EastEnders icon to play new headteacher in Waterloo | UK News

Former EastEnders actress Lindsey Coulson is set to make a dramatic entrance because the new headteacher Dame Stella Drake in the upcoming collection of Waterloo Road. Taking over from the earlier head, Steve Savage, portrayed by Jason Manford, who was carted off by the police for his involvement in a homicide cover-up on the finish of collection 14, Coulson’s character is poised to shake issues up.

At 64, Coulson expressed her pleasure: “I’m delighted to be joining Waterloo Road as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake. ” She’s relishing the problem of a recent function, saying, “It’s a role I haven’t played before so I’m really enjoying peeling back the layers of who Stella is and seeing how the teachers and students react to her no-nonsense approach.”

Coulson praised the show’s dedication to addressing social points: “Waterloo Road tackles social issues head-on which is so important to see on television and this series will be no different.”

The producers trace at turmoil as Dame Stella steps into a faculty the place college students have grown more and more unruly, along with her conventional strategies clashing with modern instructional approaches. In a sneak peek, she addresses the employees with a call to motion: “I know you’re probably still feeling battered and bruised following recent events, but we need to take a good honest look at what changes are needed to turn this school around.”

Waterloo Road, which delves into the lives of these at a state faculty in Greater Manchester, loved a profitable run from 2006 to 2015 and made its comeback in 2023. Coulson is best recognized for her portrayal of Carol Jackson in EastEnders, a function she final reprised in 2015.

Cameron Roach, government producer of Waterloo Road, has expressed his enthusiasm with the most recent casting information: “We’re really thrilled that Lindsey Coulson is joining Waterloo Road, she has absolutely embraced the spirit and ethos of the show, and she completely inhabits the role of Dame Stella Drake, we can’t wait for the audience to meet her. He further praised the impact of such a high-profile addition.

“The undeniable fact that the show has attracted an actor of Lindsey’s calibre is testomony to the continued ambition and dedication from our writing and story groups, in addition to our sensible forged and crew.”

Emphasising the significance of this moment, Lindsay Salt, director of BBC Drama, also shared: “It’s a actual honour to have an actor of Lindsey Coulson’s calibre take the reins at Waterloo Road. Dame Stella Drake is a pressure to be reckoned with, and we all know followers of all ages are going to love watching her.”

The eagerly anticipated return of Waterloo Road to BBC iPlayer and BBC One is slated for 2025.