The fourth series of '' Waterloo Road'', a British television

school drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been co ...

series created by Ann McManus and

Maureen Chadwick Maureen Chadwick is a British screenwriter, dramatist and television producer responsible, alone and with her writing partner Ann McManus, for a number of popular award-winning and sometimes controversial British television series including '' Ba ...

and produced by

BBC Scotland BBC Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: ''BBC Alba'') is a division of the BBC and the main public broadcaster in Scotland. It is one of the four BBC national regions, together with the BBC English Regions, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland. I ...

and

Shed Productions Shed Productions, part of Warner Bros. Television Productions UK, was an independent UK television production company, specialising in contemporary, original drama programming and content. It was established in 1998 by Eileen Gallagher, Brian P ...

, commenced airing in the United Kingdom on 7 January 2009 and concluded after 20 episodes on 20 May 2009. ''Waterloo Roads fourth series aired in the United Kingdom on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm GMT 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, p ...

, a terrestrial television network, where it received an average of 4.76 million viewers per episode.

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 steroid abuse,

teenage pregnancy Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in a female adolescent or young adult under the age of 20. This includes those who are legally considered adults in their country. The WHO defines adolescence as the period bet ...

childbirth Childbirth, also known as labour and delivery, is the ending of pregnancy where one or more babies exits the internal environment of the mother via vaginal delivery or caesarean section. In 2019, there were about 140.11 million births globall ...

adoption Adoption is a process whereby a person assumes the parenting of another, usually a child, from that person's biological or legal parent or parents. Legal adoptions permanently transfer all rights and responsibilities, along with filiation, from ...

bigamy In cultures where monogamy is mandated, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. A legal or de facto separation of the couple does not alter their marital status as married persons. I ...

gun violence Gun-related violence is violence committed with the use of a firearm. Gun-related violence may or may not be considered criminal. Criminal violence includes homicide (except when and where ruled justifiable), assault with a deadly weapon, a ...

burn injury A burn is an injury to skin, or other tissues, caused by heat, cold, electricity, chemicals, friction, or ultraviolet radiation (like sunburn). Most burns are due to heat from hot liquids (called scalding), solids, or fire. Burns occur mainl ...

homeschooling Homeschooling or home schooling, also known as home education or elective home education (EHE), is the education of school-aged children at home or a variety of places other than a school. Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an onlin ...

virginity Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

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and

smuggling Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations. There are various ...

Premise

The fourth series picks up after the events of the third series finale, which involved a fire almost destroying the school and left the fate of several staff and pupils unknown. The Kelly family are introduced as prominent characters this series, often referred to as the "family from hell". The family consists of alcoholic mother, Rose Kelly ( Elaine Symons), and her five children, who all enrol at Waterloo Road and bring many problems with them. Later in the series, a major plot sees pupil Maxine Barlow (Ellie Paskell) led to tragedy after getting together with Earl Kelly (

Reece Noi Reece Noi (born 13 June 1988) is a British-Ghanaian actor. He is best known for portraying Taylor Mitchell in the BBC school-based drama serial, ''Grange Hill'', from 2004 to 2007, and also Noel Parkin and Earl Kelly in the second and fourth s ...

). Other plots this series include new Head of PE Rob Cleaver (

Elyes Gabel Elyes Cherif Gabel (; born 8 May 1983) is an English actor. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Dr Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'' (2004–2007), computer genius Walter O'Brien in the CBS series ''Scorpion'' ...

), who trains pupil Bolton Smilie (Tachia Newall) using pills that give him an unfair advantage and more of headteacher Rachel Mason's (

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 ''Het ...

) secrets being exposed following the arrival of her sister, Melissa Ryan (

Katy Carmichael Katy Jane Carmichael (born 5 March 1970) is an English actress, director and producer. She is most known for her roles Twist Morgan in the Channel 4 sitcom ''Spaced'', Lucy Barlow in the ITV (TV network), ITV soap ''Coronation Street'', and Mel ...

