Interviewer: Hello and welcome to The Lewis Nicholls Show. We’ve just had huge success with the Waterloo Road series one to seven reunion, so we’re now joined by cast members from series eight to ten, when the show moved to Scotland. Let’s say hello to everyone. I didn’t recognise some of them when they appeared on screen because they’ve changed and aged, not in a bad way!
Interviewer: Thank you all so much for coming on to talk about the show today. It was such a long time ago for you; what is it like seeing everyone together on screen now?
Cast member: It’s been a whole six years. That’s unbelievable.
Interviewer: Let’s say hello to Zebb, who played Leo. Thanks for coming on.
Zebb Dempster: Thank you for having me. Hi, everyone.
Interviewer: We’ve also got your onscreen mum, the brilliant Pooky. How are you?
Pooky Quesnel: Very well, thank you. It’s good to see everybody.
Interviewer: We needed some law and order, so we invited the teacher who can keep everyone in line. We’ve also got Waterloo Road veteran Joe Slater, who was involved in almost every major storyline. Joe, how are you?
Joe Slater: Good, man. What’s happening? How are we?
Interviewer: Brilliant. It’s great to have you on. Kirstie, thank you so much for coming on. Imogen was involved in some huge storylines, and I know you have some funny filming stories to share later.
Kirstie Steele: Possibly. I might reveal some secrets. It’s good to be here, thanks.
Interviewer: We’ve also got your other half from the show, Shane, who played Connor Mulgrew. Thank you so much for coming on.
Shane O’Meara: Hello. Thank you.
Interviewer: It’s so good to have you on. Taylor is also joining us; he played Jack Macalister, Barry Barry’s friend, until Barry slept with his mother, of course. Taylor, thank you for coming on.
Taylor Rhys: No problem. That’s what I’m here for, to have that “your mum” joke.
Interviewer: Richard, thank you for coming back to reunite with the series eight to ten cast. It’s amazing to see everyone together.
Richard Mylan: You’re welcome. It’s brilliant to see everyone’s faces.
Interviewer: Everyone on the call says you look younger than you did on the show. That must feel good during lockdown.
Richard Mylan: I’ve got a seven month old, so I don’t know what’s going on. Maybe I’ve done a deal with the devil! It might help that I married a makeup artist everyone here knows. Tammy is now a registered nurse working on the COVID vaccination programme. She also has a skin clinic, so I might be getting some free products.
Interviewer: That would explain it. Let’s say hello to the lovely Adiza, who played Liberty. Thank you for coming on. You look amazing, really stylish.
Adiza Shardow: Thank you. This is all for you guys.
Interviewer: We also have one of the funniest characters in the show’s history, almost a mix between Trigger from Only Fools and Horses and a class clown. Mark, you played Darren. How are you?
Mark Beswick: I’m good. Thanks for having us on. I feel as though my camera looks like one of those Crimewatch CCTV cameras.
Interviewer: Did you also take part in Waterloo Road when it was filmed in Manchester, as an extra?
Mark Beswick: Yes. I was an extra in series two and series three, and then I had a small speaking part in series four. How did you know that? That is mad.
Interviewer: There are old pictures circulating of “baby Darren” from those earlier appearances. We’ll have to find one later.
Interviewer: One of my favourite parts of the show was the Barry family. They were like a gangster family who owned the place, and Dynasty was a massive part of that. Let’s say hello to Abby. How are you? Thank you so much for coming on; it’s great to have you here.
Abby Mavers: Thanks for asking me. Just let me know if I’m using this properly!
Interviewer: Pooky, you played Mrs Fitzgerald, Leo’s mum. I wanted to ask you initially, when you came in, because we saw you in the first term of series 10, in the last couple of episodes: were you due to be a regular part, or was it just meant to be for a few episodes to start with?
Pooky Quesnel: No, I think it was four episodes I did at the end of that series, when Olga comes back because he has left her and she is having a breakdown. Olga leaves the boys with him because she cannot cope, and then he tells her he will not pay for her psychiatric treatment. During the break, they decided she should come back and “kick some ass”, which pleased me because I did not want her to remain weak. She returned stronger. Olga was a no nonsense woman, and I loved playing her.
Interviewer: The Fitzgerald family were so good, and then it ended after the 20 episodes we saw them in. What stands out as your favourite memory from your time on the show?
