Two decades since it first burst onto our screens, the BBC school drama Waterloo Road has lost none of its relevance or power. For a generation that grew up with its chaotic tales from a Greater Manchester comprehensive, the show's revival has proven it is far more than mere entertainment; it's a vital tool for education and social awareness.
A School for Modern Times
First airing in 2006, the series captivated audiences with its high-stakes portrayal of school life, complete with scandals, fights, and teen pregnancies. After ending in 2015, a surge of interest during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown prompted the BBC to bring it back. Familiar faces like Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) and Donte Charles (Adam Thomas) returned, bridging the gap between its original run and the current season 17, which airs on BBC One each Tuesday and is available in full on iPlayer.
The show's core mission, however, has evolved. In an era defined by AI tools like Grok, algorithmic news feeds, and pervasive online abuse, Waterloo Road uses its dramatic storylines to spotlight critical issues facing young people and their families today.
Tackling Tough Topics Head-On
The drama has never shied away from difficult subjects. A recent major storyline focused on grief following the death of student Hope Drake from an allergic reaction. It meticulously explored the ongoing, unpredictable pain endured by her family, including headteacher and grandmother Dame Stella Drake.
Similarly, the plot involving Libby Guthrie (Hattie Dynevor) and her abusive boyfriend Jared Jones offered a stark lesson in toxic relationships, showing how manipulation escalates to physical violence and isolation from loved ones. By portraying this on mainstream television, the show educates viewers, especially teenagers, on the red flags of abuse.
Education Beyond the Curriculum
Where many real-world schools have historically fallen short, Waterloo Road steps in. The iconic character Steph Haydock, played by Denise Welch, returned this season with a crucial new role. Confronting an outbreak of chlamydia at the school, she used her own experiences to deliver frank sexual health education—covering prevention, treatment, and destigmatisation—a lesson the writer notes was sorely missing from his own school days in the late 2000s.
The series is also breaking new ground by exploring child-on-parent abuse, through Donte's daughter Izzy's violent outbursts. Furthermore, in a storyline developed with the NSPCC, football coach Tony Walters grooms student Portia Weever, demonstrating how predators exploit positions of trust and the importance of friends, like Portia's alert classmate Shola, in spotting the signs.
Amidst the turmoil, the show also offers hope through character redemption. Schuey Weever's journey from a troubled youth involved with drugs and family abuse to a calmer, religious young man fostered by a deputy head and a police officer proves that background shapes behaviour, advocating for empathy and understanding.
Ultimately, Waterloo Road persists as essential viewing because it holds up a mirror to society's evolving challenges. It entertains, but more importantly, it informs and sparks conversation, proving its worth is greater than ever twenty years on. Waterloo Road airs on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
