black Mirror'', and as civil rights campaigner Rosa Parks in the ''Doctor Who'' episode "Rosa". Early life Robi ...

as Helen Hopewell; English teacher (8 episodes) * Steven Waddington as Adam Fleet; Healthy Schools Co-ordinator (8 episodes) *

Kay Purcell Kay Purcell (6 December 1963 – 23 December 2020) was an English actress. She was known for her roles as Cynthia Daggert in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' (2001–2002), Candice Smilie in the school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' (20 ...

as Candice Smilie; Senior Canteen Assistant (2 episodes)

Pupils

Phoebe Dynevor Phoebe Harriet Dynevor (; born 17 April 1995) is an English actress. Dynevor is known for her role as Daphne, the fourth Bridgerton child, in the Netflix period drama ''Bridgerton'' (2020–present). She began her career as a child actress, ...

as Siobhan Mailey (20 episodes) * Ayesha Gwilt as Amy Porter (20 episodes) * Darcy Isa as Lauren Andrews (20 episodes) *

Holly Kenny Holly Kenny (born 23 January 1995 in Leeds, England) is an English actress. She played the role of Sambuca Kelly on the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' from 2009 until her character was killed off in 2011. Career Kenny firs ...

as Sambuca Kelly (20 episodes) * Thomas Milner as Paul Langley (20 episodes) * Lucy Dixon as Danielle Harker (19 episodes) *

Sophie McShera Sophie McShera (born 17 May 1985) is an English actress known for her roles as Ros McCain in the fifth series of the BBC television series '' Waterloo Road'', as Daisy Mason in the ITV television series ''Downton Abbey'', and as Drizella ...

as Ros McCain (19 episodes) * Tachia Newall as Bolton Smilie (19 episodes) * William Rush as Josh Stevenson (19 episodes) * Lauren Thomas as Aleesha Dillon (19 episodes) *

Zaraah Abrahams Zaraah Clover Abrahams (born 7 January 1987) is an English actress and voiceover artist. She is known for her roles as Magda in '' Girls in Love'' from 2003 to 2005, Michaela White in the BBC school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' from 2 ...

as Michaela White (17 episodes) *

Shannon Flynn Shannon Flynn (born 22 August 1996) is an English actress and presenter from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, who is best known for appearing in ''Friday Download as well as Emily James in the BBC school-based drama, ''Waterloo Road''., and had ...

as Emily James (17 episodes) * Jessica Baglow as Karla Bentham (16 episodes) *

Dean Smith Dean Edwards Smith (February 28, 1931 – February 7, 2015) was an American men's college basketball head coach. Called a "coaching legend" by the Basketball Hall of Fame, he coached for 36 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel H ...

as Philip Ryan (16 episodes) * Reece Douglas as Denzil Kelly (14 episodes) *

Jenna-Louise Coleman Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986), known professionally as Jenna Coleman, is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jasmine Thomas in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Clara Oswald in the science-fiction series '' Doctor Who'', ...

as Lindsay James (9 episodes) *

Jack McMullen Jack Michael McMullen (born 22 February 1991) is an English actor and writer, best known for his roles in '' Waterloo Road'', ''Little Boy Blue'', '' Brookside'' and ''Grange Hill''. Early life Jack Michael McMullen was born in Liverpool on 22 ...

as Finn Sharkey (9 episodes) * Richie Jeeves as Luke Pendle (7 episodes) *

Rebecca Ryan Rebecca Ryan (born 27 April 1991) is an English actress, best known for her role as Debbie Gallagher in the Channel 4 comedy-drama series '' Shameless'' (2004–2009). Ryan also appeared as Vicki MacDonald in the BBC One school-based drama seri ...

as Vicki MacDonald (2 episodes)

Others

Recurring

John McArdle John McArdle (born 16 August 1949) is an English actor. He is most notable for playing Billy Corkhill in the soap opera '' Brookside'', with many other smaller appearances in other soaps and dramas. Playing a regular character in ''Brookside ...

