| Waterloo Road | |
|---|---|
| Series 17 | |
 Waterloo Road Series 17 Promo | |
| Starring | |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One BBC iPlayer |
| Original release | 6 January 2026 (2026-01-06) – present |
| Series chronology | |
The seventeenth series of the British television drama series Waterloo Road commenced airing on 6 January 2026. The series comprises 8 episodes.
Production
Series 17 was announced in August 2024.[1] In December 2025, further details around the series was revealed, with 8 episodes commissioned for the seventeenth series, it also confirmed that Series 17 would premiere on 6 January 2026, with the full series being released on BBC iPlayer prior to transmission.[2]
Casting
The majority of series regulars from the sixteenth series reprised their roles for this series, these included Lindsey Coulson, James Baxter, Jo Coffey, Saira Choudhry, Neil Fitzmaurice, Christopher Jeffers, Rachel Leskovac, Kym Marsh, Jason Merrells, Shauna Shim, and Adam Thomas, portraying Stella Drake, Joe Casey, Wendy Whitwell, Nisha Chandra, Neil Guthrie, Mitch Swift, Coral Walker, Nicky Walters, Jack Rimmer, Valerie Chambers, and Donte Charles.[2]
In November 2024, it was heavily speculated that Denise Welch would reprise her role as Steph Haydock in the series, a role that Welch portrayed between the first and sixth series respectively.[3] In October 2025, her return was officially confirmed by her appearance in a trailer promoting the next series, attached to the end of the sixteenth series.[4]
Additionally, Hollie-Jay Bowes reprises her role as Debs Rafferty from the sixteenth series, as well as Liam Scholes as Noel McManus.[2]
Returning pupils include Scarlett Thomas and Summer Violet Bird as Donte's daughter Izzy Charles and Nicky's daughter Tonya Walters, alongside other students including Hattie Dynevor, Chiamaka Ulebor, Zak Sutcliffe, Maisie Robinson, Tillie Amartey, Miya Ocego, Sonya Nisa, Aabay Noor Ali, Danny Murphy and Niamh Blackshaw as Neil's daughter Libby Guthrie, Shola Aku, school troublemaker Schumacher "Schuey" Weever, his sister Portia Weever, Stacey "Stace" Neville, Lois Taylor-Brown, Aleena Qureshi, Mollie 'Mog' Richardson, Luca Smith, and Agnes Eccleston.[2]
Scheduling
The seventeenth series will commence airing on BBC One on 6 January 2026. As with the previous series, two episodes will air the same night each week.[2] As with all previous series of the revival, all episodes will release on BBC iPlayer prior to transmission.[2]
Cast and characters
Main cast
- Lindsey Coulson as Dame Stella Drake; Headteacher
- James Baxter as Joe Casey; Deputy Head and languages teacher
- Jo Coffey as Wendy Whitwell; PA to Headteacher
- Neil Fitzmaurice as Neil Guthrie; History teacher
- Saira Jackson as Nisha Chandra; Deputy Head and Maths and Science Teacher
- Christopher Jeffers as Mitch Swift; Special educational needs (SEND) coordinator
- Jon Richardson as Darius Donovan; Deputy Head and Media studies teacher
- Shauna Shim as Valerie Chambers; Music teacher
- Adam Thomas as Donte Charles; PE teacher
- Denise Welch as Steph Haydock; Supply teacher (episodes 2 and 7)
- Kym Marsh as Nicky Walters; Behavioural Lead (episodes 3–6)
- Rachel Leskovac as Coral Walker; English teacher (from episode 7)
- Jason Merrells as Jack Rimmer; former school counsellor (from episode 7)
Pupils
- Scarlett Thomas as Izzy Charles
- Summer Violet Bird as Tonya Walters
- Chiamaka Ulebor as Shola Aku
- Hattie Dynevor as Libby Guthrie
- Zak Sutcliffe as Schumacher "Schuey" Weever
- Tillie Amartey as Stacey "Stace" Neville
- Maisie Robinson as Portia Weever
- Aabay Noor Ali as Mollie 'Mog' Richardson
- Sonya Nisa as Aleena Qureshi
- Miya Ocego as Lois Taylor-Brown
- Danny Murphy as Luca Smith
- Lucy Chambers as Cat Guthrie
- Niamh Blackshaw as Agnes Eccleston
- Alfie Corbett as Forest Sumi
- Teddy Wallwork as Declan Brown
- Cory McClane as Ashton Stone
- Fintan Buckard as Ben Drake
- Freddy Smith as Freddie Hollister
- Olivia Booth-Ford as Leoni Tennant
- Myra-Sofia Iftikhar as Aisha Azzi
- Sana Ali as Badr Azzi
- Isha Kaur as Harleen Lamba
Recurring
- Kerry Howard as Serena Michelle Davies; CEO of Lowry Academies Trust
- Hollie-Jay Bowes as Debs Rafferty; School cleaner and Nicky's sister
- Liam Scholes as Noel McManus; School canteen assistant
- Karl Davies as Anthony Walters; Football coach and Tonya's father
Episodes
| No. in series | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | UK viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 247 | Episode 1[5] | Lloyd Eyre-Morgan | Katie Douglas | 6 January 2026 (2026-01-06) | TBD |
| 248 | Episode 2[6] | Lloyd Eyre-Morgan | Jessica Barnes | 6 January 2026 (2026-01-06) | TBD |
| 249 | Episode 3[7] | Christiana Ebohon-Green | Tom Wentworth | 13 January 2026 (2026-01-13) | TBD |
| 250 | Episode 4[8] | Christiana Ebohon-Green | Davey Jones & Eve Steele | 13 January 2026 (2026-01-13) | TBD |
| 251 | Episode 5[9] | Claire Tailyour | Kellie Smith | 20 January 2026 (2026-01-20) | TBD |
| 252 | Episode 6[10] | Claire Tailyour | Julia Kent | 20 January 2026 (2026-01-20) | TBD |
| 253 | Episode 7[11] | John Maidens | Neil Jones | TBA | TBD |
| 254 | Episode 8[12] | John Maidens | Jayshree Patel | TBA | TBD |
References
- ^ "BBC recommissions hit drama Waterloo Road for two more series". www.bbc.co.uk. 15 August 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Waterloo Road first look pictures released and January air date confirmed". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Loose Women's Denise Welch set for Waterloo Road return". www.digitalspy.com. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Waterloo Road's Denise Welch breaks silence on return - and teases iconic reunion". www.digitalspy.com. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 1". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 2". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 3". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 4". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 5". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 6". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 7". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ "Episode 8". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
