Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Jaye Jacobs (Holby City) and Alex Walkinshaw (The Bill) will be two of the new faces seen in the staffroom of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One's award-winning school drama, Waterloo Road.

The pair will play newly wed teachers Sian and Jez Diamond. Sian is an ambitious Cambridge graduate who wants to inspire the pupils through her love of science, while Jez is a former professional footballer who wants to bring a winning streak to Waterloo Road's lack lustre PE department.

The couple has been specially selected by Waterloo Road's new headmaster Michael Byrne played by Alec Newman (Angel, Silent Witness and Hope Springs). Michael is on a mission to make Waterloo Road a centre of excellence, while battling his own personal demons following a traumatic experience at his previous school.

Michael has also managed to persuade ex-Waterloo Road teacher Matt Wilding, played by Chris Geere, to return to the school and bring back his much needed creative flair to the music and drama departments.

The new cast will joined by Waterloo Road regulars Grantly Budgen played by Philip Martin Brown, Tom Clarkson played by Jason Done, Daniel Chalk played by Mark Benton, and Janeece Bryant played by Chelsee Healey.

Also making a regular guest appearance throughout the series as troubled parent Nelson Smith, will be John Thomson (Coronation Street, Cold Feet).

Waterloo Road has been commissioned for a further 20 episodes and filming will take place on location in Rochdale, and will be shown later this year.

Waterloo Road is made for Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One by Shed Productions and regularly attracts over five million viewers. Waterloo Road was recently awarded Best Drama at the National Television Awards. Series Seven, starring Amanda Burton and Robson Green is currently being shown on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One HD on Wednesdays at 7.30pm.

The series has been commissioned by Danny Cohen, Controller Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One and Ben Stephenson, Controller, Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Drama Commissioning. The executive producer for the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is Claire Ingham and the executive producer for Shed Production is Cameron Roach. The series producer is Tim Key and the lead director is Andrew Gunn.

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