as Oliver Mead; Chris' father and Steph's love interest (6 episodes) *

Fiona Allen Fiona Allen (born 13 March 1965) is an English comedian and actress, most known for her work on Channel 4's ''Smack the Pony'' between 1999 and 2003. Career Allen has appeared in many sketch shows, including ''We Know Where You Live'' (Channel ...

as Georgia Stevenson; Josh's mother and Tom's ex-girlfriend (4 episodes) *

Louise Delamere Louise Alexandra Delamere (born 17 June 1969) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Lia in the Channel 4 comedy drama ''No Angels'' and Colette Sheward in the BBC medical drama '' Holby City''. Career Delamere appeared in ''Agatha ...

as Marion James; Lindsay and Emily's mother (3 episodes) *

Georgia Mackenzie Georgia Mackenzie (born 19 May 1973) is a British actress. Career Mackenzie's notable screen credits include Sarah Beckenham in the BBC's BAFTA nominated series '' Outlaws'', Jackie Haggar in ITV's ''Hot Money'' (since remade in Hollywood as ...

as Jennifer Headley; Head of the LEA and Max's wife (3 episodes) * Sharlene Whyte as Alison Yates; Lindsay and Emily's social worker (3 episodes) *

Ralph Ineson Ralph Michael Ineson (; born 15 December 1969) is an English actor and narrator. Known for his deep, rumbling, Yorkshire-accented voice, his most notable roles include William in '' The Witch'', Dagmer Cleftjaw in ''Game of Thrones'', Amycus Ca ...

as John Fry; Ruby's husband (2 episodes) * Robyn Addison as Anna Reid; Chris' girlfriend (2 episodes) *

Paul Opacic Paul Opacic (born 1966) is a British actor from Halifax, England. Best known for his roles as Carl Costello in ''Hollyoaks'', Steve Marchant in ''Emmerdale'' and Mark Waddle in '' Bad Girls''. In 2021, he joined the cast of the ITV soap ope ...

as Ryan Sharkey; Finn's father (2 episodes)

Guest

* Mykola Allen as Michael Vale; Pupil (1 episode) *

Dean Andrews Dean Andrews (born 6 August 1963) is an English actor. He is known for his role as DS Ray Carling in the BBC drama series ''Life on Mars''. He continued the role in the sequel series, '' Ashes to Ashes'', until 2010. As of April 2019, he ha ...

as Gary Vale; Bianka and Michael's father (1 episode) * Jamie Birtwistle as Craig Moran; Pupil (1 episode) * Josh Brown as Aiden Keen; Pupil (1 episode) * Claire Hackett as Jacqui Keen; Aiden's mother (1 episode) * Tom McKay as Mark Moran; Craig's brother (1 episode) * Joanne Mitchell as Mrs. Turner; Cassie's mother (1 episode) *

Samantha Seager Samantha Seager (born 13 July 1974) is a British actress born in Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, who played the role of Jodie Morton in the soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Since leaving ''Coronation Street'', Seager worked in television ...

as Joely Vale; Bianka and Michael's mother (1 episode) * Maisie-Jo Stahl as Bianka Vale; Pupil (1 episode) *

Hayley Tamaddon Hayley Soraya Tamaddon (born 24 January 1977) is a British actress. She is known for her roles in the ITV soap operas as Del Dingle in ''Emmerdale'' and Andrea Beckett in ''Coronation Street''. Tamaddon won the fifth series of ''Dancing on I ...

as Zoe; Photographer (1 episode) * Charlotte Wakefield as Cassie Turner; Pupil (1 episode)

Episodes

DVD release

Three different box sets of the fifth series were released. The first ten episodes of the series were released on 14 June 2010, and the back ten episodes were released on 27 September 2010. All twenty episodes were later released together on 23 May 2011. They were released with a "12"

British Board of Film Classification The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC, previously the British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental organisation founded by the British film industry in 1912 and responsible for the national classification and censorship of f ...

(BBFC) certificate (meaning it is unsuitable for viewing by those under the age of 12 years).

Footnotes

References

{{Waterloo Road 2009 British television seasons 2010 British television seasons Waterloo Road (TV series)