Jason Manford joining Waterloo Road as new headteacher Mr Savage
Jason will join the show for series 14
Last updated 27th Feb 2024
Following its revival last year, BBC school drama Waterloo Road has so far seen three new series, with a fourth on the way later in 2024!
As fans of the hit drama will know, actress Angela Griffin returned to the show for series 11, 12 and 13, playing the role of loveable headteacher Miss Kim Campbell, but that's all about to change for series 14!
In news which was announced on Tuesday 27th February, comedian and Absolute Radio presenter Jason Manford has joined the cast, as brand new headteacher Mr Savage.
Speaking about his upcoming new role, Jason said: “What an absolute treat it is to join the cast and crew of Waterloo Road, right here in my home city of Manchester. My kids and I binged the show on iPlayer during lockdown. It’s such a brilliant, iconic show, so I’m dead proud to now be part of its history. Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher and now becoming a headteacher, I know I would have been terrible!"
Following the conclusion of series 13 on Monday 26th February, BBC bosses confirmed that Jason's character Steve Savage will have a big impact on both the pupils and staff at Waterloo Road, as well as ruffling a few feathers.
The new appointment has also left fans of the show wondering what will happen to current headteacher Miss Campbell, with bosses teasing they'll 'have to wait and see how the storyline plays out'.
Cameron Roach, Executive Producer of Waterloo Road and Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction, says of the news: "We're thrilled that Jason Manford is joining Waterloo Road, as the show returns for a fourth series since returning to BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
"Jason is a phenomenal comic actor, and has fully embraced the tone and spirit of the show, we can't wait for the audience to meet Steve Savage and his son Billy. As with all of our adult cast, Jason has been an inspiring and approachable mentor to our younger cast and crew; we love that a new generation of Northern talent are able to learn their craft alongside brilliant household names. The legacy of Waterloo Road goes from strength to strength."
Check out all of the TV shows we can't wait for the return of:
Celebrity Big Brother
Following the first rebooted series in 2024, which welcomed celebs such as Louis Walsh, Sharon Osbourne and David Potts, it was confirmed that Celebrity Big Brother will be returning for another series on 7th April!
Black Mirror
In March 2024, Netflix bosses revealed a seventh series of Black Mirror would land in 2025, with one of the episodes set to be a sequel to series four episode USS Callister. It's now been confirmed the seventh series will begin on 10th April.
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives
Following the success of series one in 2024, reality show The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will return for a second series! Disney+ have now confirmed the second series will begin on 15th May.
Squid Game
Although series two of Squid Game only dropped on Boxing Day, the good news is that series three has already been filmed, and it's due out in 2025! Netflix have now confirmed a release date of 27th June.
The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors
Series four of The Traitors is due to return in early 2026, but fans can also look forward to the first ever celebrity edition of the show!
Stranger Things
Netflix bosses confirmed in January 2023 that the fifth and final series of Stranger Things had officially started production! Despite this, there's still no word yet on a release date.
Ted Lasso
Following the end of series three in 2023, fans were crying out for a fourth series of comedy show Ted Lasso! On Friday 14th March, main actor Jason Sudeikis confirmed the exciting news, revealing it was in early production! There's no release date just yet.
Love Island
It's the highlight of the Summer for reality TV fans, and now ITV/STV bosses have confirmed Love Island will be back for its 12th series in June!
Waterloo Road
School drama Waterloo Road is due to return for a 16th series in early 2026! The show, which was rebooted in 2023, has been a huge success for the BBC.
Hijack
Following series one back in June 2023, Apple TV bosses have now confirmed Idris Elba will return for a second series of Hijack! No plot or start date has been announced just yet, but reports are rife that production will begin soon.
Race Across The World
Series four of Race Across The World was one of the BBC's most popular shows of the year, and they were quick to renew the show for a fifth series. With applications closing in May this year, we suspect the show will air around Spring 2025.
The Handmaid's Tale
It has been a long time coming, but the sixth and final series of The Handmaid's Tale finally has a start date! The Handmaid's Tale series 6 will arrive on Hulu in the US on 8th April 2025. Unfortunaly, an official UK release date is yet to be confirmed, but hopefully it won't be too long after!
Vigil
Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie reprising their roles as DCI Amy Silva and DI Kirsten Longacre in BBC drama Vigil. With filming set to begin in Scotland later this year, fans could see series three land in early 2026.
Clarkson's Farm
Following three amazing series, Prime Video confirmed a fourth series was in the works in 2024, with it due to land in 2025. As if that wasn't enough, Jeremy has now confirmed series five is in production!
Love Is Blind: UK
Following the successful first series of Love Is Blind: UK, with hosts Matt and Emma Willis, Netflix have now confirmed the series has been renewed for a second instalment! Applications are open now, with series two set to air in 2025.
Red Eye
ITV/STV crime drama Red Eye become one of the station's biggest shows in 2024, so it's no surprise it was commissioned for a second series. Filming started in March 2025, with Martin Compston joining the cast, but there's no word on any release date just yet.
Mrs Brown's Boys
The popular controversial comedy Mrs Brown's Boys is returning for a fifth season! The show made its almighty return to screens in 2023, with fans delighted at the news that not only do we have some festive specials on the way - but a brand new mini series coming our way - with filming set to begin in 2025.
Blue Lights
Another popular drama set to return to BBC One later this year is Blue Lights. Filming for series three kicked off in February, so we suspect it could land later this year.
