THE BBC has confirmed the return of a legendary drama - and it's just weeks away.
The channel has revealed its Christmas and New Year scheduling in recent days, giving licence fee payers a lot to look forward to.
One of the first things on the 2024 agenda is the return of Waterloo Road for its third series since its relaunch.
Eight new episodes will be available as a full boxset on BBC iPlayer from 6am on January 2, and will air weekly on BBC One from 8pm that night.
As well as confirming the show's return date, BBC bosses have also released first look pictures from the new series featuring fan favourites including Angela Griffin, Adam Thomas and Kym Marsh.
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Series three of the rebooted drama will see a group of long-term school refusers arriving at Waterloo Road, causing the balance of peace and harmony to once again rest on thin ice.
Will Headteacher Kim Campbell and her team have what it takes to stop the school from sinking?
Meanwhile Libby, who makes a surprise return to Manchester to stay with her dad, the school’s Head of History Neil Guthrie (Neil Fitzmaurice), proves to be far from a teacher's pet.
While new kid ‘Schuey’ makes a chaotic arrival on his first day - but as he sets about wreaking havoc on a particular teacher, maybe all is not what it seems with this troublemaker?
Elsewhere, Andrew Treneman (Jamie Glover) continues to have an impact on Kim, while - among some of the teaching staff - the lines between professional and personal relationships begin to blur.
And as Preston (Noah Valentine) struggles to adjust back to school life, Kelly-Jo (Alicia Forde) and Dean’s (Francesco Piacentini-Smith) relationship faces the ultimate test.
New students joining the school this year are Libby Guthrie (Hattie Dynevor), Stace Neville (Tillie Armartey), Lee Schumacher ‘Schuey’ Weever (Zak Sutcliffe), Portia Weever (Maisey Robinson) and Mollie ‘Mog’ Robinson (Aabay Noor Ali).
Cameron Roach, Executive Producer of Waterloo Road and Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction, said: “Waterloo Road arrives back on our screen in the New Year, with a screech of burning rubber, and we don’t let our foot off the gas.
"We’re incredibly proud of the energy and passion this show delivers on and offscreen, Waterloo Road not only delivers phenomenal numbers on BBC iPlayer, specifically for a young audience, but we really value the number of trainees that have now worked on, and graduated from the show, across all craft disciplines.
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"The writing and directing teams have also been buoyed by new talent to the show, including the brilliant Angela Griffin who directs episodes 5 and 6.
"We’re so grateful to all cast and crew for their continued commitment to this landmark BBC brand.”
Waterloo Road returns to BBC One at 9pm on January 2, 2024, with all episodes available as a boxset that day.
