Denise Welch Returns to Waterloo Road After 15-Year Hiatus
It's not just students making a comeback this term – British television favorite Denise Welch is returning to the halls of Waterloo Road after 15 years away from the BBC school drama. The 67-year-old actress will once again don the oversized blazers of everyone's favorite hapless French teacher Steph Haydock when the revived series returns.
The beloved educator-turned-supply-teacher Steph remains as endearingly chaotic as viewers remember, but now faces new challenges navigating modern classrooms. Welch first appeared in the original series from 2006-2010, where her character's misadventures made her one of the show's most memorable personalities.
This revival comes as Waterloo Road continues its successful BBC reboot, capitalizing on the wave of nostalgia dominating today's television landscape. Executive producer Cameron Roach praised Welch's return: "Steph Haydock represents that perfect blend of comedy and pathos – quintessential Waterloo Road DNA."
The Lancashire-born actress joins original cast members Jason Done and Katherine Pearce in the latest chapter of the Manchester-set drama. Longtime fans can look forward to seeing how Steph adapts her unconventional teaching methods to contemporary secondary school life.
New episodes of Waterloo Road will begin filming this autumn at the show's new Greater Manchester base, with Welch's return episodes expected to air in early 2026. The series continues BBC's commitment to UK drama production, with Waterloo Road becoming one of the broadcaster's most reliably popular returning properties.