Emily In Paris
That's right, after things got pretty interesting for Emily Cooper as we saw her set up camp in Rome, starring actress Lily Collins answered our prayers as she confirmed that a fifth season is officially on the way - with fans taking it upon themselves to dub the season 'Emily In Rome'.
Trigger Point
Following two successful series, ITV/STV bosses announced in October 2024 that they'd commissioned Trigger Point for a third series, with production set to begin in London in 2025. Vicky McClure will reprise her role as bomb disposal operative Lana Washington, with series three expected to air sometime in early 2026.
Nobody Wants This
It was one of the most popular rom-coms of 2024, so it's no surprise Netflix bosses were quick to renew Nobody Wants This, starring Adam Brody and Kristen Bell. Although there's no exact release date for series two just yet, it has been confirmed it will air in 2025, with production beginning in March.
The Day of the Jackal
Series one of thriller The Day of the Jackal has broken viewing records for Sky Atlantic, so there's no surprise that bosses were quick to renew the show for a second series, before the first was even over! Although there's no air date just yet, filming is expected to take place in 2025.
After The Flood
Actress Sophie Rundle played the role of Joanna Marshall in series one of ITV/STV drama After The Flood. The show was so popular it was immediately renewed for a second series, with Alun Armstrong, Jill Halfpenny, Ian Puleston-Davies and Matthew McNulty joining the cast. Filming for series two started in March 2025, so we suspect it could arrive later this year.
Deal or No Deal
Following it's reboot, quiz show Deal or No Deal has become increasingly popular with viewers, so it's no surprise fans are calling out for more. ITV/STV bosses are yet to officially confirm a third series, but they have announced a Soccer Aid special will air in June 2025.
Married At First Sight UK
Although the Australian version is keeping us all entertained right now, we can't wait for the UK version of MAFS to return later in 2025, as more singletons attempt to find love at first sight.
Amandaland
Following the first series of Motherland spin-off show Amandaland, BBC bosses were quick to renew comedy series Amandaland for a second series. Lucy Punch will return as Amanda, alongside Joanna Lumley and Philippa Dunne. There's so far been no word on when series two will land.
The Great British Bake Off
Usually airing between September and November, Bake Off is the perfect show to get us through Autumn. Judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith are set to return later in 2025 with hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding.
Bullseye
Following the Christmas special in 2024, ITV/STV bosses have now confirmed they've commissioned a full series of iconic gameshow Bullseye, with Freddie Flintoff as host. The series is due to air later in 2025, as well as a brand new Christmas special.
Hunted
Applications for the next series of Hunted are due to close at the end of May, so we suspect it could be ready to land on TV in early 2026.
Selling Sunset
With series eight dropping last September, Netflix are still yet to officially confirm if Selling Sunset will return for a ninth series, but a lot of the cast members have dropped huge hints! We are hoping for another instalment!
Unforgotten
After series six aired in early 2025, ITV/STV bosses were quick to recommission crime drama Unforgotten for a seventh series, with Sanjeev Bhaskar and Sinéad Keenan set to return. There's no official start date just yet, but we imagine it will be early 2026.
Strictly Come Dancing
After comedian Chris McCausland won the show in 2024, Strictly Come Dancing will return later in 2025 for yet another countdown to Christmas!
I'm A Celeb
Ant and Dec are also set to return to our TV screens later in 2025 for a brand new series of I'm A Celeb! No names have been announced just yet, but as also, rumours are heating up about which famous faces will head into the jungle.
The Masked Singer
Bonkers entertainment show The Masked Singer UK has officially been renewed for another season, due to air in early 2026.
The Night Agent
After series two dropped on Netflix in January, bosses were quick to confirm The Night Agent would return for a third instalment, with Gabriel Basso as FBI agent Peter Sutherland. Production for series three started in February 2025, so it could land in early 2026.
As well as the news of Jason's new role, Waterloo Road bosses have also given further updates about the cast for series 14.
Fans will be pleased to know that school staff Adam Thomas (Donte Charles), Kym Marsh (Nicky Walters), James Baxter (Joe Casey), Jo Coffey (Wendy Whitwell), Shauna Shim (Valerie Chambers), Neil Fitzmaurice (Neil Guthrie), Rachel Leskovac (Coral Walker), and Katherine Pearce (Amy Spratt) will all return.
Returning students also includes Aabay Noor Ali (Mollie "Mog" Richardson), Alicia Forde (Kelly-Jo Rafferty), Chiamaka (ChiChi) Ulebor (Shola Aku), Francesco Piacentini-Smith (Dean Weever), Hattie Dynevor (Libby Guthrie), Liam Scholes (Noel McManus), Lucy Eleanor Begg (Caz Williams), Maisey Robinson (Portia Weever), Noah Valentine (Preston Walters), Summer Violet Bird (Tonya Walters), Thapelo Ray (Dwayne Jackson), Tillie Amartey (Stacey "Stace" Neville), and Zak Sutcliffe ("Schuey" Weever).
Series 14 will see the arrival of a new maths teacher, in the form of No Offence actress Saira Choudhry, who will play Nisha Chandra.
New students also include Olly Rhodes as Billy Savage, Nathan Wood as Boz Osbourne, Sonya Nisa as Aleena Qureshi, Miya Ocego as Lois Taylor-Brown, Danny Murphy as Luca Smith and Matthew Khan as Jared Jones.
Series 1-13 of Waterloo Road is available to stream on BBC iPlayer now, with series 14 due to air later in 2024.
Now read:
The brand new series of Waterloo Road is available to watch now
All of the TV shows we can’t wait to return
Race Across the World renewed for fifth series and applications are open
Rayo Premium