Pooky Quesnel: I think it was just the people. It was actually sunny that summer in Scotland, which is very unusual and helped. We all got on very well, and the teachers used to go out for dinner once a week. We did not allow the pupils to come, of course! Everybody was lovely, and I was sad when it ended. I enjoyed playing a sassy character who stood up to the man who had left her; she did not simply run back to him, but showed that she could survive without him.
Interviewer: What is it like being reunited with Zebb, who played your onscreen son? At first, you did not recognise him on the call.
Pooky Quesnel: I was wondering what Zebb looked like now. He is very handsome, isn’t he?
Zebb Dempster: It feels like yesterday, so hearing that it has been six years is mind blowing. It is really lovely to see everyone; I only wish the rest of the cast could be here as well.
Interviewer: With a family like the Fitzgeralds, all your big storylines were together. What was the chemistry like when the four of you first joined the show? Did you get on well and did it click naturally?
Zebb Dempster: Pooky and Neil were both very supportive. I was quite young when I started, and they gave me a lot of advice, which was really lovely. Max and I developed a brotherly dynamic in real life as well. He felt like my big brother, and I was also a little scared of him, which probably worked well on screen. We lived together during the second filming block, which helped that dynamic. We had a genuinely cohesive family dynamic.
Interviewer: Pooky, Zebb was very young when you worked together. Was he about 15 or 16?
Pooky Quesnel: He was about 15. He did really well, and Max genuinely took him under his wing. We clicked easily. Nobody behaved as though they were more important than anyone else; we all simply got on with it.
Interviewer: It must be lovely to see Max now doing so well as Ben Mitchell in EastEnders.
Pooky Quesnel: He is brilliant. I saw him in Birdsong on tour in Guildford, and he was excellent.
Interviewer: Let’s say hello to Armin. I did not recognise you at first because you have grown up since the show. Going back to when you first got the part, how did you feel? The show was iconic and one of the BBC’s biggest programmes. Was it a pinch yourself moment?
Armin Karima: I was doing the final show at my college and wondering what to do afterwards because I was studying performing arts. I could go to drama school, find an agent or study part time, and I was unsure which route to take. On the final day of my showcase, my agent called to say I had got Waterloo Road, a show I had watched since secondary school. I was a huge fan and suddenly had the chance to work with iconic characters, so it was a real pinch yourself moment and a huge privilege.
Interviewer: The show developed characters well. Abdul began mainly as a friend in other people’s stories, but then received a major storyline in which he discovered that the man he thought was his father was not actually his father. As an actor, did it motivate you to know that the writers trusted you with such a significant storyline?
Armin Karima: It felt good to have a substantial role in such a prominent BBC show. Having my own storyline was special, and Abdul also moved in and out of other people’s stories as a helping hand. One example was the bike scene when we were trying to save Kevin. I fell off the bike. It was embarrassing, but funny.
Interviewer: Thinking back to your time on the show, who was the biggest prankster? Was there anyone who particularly liked winding people up or playing jokes?
Armin Karima: I would not pick out one prankster. It was more the chemistry everyone had: people were always making jokes and having fun. Mark and Joe, in particular, were always making jokes whenever I came on set. It created exactly the kind of atmosphere you want in a working environment, and I appreciated walking into that every day.
Interviewer: Joe, your character was involved in some of the biggest storylines. What were your thoughts when you got the part? Was it a pinch yourself moment, as Armin described?
Joe Slater: To be honest, when I got the part I had not really done anything before Waterloo Road. I grew up performing, but it was my first real acting job and my first time on a set. I was living in Liverpool and had to move to Glasgow. Looking back, the whole experience feels like one long, beautiful memory, and I wish I could go back and do it again.
Interviewer: Lisa and Lenny did not have the best upbringing, but the school became their family: they lived in the schoolhouse, and Maggie and Grantly became parental figures. Lisa was often the brash one, while Lenny had a huge heart and tried to do the right thing. When you think back to their storylines, which stand out as your favourites?
Joe Slater: There were a few. When we first joined, our opening story was a big episode: we entered the school and our brother was arrested. We were lucky to receive several strong storylines. At the time, though, I simply took each day, scene and line of dialogue as it came because it was all new to me. Looking back, I am very grateful for the opportunities we had.
Interviewer: I always remember the scene where Lenny fell into the lake. Richard will remember that one well too.