) as well as her nephew, Phillip (Dean Smith). Also, troubled pupil Chlo Grainger ( Katie Griffiths) giving birth and, finally, the return of former Head of Pastoral Care Kim Campbell (

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 ''Cor ...

), who smuggles a baby girl into the country on her return from

Rwanda Rwanda (; rw, u Rwanda ), officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa, where the African Great Lakes region and Southeast Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator ...

Cast and characters

Staff

as Rachel Mason; Headteacher (19 episodes) *

Neil Morrissey Neil Anthony Morrissey (born 4 July 1962) is an English actor. He is known for his role as Tony in ''Men Behaving Badly''. Other notable acting roles include Deputy Head Eddie Lawson in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'', ...

as Eddie Lawson; Deputy Headteacher and Mathematics 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 C ...

as Tom Clarkson; Head of Pastoral Care and English 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; Head of French (19 episodes) *

Shabana Bakhsh Shabana Akhtar Bakhsh (born 1981) is a Scottish actress of Pakistani descent who has appeared in soap operas such as ''River City'' and ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors''. Her best known role is in the BBC One school-based drama series ''Waterl ...

as Jasmine Koreshi; Deputy Head of English (19 episodes) *

Philip Martin Brown Philip Martin Brown (born 9 July 1956) is a British actor from Manchester. He is known for his long-running portrayal of English teacher Grantly Budgen in the hit BBC One school-based drama series ''Waterloo Road (TV series), Waterloo Road'', w ...

as Grantly Budgen; Head of English (18 episodes) * Elaine Symons as Rose Kelly; Canteen Assistant (18 episodes) *

Chris Geere Christopher William Geere (born 18 March 1981) is an English actor. He is known for playing the lead role of Jimmy Shive-Overly in the FX and FXX dark comedy series ''You're the Worst'' and Roger Clifford in the 2019 film '' Detective Pikachu' ...

as Matt Wilding; Head of Music and Drama (17 episodes) *

Christine Tremarco Christine Tremarco (born 1977) is a British television actress whose career began in 1992. She is best known for portraying the role of Davina Shackleton in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' (2007–2009) and also in BBC ...

as Davina Shackleton; Teaching Assistant (13 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 (13 episodes) *

as Melissa Ryan; Head of Extended Services (11 episodes) *

as Kim Campbell; Head of Pastoral Care and Art teacher (10 episodes) *

as Rob Cleaver; Head of Physical Education (10 episodes)

Pupils

Chelsee Healey Chelsea "Chelsee" Jade Healey (born 6 August 1988) is an English actress. She is known for playing Janeece Bryant in the BBC school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2012), Honey Wright in the BBC medical drama series ''Casualty'' ...

as Janeece Bryant (20 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 20 ...

as Michaela White (20 episodes) * Luke Bailey as Marley Kelly (20 episodes) * Katie Griffiths as Chlo Grainger (19 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 (19 episodes) * Tachia Newall as Bolton Smilie (19 episodes) * Sadie Pickering as Flick Mellor (19 episodes) * Thomas Milner as Paul Langley (18 episodes) *

Adam Thomas Adam Thomas (born 11 August 1988) is an English actor, known for his roles as Donte Charles in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' (2006–2009, 2022–present) and Adam Barton in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' (2009� ...

as Donte Charles (18 episodes) *

Lucy Dixon Lucy Jane Dixon (born 9 August 1989) is an English actress, best known for her roles as Danielle Harker in the BBC One school-based drama series '' Waterloo Road'' and Tilly Evans in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks''. Early life Dixon i ...

as Danielle Harker (17 episodes) * Lauren Thomas as Aleesha Dillon (17 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 Hi ...

as Philip Ryan (16 episodes) *

Jessica Baglow Jessica Baglow (born 23 March 1989) is an English actress, known for '' Gentleman Jack'', '' Where the Heart Is'' and '' Waterloo Road''. Early life and career Baglow was born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. She began her acting career a ...

