Published: 17 September 2025
Series 16 of Waterloo Road sees Headteacher Stella forced to navigate a fresh set of challenges when her grandchildren land at the school.
Meanwhile, new teacher Darius isn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers and Jack Rimmer makes his return to education.
Meet the cast
Jon Richardson (Darius Donovan)
New Media teacher Darius is all about putting on a good show and he’s a social chameleon. His charm knows no bounds as he sweet talks both teachers and pupils alike with a killer smile – the perfect disguise for our master manipulator in a tailored suit who uses his allure to achieve his goals.
Welcome to Waterloo Road! How excited are you to be in the series?
I’m very excited. Waterloo Road is an institution. I’m pleased to be here and making a heck of an entrance.
What was it like tricking your fellow comedians and fans into believing you were actually becoming a teacher?
It was awful, because they were all really kind. They all totally fell for it, including Romesh Ranganathan and Laura Smyth. I’ve never had a more successful social media post. What was devastating about it, as well, is that not one person, and I had thousands, but not one said “Don’t do it, stay in comedy, we need you”. They all said, “Good luck. Off you go, cheerio”.
Did you not warn anyone in advance?
It filmed quite close to home, so I was able to fit in a few panel shows and other things so I think everyone thought I was just carrying on as usual. The thing that made it was that at the last minute, somebody said, “Don’t do it on April Fool’s Day, because everyone will know it’s not real, so we did it the day before, and that is what sent it stratospheric. My phone went absolutely crazy.
What made you want to be part of the series? How did you feel on your first day back at school?
I was nervous because it was all filmed in an actual school. I had all the anxiety you’d get being back at school, the smell of the canteen, the sound of boots in the corridors, and all that. But also, the nerves of coming into a big job like that. I was very lucky to, in my first acting job, be given something like Waterloo Road. It was an absolute gift.
Tell us about your character Darius Donovan and what audiences can expect to see from him in the new series?
I mean, Darius is what made me apply for the job. He’s an absolute monster, but he believes himself to be a charming, charming man who acts only in self-defence and has everyone’s best interests at heart. He’s an exceptional character to play. I’m very lucky but I hope I haven’t become him, and I hope they didn’t cast me because they think I’m like him.
How do the teachers respond to Darius when he arrives at the school?
To quote the phrase, men want to be him, and the women want to be with him. He’s found to be an attractive and charming breath of fresh air for the school. There’s an incident in his first episode where the existing staff must decide whether to trust him over a teacher who has been there a while and has just been nominated for an award, and somehow, he manages to convince them, so he’s obviously got some charm.
What kind of teacher is Darius?
I tried to make sure he looks competent as a teacher. I think for all the other stuff to be believable, you have to first and foremost believe that he is a teacher. The six formers wouldn’t be calling him Mr. Donovan, he’d say, “Call me Double D” or something like that. I’d be one of those unbearable ones. He pulls a few favours, gets friends from the TV industry in to impress the kids. He’s very keen for the kids to speak highly of him, because he knows that will accelerate him up the ranks.
Did you draw from your own school days and any teachers that you had?
My school would have been closed down if there was anyone approaching Darius Donovan working there. As far as my days as a student go, I was terrified. My bag was so heavy because I used to carry every textbook with me in case, I got the timetable wrong. That meant that all a sixth former had to do was pull the back of my bag, and I would fall on my back like a little tortoise and get stranded on the floor.
What was it like working with the other cast members, and did you know any of them prior to filming?
I knew Jason Manford, whose character, Steve Savage, was in prison by the time I joined the school, so we had a brief chat. Beyond that, I hadn’t met any of them, and that absolutely terrified me. I just assumed it would be a bit like stand-up comedy, there’d be a bit of wariness, and everyone would be trying to work each other out a little, but there was none of that. Everyone was instantly kind and generous, and helped me with anything I needed like the mechanics of filming. They never once made me feel like an outsider, despite the wealth of experience in the cast and some of the things they’d done.
James Baxter was a godsend. I’ve made some friends for life, I hope. They might disagree, but whatever, they’re really going to be called my friends, whether they reply to me or not.
Can you tell us about any funny moments on set?
The one thing I am is a SWOT. I would learn my script, turn up on time, and I wouldn’t muck about on set because I hadn’t earned the right, but I’ll just say that James and Adam have. They’re the worst kind of people for me to be around, because they can be doing silly voices and mucking around and being hilarious right up until the minute they yell action.
