Waterloo Road confirms EastEnders legend will be taking over from Jason Manford in new series
WATERLOO Road has confirmed an EastEnders legend is taking over from Jason Manford as the latest series comes to an end.
Viewers of the rebooted school-based BBC drama watched on Tuesday night as his character Steve Savage was arrested.
He had helped cover up the murder of a student, which his son had committed.
Just as comedian Jason bows out after one series, Waterloo Road have now revealed his replacement.
Former EastEnders star Lindsey Coulson will take over for the school’s next term as Head Teacher.
The 64-year-old is best known for her role as Carol Jackson in Albert Square, though left the show in 2015.
The Sun previously revealed how the soap icon had signed up for the drama earlier this year.
She’ll play Dame Stella Drake when Waterloo Road returns to BBC One in 2025.
Her presence will no doubt be felt with her uncompromising worth ethic and nonsense approach.
Stella’s arrival comes after she went viral for her comments on parental incompetence, knocking her off of her pedestal at Ofsted.
Speaking about landing the role, Lindsey said: “I’m delighted to be joining Waterloo Road as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake.
“It’s a role I haven’t played before so I’m really enjoying peeling back the layers of who Stella is and seeing how the teachers and students react to her no-nonsense approach.
“Waterloo Road tackles social issues head on which is so important to see on television and this series will be no different.”
For EastEnders fans, Lindsey’s new role has left them fearing she won’t reprise her role for the show’s upcoming 40th anniversary.
Taking to social media, one said: “Oh we’re not getting that Carol return anytime soon are we.”
A second posted: “There goes our Carol Jackson return.”
“AHHH CAN’T WAIT – but omg a mancunian Carol Jackson sounds so weird,” wrote a third.
Waterloo road main cast - past and present
Who was part of the main cast of Waterloo Road series 13?
Parents and Staff
- Angela Griffin – Headteacher Kim Campbell
- James Baxter – Deputy Head Joe Casey
- Vincent Jerome – Deputy Head Lindon King
- Ryan Clayton – School security Sergeant Mike Rutherford
- Jo Coffey as PA to headteacher, Wendy Whitwell
- Neil Fitzmaurice – History teacher Neil Guthrie
- Rachel Leskovac – Head of English Coral Walker
- Kym Marsh – School Canteen worker Nicky Walters
- Katherine Pearce – Junior teacher Amy Spratt
- Shauna Shim – Music teacher Valerie Chambers
- Adam Thomas – School caretaker Donte Charles
- Jamie Glover – Former deputy head Andrew Treneman
Pupils
- Noah Valentine – Preston Walters
- Priyasasha Kumari – Samia Choudhry
- Adam Ali – Kai Sharif
- Alicia Forde – Kelly Jo Rafferty
- Francesco Piacentini-Smith – Dean Weever
- Liam Scholes – Noel McManus
- Lucy Eleanor Begg – Caz Williams
- Summer Violet Bird – Tonya Walters
- Scarlett Thomas – Izzy Charles
- Thapelo Ray – Dwayne Jackson
- Inathi Rozani – Zayne Jackson
- Chiamaka Ulebor – Shola Aku
- Hattie Dynevor – Libby Guthrie
- Zak Sutcliffe – Schumacher “Schuey” Weever
- Tillie Amartey – Stacey “Stace” Neville
- Maisie Robinson – Portia Weever
- Aabay Noor Ali – Mollie ‘Mog’ Richardson
- Zanele Nyoni – Jess Clarke
- Teddy Wallwork – Declan Harding
Returning
- Lauren Drummond – Mika Grainger
Who were some of the past notable characters from across the years?
Previous Heads
- Jack Rimmer – Jason Merrells
- Rachel Mason – Eva Pope
- Karen Fisher – Amanda Burton
- Michael Byrne – Alec Newman
- Christine Mulgrew – Laurie Brett
- Vaughan Fitzgerald – Neil Pearson
Notable Teachers
- Drama teacher Izzy Redpath – Jill Halfpenny
- English teacher Tom Clarkson – Jason Done
- English teacher Lorna Dickey – Camilla Power
- English teacher Grantley Budgen – Philip Martin Brown
- French teacher Steph Haydock – Denise Welch
- Deputy Head Eddie Lawson – Neil Morrissey
- Deputy Head Chistopher Mead – William Ash
- Executive Head Max Tyler – Tom Chambers
- Drama and Music teacher Matt Wilding – Chris Geere
- English teacher Jasmine Koreshi – Shabana Bakhsh
- Special needs assistant Davina Shackleton – Christine Tremarco
- Home Economics teacher – Ruby Fry Elizabeth Berrington
- Head of Foreign Languages Jo Lipsett – Sarah-Jane Potts
- Foreign Languages teacher Francesca “Cesca” Montoya – Karen David
- Geography teacher Marcus Kirby – Wil Johnson
- Head of Pastoral Care Adanna Lawal – Sharlene Whyte,