Greenock Relocation
It was announced during 2011 that the show will be relocating to Scotland for its eighth series. The 10 episodes starting from 22nd February 2012 were the last ones filmed at the original set in Rochdale, Greater Manchester during 2011 and from April 2012 filming will start at the former Greenock Academy in Greenock, 25 miles outside of Glasgow. The storyline will play out on screen with an ‘explosive’ storyline at the end of series seven then some of the current teachers and students move to set up and independent school I Greenock which will keep the Waterloo Road name.
Although there has been some doubt amongst fans that the show will be able to maintain its way of dealing with real-life, current issues as an independent school the writers assure us, “it will remain the show the people love;” and will continue to deal with the topical issues effecting a working class community. Shed productions have said they are “very grateful” to the people on the Kirkholt estate in Rochdale for supporting the show for so long and being helpful and welcoming. Although it will be sad to see the show leave its original set we hope the move will provide an exciting new start for Waterloo Road. The first of the Scotland based episodes are due to air this autumn and over the next couple of years, 50 have been commissioned. We start the new term in Scotland in a school funded by businesswoman and philanthropist Lorraine Donnegan (played by Daniela Denby Ashe) is an ex pupil of Michael’s who she credits with her desire to succeed and now she wants to pay something back by headhunting Michael to run a new school in a deprived area of Glasgow.
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Confirmed CastThe following cast members have been officially confirmed by the BBC and Shed Productions to be returning in the Scottish series:
Alec Newman (headmaster Michael Byrne) Philip Martin-Brown (Grantly Budgen) Jaye Jacobs (Sian Diamond) Melanie Hill (Maggie Croft) Mark Benton (Daniel Chalk) Jason Done (Tom Clarkson) Chelsee Healey (Janeece Bryant) Will Rush (Josh Stevenson) Naveed Choudhry (Tariq Siddiqui) Georgia Henshaw (Madi Diamond) Kaya Moore (Phoenix Taylor) Kane Tomlinson-Weaver (Harley Taylor) Katie McGlynn (Jodie ‘Scout’ Allen) Confirmed new cast: Paige Mead (Jade Flemming) Marlene Madenge (Lula Tsibi) Benjamin Gur (Gus Hancock) Kirstie Steele (Imogen Stewart) Rebecca Craven (Rhiannon Salt) Shane O'Meara (Connor Mulgrew) Adiza Shardow (Liberty Gordon) Christine Mulgrew (Laurie Brett) Gerard Findlay (Alex Norton) 
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