Dean Smith, best known for his role as schoolboy Philip Ryan in the original run of Waterloo Road, has joined the cast of Emmerdale. The 36-year-old actor appears in Tuesday night's episode as DC Price, featuring in the opening scenes alongside DS Ramsden and Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill).
From Waterloo Road to Emmerdale
It is nearly 20 years since Dean shot to fame on the BBC school drama. He joined the cast at the start of the fourth series in early 2009, playing the nephew of headmistress Rachel Mason (Eva Pope). His character came to the Rochdale comprehensive after years living with his bigamist mother Melissa (Katy Carmichael).
During his time on Waterloo Road from 2009 to 2010, Dean shared the screen with Neil Morrisey, Denise Welch, Chelsee Healey, and Adam Thomas. His character was central to dramatic storylines, including one exploring teenage insecurities about virginity, and later being assaulted by superhead Max Tyler (Tom Chambers) when he refused to spy on staff.
Career highlights and past soap roles
After leaving Waterloo Road, Dean appeared in the spin-off Waterloo Road Reunited. Reflecting on his time playing Philip, he told The Lewis Nicholls Show: "I'd never been a fan of my body or my looks and going into something like Waterloo Road where you've Adam Thomas and Tachia Newall, all these gorgeous lads there, it was very easy to feel like I could be insignificant in their world... Characters that are always on the back foot like Phillip are so much fun to play."
His subsequent roles include William in Last Tango in Halifax, appearances in Doctors, Still Open All Hours, and Casualty, and a stint as DS Yates on Hollyoaks from 2018 to 2019. In 2019, he played Andy Wingfield in Coronation Street for three episodes. This is not his first Emmerdale appearance; in 2022, he played Prison Officer Beeker, who Meena Jutla (Paige Sandhu) flirted with.
Other Waterloo Road alumni in soaps
Several Waterloo Road cast members have moved to soap operas. Jason Done, who played Tom Clarkson, recently joined Emmerdale as Steve Sykes. Adam Thomas, who played Donte Charles, later starred as Adam Barton in Emmerdale and returned to Waterloo Road's revival. Jason Merrells, who played Jack Rimmer, was Declan Macey in Emmerdale from 2010 to 2014.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
