The production runs entry-level traineeships and a programme to support women directors in the north of England

Waterloo Road has been recommissioned for another double run, with filming imminent in Greater Manchester.

As with previous series since the reboot of the school-set drama a few years ago, the runs will film back-to-back. They will be Series S17 and 18 overall, each comprising 8 x 60′ episodes.

The drama is made by Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North with Lindsay Williams as series producer. The executive producers are Cameron Roach for Rope Ladder Fiction and Leanne Klein for Wall to Wall; is commissioned by Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan for the BBC.

Waterloo Road has a hefty commitment to nurturing and developing creative talent in the north of England through its curated development programmes – the recently-announced production development scheme which has already given over 40 trainees paid entry-level work in the TV industry since 2022, and the Discovery (WBD) Access x Waterloo Road Directors Programme which was formed to support and grow the pool of women directors in the north of England.

Roach said: ‘When the BBC commissioned the reboot of Waterloo Road we had hoped it might run for a few seasons, but to be commissioned for further series, bringing the total episodes since relaunch to seventy hours, is a huge achievement and a reflection of the incredible creative teams in front of and behind the camera.

“As well as continuing to celebrate emerging talent, the show is fast gaining a reputation for working with the best comedy talent, as Jon Richardson joins the cast this season. As a team we’re incredibly proud that a very British show can be such an enduring success for the BBC and continue to bring in new generations of viewers