"Waterloo Road" (2006) TV series 2006-????

User Rating:

(awaiting 5 votes)

Creators:

Maureen Chadwick
Ann McManus

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Release Date:

January 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Denise Welch	...	Steph Haydock (57 episodes, 2006-2009)
Chelsee Healey	...	Janeece Bryant (53 episodes, 2006-2009)
Zaraah Abrahams	...	Michaella White / ... (52 episodes, 2007-2009)
Katie Griffiths	...	Chlo Grainger (47 episodes, 2006-2009)
Adam Thomas	...	Donte Charles (46 episodes, 2006-2009)
Philip Martin Brown	...	Grantly Budgen (46 episodes, 2006-2009)
Jason Done	...	Tom Clarkson (42 episodes, 2006-2009)
Neil Morrissey	...	Eddie Lawson (39 episodes, 2007-2009)
Eva Pope	...	Rachel Mason (33 episodes, 2007-2009)
Tom Payne	...	Brett Aspinall (32 episodes, 2007-2008)
Angela Griffin	...	Kim Campbell (30 episodes, 2006-2009)
Christine Tremarco	...	Davina Shackleton (28 episodes, 2007-2009)
Jason Merrells	...	Jack Rimmer (27 episodes, 2006-2008)
Thomas Milner	...	Paul Langley (26 episodes, 2007-2009)

Runtime:

60 min (8 Episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Filming Locations:

Hilltop Primary School, Kirkholt, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Shed Productions

Quotes:

Chlo Grainger: What if a mad axe man breaks in? Where are we supposed to tell him? We don't know where are mum is?
Izzie Redpath: Tell him to ring me on the mobile.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Paul O'Grady Show: (2009-10-26)" (2009)

For a school, the staff don't seem to be very clever

I like the BBC, a lot of my favorite shows over the years have been broadcast on BBC America. One of my favorite aspects of BBC productions (At least those broadcast here in the U.S.) is a series season is short, and rarely does a show outlive it's time, lingering on because the characters have become a part of our routine.

Another aspect I enjoy is the character development. With such short seasons, the pace of shows are generally much quicker and the characters fleshed out early on. However, in the case of Waterloo Road, I fear there is little direction as to what the show is about, who the characters are, and surprisingly the staff appears to be more dysfunctional then the student's. This isn't meant as a criticism of the actors, but rather of the writing and concept of the show. Were it not airing during the bleakness of U.S. summer reruns and never ending "reality shows" I'd have probably quit watching some time ago. However, unlike great BBC shows like SPOOKS *MI5) or many of the "Mystery Monday" line up like Wire in the Blood, or Night Detective, which require my attention, Waterloo Road allows me to serve the internet, check google news, or play spider solitaire while it plays in the background.

The situations of the kids, are their moronic thought processes are easily waived off, as let's face it, kids always think they are much more clever then they really are. (I know I knew more at that age then I know now)Part of adolescents is learning just how much we still have to learn.

The teachers however are another story. One would expect they would have outgrown both their hormonal imbalances and emotional insecurity. The old adage about "not dipping your quill into the company inkwell" seems to have been a missing component of their education. Having your own kids in the school you teach certainly doesn't seem to be a very good idea.

The silliness and absurdity far outweighs the occasional dramatic moment or insightful instance which stumbles off the tepid script.