The BBC has confirmed that hit school drama Waterloo Road (8x60’) will return for its next series, the third since its relaunch, on Tuesday 2 January. Eight new episodes will be available as a full boxset on BBC iPlayer from 6am, and will air weekly on BBC One from 8pm that night.

Filmed and set in Greater Manchester, Waterloo Road returned to the BBC at the start of this year to much success, with two series in 2023 contributing to Waterloo Road performing as one of the top shows on iPlayer for viewers Under 35. The entire catalogue of Waterloo Road, including the most recent series, is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

The new series will continue to explore real-life topics affecting teens, families and school staff today, all with Waterloo Road’s trademark mix of sharp writing, warmth and wit.

With a group of long-term school refusers arriving at Waterloo Road, the balance of peace and harmony once again rests on thin ice. Will Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) and her team have what it takes to stop the school from sinking?

Libby, who makes a surprise return to Manchester to stay with her dad, the school’s Head of History Neil Guthrie (Neil Fitzmaurice), proves to be far from a teacher's pet. While new kid ‘Schuey’ makes a chaotic arrival on his first day - but as he sets about wreaking havoc on a particular teacher, maybe all is not what it seems with this troublemaker?

Andrew Treneman (Jamie Glover) continues to have an impact on Kim, while - among some of the teaching staff - the lines between professional and personal relationships begin to blur.

And as Preston (Noah Valentine) struggles to adjust back to school life, Kelly-Jo (Alicia Forde) and Dean’s (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) relationship faces the ultimate test.

Also returning for the new series of Waterloo Road are teaching staff played by Vincent Jerome (as Lindon King), James Baxter (Joe Casey), Jo Coffey (Wendy Whitwell), Shauna Shim (Valerie Chambers), Neil Fitzmaurice Rachel Leskovac (Coral Walker), Katherine Pearce (Amy Spratt), Ryan Clayton (Mike Rutherford) and Sonia Ibrahim (Jamilah Omar).

The new pupils will join established pupils including Adam Ali (Kai Sharif), Chiamaka (ChiChi) Ulebor (Shola Aku), Inathi Rozani (Zayne Jackson) Liam Scholes (Noel McManus), Lucy Eleanor Begg (Caz Williams), Priyasasha Kumari (Samia Choudhry), Summer Violet Bird (Tonya Walters) and Thapelo Ray (Dwayne Jackson).

This series marks Angela Griffin’s directorial debut, alongside directors Vicky Thomas, Mickey Jones and Paulette Randall. The Series Producer is Lindsay Williams. The new series is written by Davey Jones, Jayshree Patel, Natalie Mitchell, Jess Barnes, Gareth McLean, Julia Kent, Rebekah Harrison and Neil Jones.

Cameron Roach, Executive Producer of Waterloo Road and Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction, says: “Waterloo Road arrives back on our screen in the New Year, with a screech of burning rubber, and we don’t let our foot off the gas. We’re incredibly proud of the energy and passion this show delivers on and offscreen, Waterloo Road not only delivers phenomenal numbers on BBC iPlayer, specifically for a young audience, but we really value the number of trainees that have now worked on, and graduated from the show, across all craft disciplines. The writing and directing teams have also been buoyed by new talent to the show, including the brilliant Angela Griffin who directs episodes 5 and 6. We’re so grateful to all cast and crew for their continued commitment to this landmark BBC brand.”

A further two new series of Waterloo Road are currently filming in Greater Manchester for transmission on BBC One and iPlayer at a later date.

Waterloo Road’s production in the North West underlines the BBC’s commitment to making more programmes across the UK, to reflect and serve all parts of the country. With a track record of launching new talent both on screen and behind the camera, Waterloo Road continues to cast key roles via open auditions at schools and youth clubs, and to offer workshops and production training schemes for newcomers to the industry, further boosting drama production skills in the North of England. So far 28 trainees have gained entry-level, paid work in the industry via six-month placements on Waterloo Road since the start of 2022, across departments including costume, art direction, post-production, camera and sound.

Waterloo Road is a Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North co-production for BBC One and iPlayer. The executive producers are Cameron Roach for Rope Ladder Fiction, Leanne Klein for Wall to Wall and Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan for the BBC.