Then, because of their skill, they’re able to immediately deliver a better performance than I could ever give, because they just know the job inside out, whereas I would need a couple of minutes to sort of get ready before a scene. They can be cartwheeling, throwing biscuits at people, then burst into tears and give the most amazing dramatic performance you’ve ever seen. Those two were a definite bad influence on me.
In your defence, you would need almost a demon to occupy your body to play Darius. You really couldn’t go from having fun to being him, the evil in him is palpable…
Some of the hardest scenes were the staff room scenes, because they’d take all day. You have every cast member in, so you’d have to reset the cameras for each line. In the downtime you’re all together and it’s very rare you’d get to all be together, so you’re having a good time, but none of the other actors knew what Darius had been up to, and I did. When the cameras would start rolling for a staff room scene and I’m being this diligent new teacher, I actually knew some of the stuff I’d said about them, and it’s hard not to carry that off set. You’re sort of ashamed of yourself then in the green room, because you feel like you’ve lied to everyone.
If the other teaching cast didn’t know what Darius was up to during filming, what was it like to keep that secret from them?
I think they knew some of it, but I don’t think they knew the extent. I was talking to the producers about what was coming down the line, so I knew what was about to happen, and it’s hard to look people in the eye over your lunch when you know what you’re about.
Tell us about your school days. What were you like as a student? Did you have a favourite subject?
I did Spanish, French, and maths at A-level, which I think is quite an odd mix, but I really liked languages because I liked communicating, and I wanted to be able to go on holidays. I liked maths because it was the only subject where you’d ever get told if you’re right or wrong. I have to say, I hated school. I took it far too seriously and I wish I’d been naughtier.
Waterloo Road has always been known for broaching difficult topics on screen. How do you feel the new series has been able to continue this legacy?
This series is very intense. There’s addiction being dealt with, but also a death in this series. It doesn’t get more serious than the death of a person due to a certain degree of negligence. Whether I work in acting again or not, I don’t think I’ll ever film stuff as intense as what we filmed in episode four. Ruth, the director we had for those episodes, was phenomenal. She came from a live background and has done a lot of theatre, and made those scenes feel like theatre.
Tell us more about episode four?
It doesn’t feel like a Waterloo Road episode, it almost feels like a standalone drama.
There’s a scene where Stella comes back from the hospital and we’re waiting in the staff room, and because of filming logistics, we look like we are leaving, but we had to stay in the room and hide in the corner. So, Lindsey’s giving this performance, and we’re all just standing in the corner of the room. We were all in floods of tears, trying not to disrupt filming, because we could hear genuine grief. If you’re worried about acting, one of the things you’re most worried about is, “Will I be able to cry?”. Well, I didn’t need to worry about that because I had to stop myself from crying.
How does Waterloo Road compare to your previous TV experience?
It’s incomparable. Jason Manford said to me that there’s very little that you’ve learned from stand-up that will be applicable here, and it was really good advice. I remember those first days of falling in love with stand-up. I could have done five gigs a night, every night for a year, and I never got tired of it because I was just learning so much. Every day on set and every scene was slightly different. It was unlike anything I’ve ever done, and its completely addictive.
How do you think Waterloo Road reflects modern life in a school?
I hope Waterloo Road is nothing like the school my daughter will go to because there’s a lot going on…
I think TV series like Waterloo Road are a good way of dealing with real issues that affect people and drive conversations that we need to have. You do need to remember it is television, and it’s supposed to entertain, but you can’t underestimate how much work goes into scripting it carefully enough that it isn’t taken as real life. If there is a Darius Donovan working in a school in this country, he needs to be found and stopped immediately.
Jason Merrells (Jack Rimmer)
Welcome back to Waterloo Road. How has it been stepping back into school?
It’s been interesting and lovely. It felt very familiar and good to be back to play someone that I loved playing back then and turns out I still do!
What was it that made you want to return?
It was the story. Jack’s exit back in the day was sudden, in terms of where he went and what he did. It was nice to continue the story, which was coming from an interesting angle. I thought that was a great way of bringing him back to deal with what he’d been dealing with in those terms.
Last series you guest starred for two episodes, and it was revealed that Jack left education and was now a counsellor. How did you feel when you found that out?
