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:
Gavin & Stacey
Five years after THAT cliffhanger ending of the last Gavin & Stacey Christmas special, Ruth Jones and James Corden have now confirmed they've written another Christmas special for 2024! Sharing the news in May, the pair confirmed the brand new episode will air on Christmas Day.
Outnumbered
BBC bosses confirmed in May that award-winning comedy Outnumbered will return for a brand new Christmas special in 2024! The original cast Hugh Dennis, Claire Skinner, Tyger Drew-Honey, Daniel Roche and Ramona Marquez will all reprise their roles. The special is expected to air on Christmas Day.
Squid Game
Another roaring Netflix success, Squid Game had us all hooked when it was released in 2021. Breaking records and topping streaming charts, the show proved incredibly popular and after THAT ending, left us all wanting more.
Show creator Hwang Dong-hyuk has confirmed that season two is officially happening, and now the third and final season has been announced for 2025. In July 2024, Netflix bosses confirmed series two will land on 26th December 2024.
Missing You
Following the success of Fool Me Once in January 2024, Netflix were quick to announce they were adapting two more Harlan Coben books. The first one to land is Missing You, with bosses now revealing it will be available to stream on 1st January 2025.
The Traitors
Following that tense final of The Traitors series two earlier this year, fans cannot wait for the return of the show, with series three landing on 1st January 2025. In August 2024, BBC bosses also announced the show had been renewed for a fourth series, with filming set to begin in 2025.
The Night Agent
After series one was Netflix's most-watched show of 2023, bosses were quick to commission The Night Agent for a second series! Netflix have now announced series two will land on Thursday 23rd January 2025. The show has also now been renewed for a third series.
Gladiators
Following the hugely successful first series, BBC bosses were quick to announce Gladiators had been commissioned for a second series! Although there's no official start date, filming took place in August, which also included a celebrity special!
Dancing On Ice
Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby are set to return in early 2025 for a brand new series of Dancing On Ice, with a whole new bunch of celebs signing up to take part in 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.
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 season in 2025!
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.
Unforgotten
Following the tense ending to series five in April 2023, ITV/STV bosses were quick to reveal drama series Unforgotten had been commissioned for a sixth series. Filming started in March 2024, so we imagine the new episodes could land later in the year.
Black Mirror
In March 2024, Netflix bosses revealed a seventh series of Black Mirror will land in 2025, with one of the episodes set to be a sequel to series four episode USS Callister. No official date has been announced just yet.
The Bay
ITV/STV drama The Bay was immediately renewed for a fifth series, following the fourth in 2023. Marsha Thomason is set to reprise her role as DS Jenn Townsend. Although there's no start date just yet, filming wrapped in July 2024.
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.
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 is due to begin in 2025, 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.
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, we suspect it will be sometime in 2025.
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.
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