The BBC has announced that Jason Merrells is to guest star in the new series of BBC’s Waterloo Road.
Merrells (Happy Valley, Emmerdale) will reprise his role of Jack Rimmer, who became Head of Waterloo Road in its first ever series.
It comes following the news that Lindsey Coulson will be joining the Greater Manchester based series as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake, taking over the role from Steve Savage – played by Jason Manford.
“I left the OG series of Waterloo Road in 2006 with very fond memories of building a character in such a great ensemble and with such an important story. When I saw the renewed interest from another generation – who weren’t born when we made the original – I was heartened and surprised,” said Merrells.
“Jack Rimmer was probably my favourite long running character I’ve played on television, and going back for this new incarnation to tell this story of who Jack has become over the intervening years has been an absolute pleasure. It’s a different building, but the same ethos, drama, humour & integrity are still in place, it felt like coming home.”
He last appeared in series three, when he resigned to pursue a head teacher role in Dubai. He will return as a counsellor.
“The very possibility of Jason reviving the character of Jack Rimmer, has always excited our writing team, to see it happen has been explosive,” added Cameron Roach, Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction and Exec Producer for Waterloo Road.
“We know how much the OG fans will love the reappearance of Jack, but for the new era it brings incredible story twists that fans new and old will enjoy. The cast and crew have loved Jason’s return to the show and we know the audience will too.”
Waterloo Road is a Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North co-production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. 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.
