Waterloo Road - Series 6 episode guide
Original Silent Witness star Amanda Burton joins the cast of Waterloo Road as new head teacher Karen Fisher this autumn on BBC One, when the school drama returns for a sixth season.
> Read our interview with Amanda Burton.
> Read all about the new characters.
> Find out what's coming up in our Series 6 preview.
> Catch up with our Series 5 episode guide.
Episode 1
Wednesday 1st September 2010
> Watch a clip.
Karen's first challenge at the school arrives in the form of the Kirbys – sixth-former Jonah and 13-year-old genius Ruth – who have both been home-schooled by their father, Marcus. Marcus's ex-wife, Hannah, wants her children to experience mainstream schooling, but he has little faith in the state education system. While Jonah relishes the opportunity to make new friends and have new experiences, high-achiever Ruth feels she's got little to learn and soon takes matters into her own hands by running away.
When the school discover Ruth's disappearance, they alert the police and form a search party. The process proves particularly hard for Karen, as it is a painful reminder of her own family situation.
Meanwhile, deputy head Chris Mead finds himself in the middle of a professional crisis. After meeting a young woman in a club the previous evening and spending the night with her, a smitten Chris arrives at school to discover that not only is she a new sixth-form student, but she's also Karen's daughter, Jess Fisher. He tries to draw a line under the incident but Jess has other ideas about their relationship, leaving Chris no choice but to resign.
Elsewhere, attractive new Spanish teacher Francesca "Cesca" Montoya makes an impression on staff and students alike, and former pupil Janeece returns to the school as the new secretary – complete with a surprise of her own. In the playground, Lauren has fallen out with Sambuca, annoyed that her "best mate" ditched her over the summer – for a boy.
Episode 2
Thursday 2nd September 2010
> Watch a clip.
New head teacher Karen Fisher is clearly in her element at Waterloo Road and is joined at the school by her husband, Charlie, who is starting as a supply teacher.
However, when 15-year-old Harry finds a suspicious message on Charlie's mobile about a lunchtime assignation, he begins to suspect his dad is having an affair. Harry dials the number on the text and is shocked to hear new Spanish teacher Cesca answer. He desperately enlists Sambuca's help and they follow Charlie on his lunchtime rendezvous. Together they spy on Charlie with Cesca, taking a photo as evidence. When Harry later tells Karen she refuses to believe him and assures him that it must be innocent.
Meanwhile, Jess is jealous when Chris avoids her and seems to be getting on well with Karen. When Jess learns that Karen told Chris about her sister, Bex, she tries to put Chris off Karen by publishing an article in a school magazine about how her mum was responsible for Bex's disappearance. The article quickly circulates around the school and everyone reads it. Karen is shocked and argues with Charlie about what he sees as her over-reaction. The tension between husband and wife is obvious and the events of the day take their toll on Harry, who resorts to bingeing and vomiting to control his emotions.
Elsewhere, Ruby and John are planning to start a family, but it's not as easy as it seems. When confronted with the reality of Ruby's impaired fertility, they debate their other diminishing options such as IVF or adoption.
Episode 3
Wednesday 8th September 2010
> Watch a clip of Jess arguing with Vicki.
Waterloo Road is running a new sexual health initiative which includes a confidential emergency contraception service. This causes consternation among parents and staff alike. Ronan and his girlfriend, Sarah, are concerned; their condom broke during sex, but while Ronan wants Sarah to take the morning-after pill, she's too mortified to go to the nurse.
Jess also has cause for concern: her promiscuous behaviour has resulted in her needing the morning-after pill - again. Unable to go to the nurse herself, Jess persuades Vicki to get the pill for her. Vicki reluctantly agrees, but fails when the nurse realises she's not there for herself. The two girls get into a huge fight which results in Vicki revealing Jess's promiscuity in front of Chris. Chris is concerned for Jess's welfare but she misinterprets this as a sign that he still cares for her.
It looks like Josh and Lauren are going to become an item but Josh is looking at someone completely different when the pair finally kiss. Elsewhere, Karen and Charlie acknowledge his affair, although he decides he wants to give their marriage a go if Karen is willing. And Janeece admits to Tom that she doesn't want her baby.
Episode 4
Wednesday 15th September 2010
> Watch a clip of Josh trying to kiss Finn.
Tensions are running high at Waterloo Road as the Fishers struggle to stay united on the annual celebration of Bex's birthday. In addition, the arrival of a new, gay student sparks confrontation and unearths some difficult truths.
