Back to Waterloo Road

The return of Waterloo Road to BBC1 has been some time in gestation. 

It started out in 2006, shot in the former Hill Top Community Primary School in Kirkholt, Rochdale, now demolished. In 2012 it moved to the former Greenock Academy, Madeira Street, Greenock - Shed Productions said it would be cheaper, but there was undoubtedly pressure to get more BBC business done in Scotland. The first episode from Greenock got an early run on BBC1 Scotland. (The site was put up for sale by Inverclyde Council this month). 

It was cancelled in 2015.  Charlotte Moore, then Controller BBC1 and Ben Stephenson, Controller of Drama, chanted ""We believe it has reached the end of its lifecycle ... On BBC One it's important to make room for new drama and we are committed to commissioning new drama series for 8pm. There are some really exciting ideas currently in development but nothing to confirm yet." Donalda McKinnon, Head of Programmes, Scotland said "It's always sad when any long-running show comes to an end and I know the Waterloo Road team will miss Greenock - as will fans of the show. Our firm aim now, however, is to use that to continue growing the TV and the wider creative sector here in Scotland utilising the increased skill base arising from Waterloo Road to build up future home-grown culturally representative output."

The final season was moved to BBC3 for the last ten episodes. The last shows on BBC12 averaged 2.6m, down from peaks about 5m.  

The Waterloo Road Twitter account started in 2009; from July 2017, old episodes started appearing officially on YouTube, alongside compilations, like 'Best Fights', 'Best Break-ups' and 'Best Kissers'; in 2019, all episodes were made available on iPlayer. 

In May this year, former Waterloo Road producer Cameron Roach registered a new company, Rope Ladder Fiction. In September he announced his departure from Sky where he had been director of drama since 2013. Today, his new company is partnered with Wall to Wall to bring back Waterloo Road 'from Greater Manchester'.  Shed and Wall to Wall sort of merged, and are now owned by Warner Brothers.