I was curious, but I thought it sounded really good, because this is based on real life. I imagine headmasters often seek therapy, because there is so much burnout amongst teachers and head teachers. It made sense that he’d gone into that. It was nice that someone who was so macho and kind of physical, was doing something that was more receptive and calm, but I was interested that they were showing the flashes of the old Jack underneath that.
Is Jack different to when viewers last saw him?
Yes, in essence. He’s a good man, but he’s flawed. He’s older, wiser, and a bit calmer. He’s recently been in recovery, so that’s a big part of his new sense of self, but that’s why it’s quite risky for him to go back into an emotionally charged setting like a school, and he has to think twice about it.
Jack makes the decision to return to education as a school counsellor at the end of the last series. Can you tease how that’ll play out?
He’s convinced to do so by talking to Stella, who he has an immediate professional and personal connection with. They get each other, and although they’re different styles, they have a similar way of running a school. It’s quite hard for him, although he lands on his feet and does quite well with a couple of students and helps them through some things. There’s a flaw in the funding of the school that they don’t have anyone doing pastoral care before Jack’s arrival, but he takes up the space to do that and goes from there. The more he’s in the school, the more dysfunctional it becomes, especially when he comes across Darius.
What’s Jack’s relationship like with the other teachers?
It’s quite an arm’s length, apart from Stella. They may be aware that he was a teacher there before. 15 years is a long time in terms of the history and in the life of the school. I’m not sure that they know what to make of him, and his situation with Darius becomes more and more key as things develop.
What was it like working with Jon Richardson, Lindsey Coulson, did you know either of them prior to filming?
I knew both of their work, obviously, because they’ve both done so much great stuff in different ways. I was in a show with Lindsey back in the day, Clocking Off, but we didn’t actually work together. I was in the back of one scene that she was in, but we didn’t speak to each other. I’ve always thought she was ace as an actor. When I heard that she was the head, that was another reason to come back to Waterloo Road. Jon is a natural. Jon just hit the ground running and really played the stakes, he really worked hard.
Jack and Donte see each other again in the last episode of series 15. The last time you filmed with Adam, Donte was a student. What was that like to film? How was it working with the younger cast this time round?
I’ve worked with Adam in the meantime, on Emmerdale, and we’ve seen each other over the years in between. He’s lovely, and a brilliant actor, he always was. We all used to think that back in the day when he was a kid playing Donte. I had a great scene with Niamh Blackshaw (Agnes). I was really pleased with it, because it was well written, and she was wonderful to work with.
Do you think there are more challenges facing kids today than when Waterloo Road first aired?
Yes, social media is a thing that didn’t exist when Waterloo Road first aired. I think it can be toxic and addictive. In those terms, that’s brand new. I mean, life can always be difficult, and there were always things that were troublesome and dangerous for kids to get involved in. That’s not changed. It’s just that this thing in your pocket that is 24/7 that’s different, and that’s worrying.
Chris Jeffers (Mitch Swift)
With effortless charm and a winning smile, Mitch is a qualified teacher with years of experience under his belt, particularly with children with additional learning needs. Mitch is resolved to make sure no other kids slip through the net.
Welcome to Waterloo Road! How does it feel to be part of the Waterloo Road family?
Honestly? It’s surreal, I grew up watching Waterloo Road, so being part of the show now feels crazy. Filming back home in Manchester made it even more special – I’d finish a day’s work pretending to be a responsible adult, then get to pop round to my mum’s for tea or out in the Northern Quarter with friends.
Tell us about your character Mitch and what audiences can expect to see from him in the new series?
Mitch is the kind of teacher I wish I’d had at school – he’s fun, got heart, street-smart, and he cares deeply about the kids. He’s got a cool, confident exterior, but underneath it all there’s a lot of lived experience and a real vulnerability. He’s been through it himself – had a rough start in life, made some questionable decisions, and experienced a tragic loss – but he’s turned all of that into fuel for the way he teaches.
What kind of teacher is Mitch?
He’s the kind of teacher who lets you eat crisps in class if you promise to actually do the work. He has great rapport and relationships with the kids and really is on their side. Think part mentor, part big brother. He still thinks he’s cooler than he is… which is probably why the kids like him.
What do the other teachers think of Mitch?