Reluctant to return Lauren's advances, an increasingly confused Josh directs his frustration towards new student Connor with a homophobic insult. But a much deeper issue is revealed when he tries to kiss Finn, who is disgusted with his friend's behaviour and quickly spreads word of it throughout the school. Following a fight, the two friends are forced to explain their actions to Tom and Charlie. However, Josh denies the kiss ever happened, much to Tom's relief, and later tries to prove everyone wrong by getting physical with Lauren.
Meanwhile, the Fishers have their annual celebration planned on the eve of Bex's birthday, an event that causes an explosive divide in the family. Jess finds the celebration morbid, despite Karen's insistence that it should continue, causing Charlie to reveal his true feelings and throwing his marriage with Karen into further turmoil.
Back at Waterloo Road, Vicki struggles both to care for her sick father and to keep up with her school work and resorts to blackmailing Chris with the knowledge of his relationship with Jess in order to get better grades. And Marcus receives a surprising offer from Karen, despite his continuing criticism of Ruth and Jonah's education at the school.
Elsewhere, Ruby and John are running out of options and turn to interviewing potential surrogate mothers – a fact that Janeece discovers, much to Ruby's dismay. However, the interviews are not a success and all seems lost until hope arrives in the form of an unexpected final applicant.
Episode 5
Wednesday 22nd September 2010
> Watch a clip of Ronan's father, played by Martin Kemp.
After catching Ronan selling DVDs in class, and brimming with ideas about improving parent-teacher relationships, Marcus takes it upon himself to visit Ronan's father at home.
A seemingly upstanding businessman, Ronan's father is upset that his son is selling his possessions, and both he and Marcus assume Ronan must be in some sort of trouble. However, it soon becomes clear that Marcus hasn't grasped the full picture and Ronan is in fact saving the money to flee Rochdale and escape his father's illicit family business. Events reach boiling point in the corridors of Waterloo Road and Ronan is forced to make a decision that will change his life forever.
Meanwhile, Tom witnesses his son being picked on by Finn and persuades Josh to help out at his lunchtime self-defence class, an exercise that only serves to add to Josh's humiliation. Later, away from his father's interference, Josh is finally able to confront Finn and ask for his acceptance and friendship again.
Back at school, Ruby relentlessly scrutinises Janeece's diet and lifestyle, while Janeece does some digging for herself and discovers that Ruby may not be the perfect mother she pretends to be. The pair call a truce and agree to be totally open with each other from now on. However, there is one subject Ruby can't bring herself to talk about, leading to an embarrassing forfeit in the staff room. Finally, a jubilant Janeece proposes a radical solution to help her and Ruby through the pregnancy.
Episode 6
Wednesday 29th September 2010
> Watch a clip of Amy and Lauren bringing drugs to school.
Cesca is drawn into a complicated situation that threatens to end her career. Meanwhile, Grantly's increasingly slovenly behaviour causes concern for Ruby, who is facing her own problems in the form of Janeece and John's blossoming friendship.
Cesca's honest approach in her drugs-awareness class backfires when Sam comes to her asking for money to buy drugs. Sam's intentions are good, however; she wants to buy the drugs from Amy and Lauren and then throw them away in order to protect her friends. The ever-manipulative Amy doesn't trust Sam and hatches an elaborate plan to frame her. Facing exclusion, Sam relies on the honesty of her best friend, Lauren, while Cesca's reputation lies in tatters as Karen struggles to unravel the truth.
Elsewhere, Harry's bullying gets worse, despite him bravely laughing it off. Ruth demonstrates how he can stand up for himself, pushing Harry into action and forging a new friendship. Meanwhile, an exhausted Grantly falls asleep during school hours leading Ruby to confront him about his wellbeing. Ever proud, Grantly shrugs her off but is forced to reveal the difficult truth when an unexpected visitor turns up at Waterloo Road and the full extent of his troubled home life becomes clear.
Ruby also has her own problems to contend with. As John and Janeece continue to get on like a house on fire, she wonders where the spark has gone in her marriage. It's a question that leads to a rather unconventional solution.
Episode 7
Wednesday 6th October 2010
> Watch a clip of Jess boiling over at the debating contest.
