Where are the Waterloo Road cast now? From Lucien Laviscount to Phoebe Dynevor, many have gone on to bigger and better things
The Waterloo Road cast is well and truly dominating TV lately, with memorable alums from the classic BBC high school drama appearing in our favourite Netflix shows. From Bridgerton to Emily in Paris, we've spotted some familiar faces who've come a long way since causing trouble in the classroom. Naturally, this has made us feel a little nostalgic, and we just can't help but wonder what the rest of the gang are up to.
Earlier this year, the BBC announced that Waterloo Road would be making a comeback. Yep, the chaotic show that many of us grew up with will be getting a Gen-Z makeover six years after the original was axed back in 2015. The news was met with excitement from fans all over the country, with curiosity about the OG cast in equal measures.
With the likes of Phoebe Dynevor and Regé-Jean Page going onto achieve global fame after playing Duke and Duchess of Hastings in Bridgerton, and more recently, their fellow Waterloo Road alum Lucien Laviscount starring in the latest season of Emily in Paris, it feels like the show is a right of passage for British stars en route to making it big in Hollywood. So, what has the journey been like for the rest of their peers?
Here's a look back at some of our favourite characters of the Waterloo Road cast, then vs now…
BBCLucien Laviscount: Then
Waterloo Road character: Jonah Kirby
On the show, Lucien played Jonah Kirby, a previously homeschooled student who became popular with the ladies when he joined Waterloo Road High. He started off dating fellow student Jess Fisher, however, in classic Waterloo Road style things got crazy when he began having an affair with his Spanish teacher, Francesca Montoya. She got pregnant and the two attempted to get married and run away together but they were caught and Francesca was arrested as they left the registry office.
Getty ImagesLucien Laviscount: Now
After his stint on the show, Lucien starred in Shameless, Skins and Coronation Street. He also went into the Celebrity Big Brother house in the 2011 instalment of the show. Later, he found fame in the US, joining the cast of popular dramas Scream Queens and Katy Keene before landing a gig in the second season of the hit Netflix series, Emily in Paris.
BBCPhoebe Dynevor: Then
Waterloo Road Character: Siobhan Mailey
Phoebe Dynevor's first ever on-screen role was playing teen Siobhan Mailey in season five of Waterloo Road. Unlike many of her classmates, Siobhan was well-off and initially looked down her nose at at the school and its pupils. However, it didn't take long for her to fall into a girl gang, where she was peer pressured into bullying others and doing things she lived to regret. Her new life puts a strain on her relationship with boyfriend Luke and they eventually split up. By the end of the season, she moves schools.
Getty ImagesPhoebe Dynevor: Now
It's safe to say Phoebe has done pretty well for herself since leaving Waterloo Road. She starred in Prisoners’ Wives, Snatch and Younger before securing her role on Bridgerton, where she plays season one lead Daphne Bridgerton alongside fellow Waterloo Road alum, Regé-Jean Page. The Netflix show has catapulted Phoebe to new heights of stardom, and earlier this year, her latest movie, The Colour Room, was released.
BBCRegé-Jean Page: Now
Waterloo Road Character: Guy Braxton
Unlike Phoebe, Regé-Jean played a teacher rather than a student on Waterloo Road. He appeared on the show as Guy Braxton in the final series, a penniless teacher who sleeps rough in the school before being invited to stay with colleague Sonya Donnegan.
NetflixRegé-Jean Page: Now
It's been quite a year for Regé-Jean, who pretty much became the sexiest man alive overnight after playing the Duke of Hastings in Bridgerton. He has since been tipped as the new Bond and appeared in the Amazon Prime movie Sylvie's Love alongside Tessa Thompson. He also stars in Netflix's upcoming thriller, The Gray Man – one of the most highly anticipated Netflix movies for 2022.