The other teachers think “I wish I had his connection with the students.” He’s a bit of a wildcard in the faculty — but in the best way. Some teachers probably think he’s too relaxed, others really respect him because he genuinely gets the kids.
Mitch works closely with the deputy head, Joe. What is their relationship like? Can you tell us a bit about how that will unfold during the series?
Mitch and Joe are like the Batman and Robin of pastoral care. They’ve both got huge hearts and they’re both willing to put themselves on the line for the students. There’s a real bromance energy there – lots of banter, lots of chats about life, and this lovely mutual respect.
As the series goes on, I think Mitch starts to realise that maybe this friendship could be something more, but he’s really not in a position to do anything about it, so he has to grapple with some stuff.
What was it like working with the other cast on set? Any fun stories from between takes?
Filming with this cast was so much fun, I had to keep reminding myself I was at work. There was always laughter, always the tastiest snacks, and always Adam Thomas’s laughter bellowing through the building. One day James Baxter and I had to film a pretty serious scene with another actor… and of course, that’s when the giggles hit. You know those moments where the harder you try not to laugh, the worse it gets? We just kept setting each other off until it descended into complete giggle madness so… look out for the outtakes of that. There was this really lovely, Manc-pride energy on set.
What are your memories of your school days? Do you think Waterloo Road is representative of your own school experience?
I loved school, but I did miss a bit of it because I was off filming shows like Coronation Street, Grange Hill, and… fun fact… Waterloo Road! There’s actually a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shot of me as a background pupil in the very first episode, stood behind Adam Thomas.
Waterloo Road has always been brilliant at reflecting the real issues young people face. It’s messy, emotional, very funny, heartbreaking… just like real school.
Fintan Buckard (Ben Drake)
Year 11 Ben gives off the air of a cool character, he seems laid back and makes out that he doesn’t really care about anything. Underneath his devil may care exterior he is actually quite a tortured teen, and his troubles will only get worse as the series goes on.
Welcome to Waterloo Road! How does it feel to be a part of the new series?
I’m thrilled to be a part of such an iconic show. I didn’t get a chance to watch it the first time around – I was born five days before it originally aired – but I’m a big fan of the reboot. Actually, the recall for this job was the same day as my final exam for my A level, so it was a brilliant and terrifying day at the same time.
Tell us about your character Ben Drake and what type of person he is?
He’s a bright and charming lad and is in constant chase of a good time. He’s not bothered about academics or settling into the school, he’s already done that a million other times, so he’s not bothered about establishing friends s at Waterloo Road. He’s a good big brother, and is very resilient with lots of stubborn qualities, which I suppose makes him superficially funny, creating this joker façade but it’s just a defence mechanism because he’s had to be self-sufficient and look after his little sister.
What can audiences expect to see from him in the new series?
Establishing a relationship with his Nan (Stella Drake), that follows throughout the season as they both go through a life-changing event which ultimately affects Ben’s outlook on life. In fact, it compels him to settle down and establish relationships within the school and lets his mischief unfold, attracting his peers and others around him.
Ben is one of headteacher Stella’s grandchildren. What effect do you think that dynamic has on his arrival and experience at the school. How was it playing Lindsey Coulson’s grandson?
Of course, being the grandchild of the strict and formidable Stella Drake – I’m sure students would expect that he’d be like a goody two-shoes and be studious. Stella would assume that he’d respect her while she’s at work however, Ben’s life experience being passed around care and having to look after his little sister means that he’s put these barriers up, and so he’s going against what other people expect of him. He just suits himself.
Did Lindsey give you any advice or words on wisdom when filming?
The biggest advice that she gave me was to always ask questions. She’s always asking questions, the what’s and why’s, she’s very curious and has a vibrant outlook on life. She reiterated to ask questions – to understand motive, understand why your characters there but she meant it in life also – understand people around you and be considerate, be more knowledgeable. It’s a beautiful trait to have.
Ben also has a younger sister, Hope. What’s the dynamic like between the two siblings? How was filming with Savannah?
Ben is fiercely protective of his sister because he’s had to be the one stable figure in her life and so the dynamic was always a fun one to portray. He plays the standard sibling dynamic of being irritated by his overly enthusiastic little sister, yet proud of her still. Shortly after working with Savannah we started to build a bond naturally and she started feeling like a little sister which was brilliant. Then in relation to the bond that I already formed with Lindsey, it made a nice little family.
