“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.” — Jason Merrells
Published: December 12, 2024 — Waterloo Road fan favourite Jason Merrell’s (Happy Valley, Emmerdale) will be returning to the hit drama for a guest appearance in its next series, coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One in February. Merrells will reprise his role as Jack Rimmer, who became head of Waterloo Road in the drama’s first ever series. The news follows the announcement that Lindsey Coulson will be joining the Greater Manchester based series as the new headteacher, Dame Stella Drake, taking over the role from Steve Savage played by Jason Manford
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
Jason Merrells says: “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. 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.”
Cameron Roach, Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction and Exec Producer for Waterloo Road says: ‘The very possibility of Jason reviving the character of Jack Rimmer, has always excited our writing team, to see it happen has been explosive. 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.’
Source
BBC One