as Karla Bentham (14 episodes) *

Reece Douglas This article lists the characters and the actors who portray them from the award-winning BBC television series '' Waterloo Road''. The series utilises an ensemble cast, led by the staff members of the eponymous school. It also has a high turnove ...

as Denzil Kelly (13 episodes) * Darcy Isa as Lauren Andrews (9 episodes) *

as Earl Kelly (8 episodes) * Ellie Paskell as Maxine Barlow (8 episodes)

Others

Recurring

* Malcolm Scates as Ralph Mellor; Chair of Governors and Flick's father (7 episodes) * Tim Healy as Dave Miller; Head of Security (5 episodes) *

Lorraine Cheshire Lorraine Cheshire (born 15 August 1958) is an English actress, known for her roles as Sue Benson in the Sky sitcom ''Trollied'', Fleur Budgen in the BBC One school-based drama '' Waterloo Road'' and Lorraine Bird in the Channel 4 school-based d ...

as Fleur Budgen; Grantly's wife (3 episodes) * Alan McKenna as Mr. Parker; Deportation officer (3 episodes) *

Jamie Glover Jamie Blair Glover (born 10 July 1969) is an English actor. He is best known for being cast as Harry Potter in the second cast of the West-End production of ''Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'' in 2017. He portrayed Deputy Head Andrew Treneman ...

as Andrew Treneman; Former Deputy Headteacher (2 episodes) * Steve Money as Clarence Charles; Donte's father (2 episodes) * Caroline O'Neill as Mrs. Bryant; Janeece's mother (2 episodes)

Guest

Rachael Cairns Rachael Cairns (born 11 August 1988) is a British model and actress. She is best known for participating in Britain's Next Top Model, Cycle 4, Cycle 4 of ''Britain's Next Top Model'', in which she became the eleventh eliminated. She is also know ...

as Tasha Lefton; Pupil (1 episode) * Naveed Choudhry as Shahid Kapoor; Pupil (1 episode) *

Daniela Denby-Ashe Daniela Jolanta Denby-Ashe (born 9 August 1978) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Sarah Hills on the soap opera ''EastEnders'', Margaret Hale on the period drama ''North and South'', and Janey Harper on the BBC sitcom ''My F ...

as Jem Allen; Supply teacher (1 episode) *

Elize du Toit Elize du Toit (born 21 February 1980) is a South African-born English actress best known for playing the role of Izzy Davies in the Channel 4 soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' from 2000 to 2004, with a brief return in 2007. Early life Elize du Toit was b ...

as Heather; Presenter of the North West Schools Choir competition (1 episode) *

Joe Duttine Joe Duttine, sometimes credited as Jo Duttine (born 30 June 1970), is an English film, theatre and television actor. He currently plays Tim Metcalfe in '' Coronation Street''. He is also known for his role in '' Shameless'' as Cameron Donnell ...

as Andy Harker; Danielle's father (1 episode) * Sheraiah Larcher as Maaka Lacey; Supply teacher (1 episode) *

Conrad Nelson Conrad Nelson (born 1963) is a British actor, composer and musical director, and was Artistic Director of the Northern Broadsides company until 2019. His acting roles have included Iago in the Northern Broadsides production of ''Othello'' when L ...

as Bill Willis; Songwriter and poet (1 episode) * Rupert Procter as Mr. Peters; Kyle's father (1 episode) * Jack Rigby as Kyle Peters; Pupil (1 episode) * Natalie J. Robb as Charlotte Monk; School counsellor (1 episode) * Colin Tierney as Reynold Kelly; Rose's ex-husband and Sambuca's father (1 episode) * Tom Turner as Gregory; Head of Music and Drama at Forest Mount (1 episode)

Episodes

DVD release

Three different box sets of the fourth series was released. The first ten episodes of the series were released on 21 September 2009, and the back ten episodes were released on 26 April 2010. All twenty episodes were later released together on 18 October 2010. 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.

Footnotes

References

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