An old face will make a guest appearance in ‘Waterloo Road‘ when it returns for its 15th Season in February 2025, as the BBC announces Jason Merrell (Happy Valley, Emmerdale) will reprise his role as “Jack Rimmer.”
Jack Rimmer, known for his charisma and hard-nosed approach to leading the school, was a stabilising force during some of Waterloo Road’s most difficult early years, though not without his own drama. Previously seen in series three, when he resigned to pursue a head teacher role in Dubai, Jack returns to the show as a counsellor. Now living back in Manchester, he is no longer working in education.
“I left the OG series of Waterloo Road in 2006 with very fond memories of building a character in such a great ensemble and with such an important story,” said Merrell. “When I saw the renewed interest from another generation – who weren’t born when we made the original – I was heartened and surprised. Jack Rimmer was probably my favourite long-running character I’ve played on television, and going back for this new incarnation to tell this story of who Jack has become over the intervening years has been an absolute pleasure. It’s a different building, but the same ethos, drama, humour & integrity are still in place, it felt like coming home.”
The news follows the announcement in October that Lindsey Coulson (EastEnders, The Bay) will be joining the Greater Manchester-based series as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake, taking over the position vacated by Steve Savage played by Jason Manford. Dame Stella seeks Jack’s help as she struggles through her first few weeks as head of Waterloo Road. Viewers will have to wait for the new series to see just how difficult Stella’s journey at the school is, and whether Jack’s advice and expertise can help her.
“The very possibility of Jason reviving the character of Jack Rimmer has always excited our writing team, to see it happen has been explosive,” adds Cameron Roach, Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction and Exec Producer for Waterloo Road. “We know how much the OG fans will love the reappearance of Jack, but for the new era, it brings incredible story twists that fans new and old will enjoy. The cast and crew have loved Jason’s return to the show and we know the audience will too.”
Jason Merrells’ return to the show adds to the list of original cast members who have returned to ‘Waterloo Road’ since its return to the BBC, alongside the rebooted series’ brand new cast of regular characters. Returning faces have also included Chlo Charles played by Katie Griffiths, Janeece Bryant played by Chelsee Healey, Andrew Treneman played by Jamie Glover, Mika Grainger played by Lauren Drummond, Kim Campbell played by Angela Griffin, and Donte Charles played by Adam Thomas, who remains in the show as a lead cast member.
‘Waterloo Road’ is a Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North co-production for BBC iPlayer and BBC One. The executive producers are Cameron Roach for Rope Ladder Fiction, Leanne Klein for Wall to Wall and Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan for the BBC.
‘Waterloo Road‘ Season 15 does not yet have an exact air date but will premiere in February 2025 on BBC One and iPlayer. If you want to keep track of this or any other show, you can add them via our Never Miss system, and you’ll be notified when it gets a UK premiere date.
