| Waterloo Road | |
|---|---|
| Series 11 | |
 DVD cover | |
| Starring |
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| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Original release | 3 January – 14 February 2023 |
| Series chronology | |
The eleventh series of the British television series Waterloo Road commenced airing on 3 January 2023, and concluded on 14 February 2023.
The series follows the staff and pupils of the fictional Waterloo Road High School in Greater Manchester. Co-produced by Wall to Wall and Rope Ladder Fiction, the series was executively produced by Cameron Roach, Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan. It was commissioned as part of a revival for the show, following its 2015 cancellation, and served as a replacement to Holby City. The revival was announced in September 2021. The decision to revive the drama was inspired by the high viewership figures of the original series after it was made a box set on the BBC iPlayer.
Approximately 130 people worked on the series: 50 cast members and 80 members of the production team. Four actors reprise their roles from the original series, bridging the two iterations of the drama. A six-month production development training scheme was created to support entry into television production, with 20 trainees produced as a result. Seven hour-long episodes were commissioned for the series. It was promoted through trailers, promotional images and a red carpet premiere held in Stockport. In addition to weekly broadcast, the series was released as a box set on BBC iPlayer. A podcast, consisting of nine episodes, was also launched.
The series explores a range of topical issues facing schools, pupils and parents in Britain following the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues were deemed perfect for exploration through Waterloo Road. The series also established opportunity to provide visibility for underrepresented groups. Multiple stories were explored in each episode of the series. The death of Chlo Charles (Katie Griffiths), a surprise twist in the opening episode, serves as a catalyst for several stories in the series. In addition to the school-centric plots, writers also explored attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the cost of living crisis in the UK, bulimia nervosa, amongst other stories.
The show's revival attracted a mixed response upon its announcement. Many praised the decision and thought it would be a good platform for young talent, however Jim Waterson of The Guardian did not believe it justified the axing of Holby City. Charlotte Moore, the chief content officer at BBC, defended the revival against criticism and felt it was "reimagined for the modern day".[1] Whilst the show attracted poor overnight ratings, it was reportedly popular with a younger audience on BBC iPlayer. Like the announcement, the actual series received a mixed reception from television critics and viewers alike. In particular, Chlo's death was heavily criticised with Hannah Van De Peer of The Tab deeming the choice "random".[2] Contrastingly, Kelly Jo's ADHD story was highly praised by critics and special needs organisations; Eleanor Noyce from the Radio Times called Kelly Jo's ADHD story "a particular standout" of the revival.[3]