What was it like working with the other student cast members? Were there any standout, or funny moments on set that you can tell us about. Were there any pranksters?
We were shooting a scene where the Year 6’s had come for an induction day to see if they want to join Year 7 and Saira Choudhry (Nisha Chandra) was doing a science experiment with jelly. Myself another cast member started throwing jelly at each other, and I must have stood on a particularly large blob of jelly because the next thing I know, I’ve fallen and performed this brilliantly cartoonish fall, with both of my feet flying up into the air. I acted like nothing happened, full on swagger and everything. Actually, at the time, my character had been under the influence, he’d stolen some wine from the school, and so it built to him falling over and so it worked with the scene.
Is Waterloo Road similar to your own school experience?
I went to quite a strict Catholic High School, and so Ben wearing trainers, jeans and a denim jacket, would not fly. My school wouldn’t let you wear a coat any colour other than navy blue, you weren’t even allowed to wear black. But similar to Waterloo Road, my school always put on a good show.
How did it feel to be back in a school setting?
Oh, that was very peculiar, because I left after GCSE. I used to go to a college to do drama, and so I went from that very strict Catholic High School formal setting to then college, and you’re suddenly referred to by your first name, doing yoga. When I put my Waterloo Road uniform back on I was like, ‘Oh, hello. I know this. I know this feeling’. That was strange.
Savannah Kunyo (Hope Drake)
Driven and ambitious Hope is a spirited Year 9 student and granddaughter of headteacher, Stella Drake. Hope’s true desire is to become a famous singing star, and she has spent almost every moment of her life obsessively going for that goal. She’s so energised by her ambition that she often lacks tact. While some might find her slightly overbearing, many find her to be the sweet young girl that she is and can’t help but be drawn to her positivity and determination.
Welcome to Waterloo Road! How does it feel to be a part of the new series?
Oh my gosh, I actually can’t believe it. I’d never really watched the show before, but I’ve seen clips of it online which were great. When I auditioned for it and read the character description, I was really hoping I would get it, Hope was very much a character I could identify with. I was very excited when I got it! I’ve not told my family much about it, and I’m excited to surprise them.
Tell us about your character Hope and what type of person she is. What can audiences expect to see from her in the new series?
She’s very bubbly! Some people will like her, and some people will think she’s very annoying. She’s very outgoing and knows what she wants. She’s very chatty and loud at times and a very confident girl.
Hope is one of headteacher Stella’s grandchildren. What effect do you think that has on her arrival and experience at the school?
I think she’s given a bit of special treatment, but not too much to be singled out. I think that she knows how to get it on her own, she’s good at having other people and teachers do stuff for her. I think she’s got a bit of an attitude that Stella wants to put a stop to.
Hope also has an older brother, Ben. What’s the dynamic like between the two siblings? How was filming with Fintan?
It was a very good experience, and I think Hope and Ben have got a very strong connection. They don’t leave each other’s side, especially since Hope’s been through so much, and they’ve both been through a lot, with their mum being unwell, so they support each other. Ben’s very protective of Hope.
How was it playing Lindsey Coulson’s granddaughter? Did Lindsey give you any advice or words on wisdom when filming?
Filming with Lindsey was so good, I loved filming with her so much, and she made the experience easier. I felt a lot more confident in doing stuff because she was there. Fintan and Lindsey are amazing actors, and I wanted to show them that I was a worthy scene partner.
Were there any standout, or funny moments on set that you can tell us about. Were there any pranksters?
When I was on set, there were a lot of blooper worthy moments which were very funny. In one of the scenes with Fintan where we were arguing about why our mum wasn’t around, we were just arguing ourselves as Savannah and Fintan about stupid things. It was really funny, but we got told to stop… It was because they started to hear us in a different room!
Is Waterloo Road similar to your own school experience?
I think me and Hope are very much alike. We’re both a bit cheeky, we get in trouble a little bit, and both have the same interests. I do school productions as well as Hope does, and I actually got to play a main character in one before! If Waterloo Road was a real school, I would definitely like to go there.
Watch Waterloo Road and add to your Watchlist on BBC iPlayer now
charlie.mckoy@multitudemedia.co.uk / isabelle.martin@multitudemedia.co.uk