BBCJenna Coleman: Then
Waterloo Road Character: Lindsay James
Jenna Coleman played Lindsay James, who joined the show when Waterloo Road merged with John Foster Private School, creating a vicious rivalry between students. But aside from the school drama, Lindsay hid a vast family secret: her dad had been killed by her mum. It was later revealed that it was, in fact, Lindsay who murdered her abusive father to protect her mum and sister. She was arrested and charged with murder but ran away after being released on bail and was never seen since.
Getty ImagesJenna Coleman: Now
Where are they now?
Jenna is one of the biggest stars of the show. As well as starring in Coronation Street, she starred as Doctor Who's assistant Clara Oswald before Queen Victoria in the ITV series Victoria. She most recently starred in the BBC crime thriller The Serpent.
BBCChelsee Healey: Then
Waterloo Road Character: Janeece Bryant
Janeece was one of the most iconic characters on Waterloo Road. She started as one of the OG students and was constantly getting in trouble for being cheeky before leaving at the end of season four when her best friend Maxine died, leaving her completely heartbroken.
She returned in season six as a secretary at the school and was heavily pregnant with her daughter, who she eventually named Cheryl after the Girls Aloud singer. She eventually left Waterloo Road again, starting a new life in Ibiza with baby Cheryl.
Channel 4Chelsee Healey: Now
After the show, Chelsee appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, where she and her dance partner Pasha Kovalev finished as runner-ups. She then spent two years on Casualty as Honey Wright before being cast as Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks and has been there ever since. She has two children, Coco Valentine and Healey Molloy.
BBCDenise Welch: Then
Waterloo Road character: Steph Haydock
Steph was the head of French at Waterloo Road. She was a terrible teacher who could never control her classroom, but she did provide comfort for the kids and always had some sort of fling with the male staff.
She fostered student Maxine Barlow and was broken when Maxine's abusive boyfriend murdered her. She left the show in season five but returned for two episodes in season six.
Getty ImagesDenise Welch: Now
We're all familiar with Denise Welch outside the halls of Waterloo Road. Not only is she a popular Loose Women panellist, but she competed in Dancing on Ice back in 2011 and has appeared on several TV shows like Benidorm, Casualty, EastEnders, and Hollyoaks.
BBCAdam Thomas: Then
Waterloo Road character: Donte Charles
Donte started off as the school's bad boy but soon changed his ways after his behaviour caused the death of his best friend, Adam. He married Chloe, who then cheated on him with her sister's boyfriend, but they got back together and had a baby. After school, they moved to Manchester so Chloe could study.
Adam Thomas/ InstagramAdam Thomas: Now
Adam spent nine years playing Adam Barton in Emmerdale before leaving the ITV soap in 2018.
BBCGeorge Sampson: Then
Waterloo Road character: Kyle Stack
Kyle was a troublemaker who was expelled after he punched Miss Boston in the face. He then tried to kill Finn Sharkey but accidentally shot Josh with a crossbow. He was then sentenced to two years in prison.
When he was released, the school reluctantly let him back in, though he struggled and tried to take his own life as he felt nobody would ever forgive him or see him as anything other than a convict. Tom tried to save him from the edge of a cliff but in a tragic twist, the two swapped places and Tom ended up falling to his death. Kyle then left the school (and the show) because he blamed himself for Tom's death.
Getty ImagesGeorge Sampson: Now
Where are they now?
George Sampson, who won Britain's Got Talent, went onto star in the film StreetDance 2 before appearing in Sky One comedy-drama, Mount Pleasant. In 2019, he competed in Britain's Got Talent Champions series.
BBCPhilip Martin Brown: Then
Waterloo Road character: Grantly Budgen
Grantly was the grumpy Head of English, who came to cover for a week and stayed for 29 years (a story he told one too many times). The longest-standing character, Grantly appeared from the first episode until series nine when he developed kidney failure. He sadly died in his chair during an assembly.
Philip Martin Brown / TwitterPhilip Martin Brown: Now
Philip Martin Brown went on to star in bigger and better things, appearing in films Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Darkest Hour.
