Former EastEnders actress Lindsey Coulson is set to take the helm as the new headteacher Dame Stella Drake in the upcoming series of Waterloo Road. She steps into the role following the character Steve Savage, portrayed by Jason Manford, who was seen being arrested by police at the end of the 14th series for his involvement in concealing Boz Osbourne’s murder.
At age 64, Coulson expressed her excitement: “I’m delighted to be joining Waterloo Road as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake. ” She finds the character’s discovery process enthralling and looks forward to exploring how Stella’s straightforward manner will play out within the school environment. “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.”
The actress emphasised the significance of the show’s engagement with societal issues: “Waterloo Road tackles social issues head-on which is so important to see on television and this series will be no different.”
As per the show’s creators, Dame Stella faces a challenging start at the school due to growing student indiscipline from last term, leading to tensions with the existing pastoral strategies.
A preview of the series shows her addressing the faculty: “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, a drama centred around life at a state school in Greater Manchester, enjoyed an original run on the BBC from 2006 to 2015 and made its comeback in 2023. Coulson is best known for her portrayal of Carol Jackson on EastEnders, with her last appearance being in 2015.
Waterloo Road’s executive producer Cameron Roach expressed his excitement about Lindsey Coulson joining the cast, stating: “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 went on to express his pride in the team’s ability to attract such talent: “The fact that the show has attracted an actor of Lindsey’s calibre is testament to the continued ambition and commitment from our writing and story teams, as well as our brilliant cast and crew.”
Adding to the enthusiasm, Lindsay Salt, the director of BBC Drama, remarked: “It’s a real honour to have an actor of Lindsey Coulson’s calibre take the reins at Waterloo Road. Dame Stella Drake is a force to be reckoned with, and we know fans of all ages are going to love watching her.”
It was also announced that Waterloo Road will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in 2025.