Former Emmerdale actor Karl Davies is reportedly joining the cast of BBC's Waterloo Road. The actor, best known for playing Robert Sugden in the ITV soap, is said to have been cast as Tony Walters in the forthcoming sixteenth series.
According to reports, Karl will appear opposite Kym Marsh, who plays Nicky Walters, with the pair portraying an estranged husband and wife. Tony is said to emerge to reconnect with Nicky, sparking an intense storyline for the characters.
The casting rumour was first shared by a fan account on social media, which posted: "Former #Emmerdale actor Karl Davies is set to join #WaterlooRoad as Tony Walters. He will appear in the next series." The post prompted an excited reaction from followers, with one commenting: "When is the new series? I can’t b****y wait!!!!" Another wrote: "Oooh, the second Robert Sugden."
Karl has enjoyed a successful career since leaving Emmerdale in 2005, with roles in acclaimed dramas such as Chernobyl, Happy Valley and Game of Thrones. Waterloo Road originally aired from 2006 to 2015 before being revived in 2023, and the BBC recently confirmed it had been recommissioned for at least two more seasons.
Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, said: "I'm delighted that Waterloo Road will be opening its corridors once again, with two more series of the hit drama about to start filming." Executive producer Cameron Roach added that the recommission was "a huge achievement" and a reflection of the creative teams involved. The show celebrates its 20th anniversary next year, with past stars including Jill Halfpenny, Adam Thomas and Neil Morrissey.