When Finn discovers that Harry has sabotaged his plans for Jess to sleep over, he exacts revenge with a day of relentless bullying and chances upon Harry being sick in the toilet. Events reach a climax when Harry sinks to the bottom of the pool during a swimming lesson, a cry for help that leads both him and Finn to Karen's office. When Harry is finally forced to reveal his condition, Karen is left questioning her role as a mother.
Meanwhile, Ruby is fed up with acting like Janeece's slave and makes a stand; however all is forgotten when Ruby finds Janeece going into labour at school.
Back at the Fishers' house, Vicki feels like a spare part amid the family's turmoil and makes a difficult decision.
At the Interschool Debating Contest, Ruth is the school's strongest entrant, enjoying the backing from her fellow pupils, particularly Lauren and Amy. Enterprising Ronan sees a money-making opportunity and takes bets on the contest, placing himself as a rank outsider with his own entertaining yet unorthodox form of debate. Under the expectant eye of Marcus, Ruth takes to the stage under pressure, while Ronan looks set for a windfall – but things do not go quite as planned.
Episode 8
Wednesday 13th October 2010
> Watch a clip of Vicki blackmailing Mr Mead.
Personal troubles spill over into the corridors of Waterloo Road. Vicki's home life continues to spiral dangerously out of control, Grantly's stubbornness compromises his ability as a teacher and Janeece begins to wonder if she's made the right decision about her baby.
Now living in a hostel, Vicki is struggling to balance her schoolwork with visiting her critically ill dad in hospital. Following another poor exam result, a concerned Chris confronts Vicki, but she won't reveal the true extent of her dire situation and threatens Chris with blackmail if her grades are not changed. Finally, they strike a deal that helps Vicki but leaves Chris's career hanging in the balance.
Meanwhile, Grantly struggles to cope with his wife's Alzheimer's, a matter that becomes worse when he returns home to an unexpected welcome. Despite his desperation, an ever loyal Grantly promises Fleur that he won't put her in a care home and continues to shrug off Ruby's growing concern.
And Ruby herself faces a dilemma as Janeece wants to spend more time with the baby and seems increasingly uncertain about her decision to give it away. A worried Tom questions whether Janeece is being taken advantage of, leading Ruby and John to realise that they must have the adoption legally recognised as soon as possible.
Episode 9
Wednesday 20th October 2010
> Watch a clip of Jonah finding out about Jess and Chris.
A controversial classroom CCTV scheme spectacularly backfires when the cameras are turned on the teachers. Elsewhere, a familiar face comes to the aid of a desperate Grantly, and Janeece finally confronts Ruby with the truth.
When Chris launches a trial scheme to equip the classrooms with CCTV there is uproar among both staff and pupils. Jonah is outraged when he learns that the staff room doesn't have a camera and hatches a plan to expose the hypocrisy of the scheme, unwittingly stumbling upon Jess's and Chris's secret in the process. A violent clash in the corridors of Waterloo Road ensues, and Chris and Jonah attempt to cover up the truth in Karen's office.
Meanwhile, Grantly's personal crisis worsens as Fleur's mental health continues to decline, and a confidential chat with Ruby quickly becomes playground gossip. Later, Steph Haydock turns up to help and a stubborn Grantly is forced to make a heartbreaking decision.
Elsewhere, Janeece can't stand to see Ruby with her baby and summons the courage to ask for her back. When Ruby refuses, Janeece takes drastic action and the realisation dawns that perhaps Ruby can't keep the baby away from a mother who actually wants and loves her.
Episode 10
Wednesday 27th October 2010
> Watch a clip of Mr Budgen's class getting a shock.
It's the last day of term at Waterloo Road and a mysterious hooded figure arrives at the school - with dramatic consequences for the Fishers. Meanwhile, Grantly's desperation reaches breaking point as he makes a huge mistake in the classroom and discovers the full cost of Fleur's care.
All hell breaks loose among the A-Level students when they realise that Grantly has been teaching them the wrong syllabus all year – a mistake punishable with severe disciplinary action by Karen. Back at home, the situation worsens as Grantly discovers the financial cost of Fleur's care and hatches a desperate plan in order to raise the money. Steph offers her support, and Grantly is blessed with some end-of-term charity when the full extent of his wife's illness becomes clear to Karen and the school.
Elsewhere, a mysterious figure enters Waterloo Road and begins to spy on Karen, sneaking into her office to steal her keys. Events reach a dramatic conclusion when Jess catches an intruder in the Fishers' home, leaving Karen in shocked disbelief.