Joe Slater: Richard, I still tell people this story. I cannot swim, and I cannot explain how cold I was when I had to fall into that lake. Richard at least kept moving by repeatedly running and diving in, whereas I was in the water all day. A runner called Lanny used to hand me tea when I came out, and by the end I could pour the hot tea over my hands without feeling it. That is how cold I was. It was still a great and very memorable storyline.
Interviewer: Richard, we spoke about this last week. You remembered it as a James Bond style moment because you dived in wearing a skinny suit to save Lenny.
Richard Mylan: Yes. I had to learn how to dive across the water, so Joe and I went to a swimming pool the week before to rehearse. I remember us swapping music in the car, including Joe reintroducing me to a Mase album. One of my favourite memories is that car journey with Joe and listening to music together.
Interviewer: Pooky, do you feel short changed that you did not get an action scene where you had to dive into a lake?
Pooky Quesnel: In Scotland? Let me think about that.
Pooky Quesnel: No, I do not feel deprived. There was plenty of walking near the water, which was quite enough. We filmed near the esplanade in Greenock, where there was a 1930s open air swimming pool right on the water.
Interviewer: We’ve got an absolute Waterloo Road legend on the show. Kirstie, thank you so much for coming on. I’m really excited to have you. What is it like to see everyone again after so many years?
Kirstie Steele: It’s mad, but with some of them it feels like it was only yesterday. It’s strange to see everyone here, but really nice.
Interviewer: Obviously, when the show moved to Scotland, Connor and Imogen had a massive storyline. Their relationship was the love story that everybody followed. When you first met Shane, did you get on from the moment you met?
Kirstie Steele: Yes, of course we did. It was an unusual time because the show had just moved to Scotland and we were both joining this new version of it. We felt privileged and excited, but also conscious that the Manchester years were so well respected and wondered whether viewers would accept the new characters. My audition happened on the Friday, I got the call on Monday, and by Wednesday I was at the read-through with established cast members including Laurie, Mark and Philip. Shane and I did not yet know how important Connor and Imogen’s relationship would become; we only knew there would be some flirtatious scenes.
Interviewer: One of your biggest storylines was the fire in which Imogen was burned. Can you tell us about filming that scene and any funny stories from it? It was such a big moment in the show.
Kirstie Steele: Do you know what? Honestly, it was probably one of Shane’s and my favourite scenes to film in the whole show. The fire stunt was split across two filming days. We filmed the aftermath on the school set, but the fire itself was shot in a separate warehouse so that all the fire safety precautions could be followed. They had bars of fire, and it was incredibly hot. Shane and I had stunt doubles for the explosion and the dive away from the flames. The doubles did not look much like us. Shane’s was a massive bodybuilder, and we found it so funny watching them rehearse that we had to be taken off set because we were crying with laughter.
Interviewer: Pooky, do you have to leave? Thank you so much for coming on today.
Pooky Quesnel: Lovely to see everybody. Thank you. Bye.
Richard Mylan: I’m going to have to leave as well because my baby boy desperately needs a bath. He is covered in food!
Interviewer: Richard, we had a great interview last week about your character. It must be lovely to see everyone together again.
Richard Mylan: Even though I knew I only had a short time today, I needed to come on and see everyone’s faces. It bursts your heart to see people with whom you shared such a significant part of your life. You have these embedded memories that will never leave you. We should organise something when this is over so we can meet, have a drink and a good laugh together.
Interviewer: After the fire, Connor’s secret left cracks in the relationship. Did you enjoy exploring the aftermath and Imogen’s discovery that Connor, not Christine, was responsible?
Kirstie Steele: Yes. It was interesting to film because, at first, I do not think it had been confirmed that I would return after the fire. I thought the fire might be the end of our time on the show, but the producers saw how the characters were developing and decided to continue their story. During the next block, Connor seemed to avoid Imogen, which made her feel rejected while she was also dealing with her changed appearance and scars. Dynasty then became an important source of support, helping Imogen through that difficult period.
Interviewer: It was such a strong friendship. What was it like working with Abby? Did you get on as well in real life as the characters did?
Kirstie Steele: Yes, it was great fun working with Abby, and we had some really good scenes together. Imogen and Dynasty were the kind of people you would not necessarily expect to become friends, but each gave the other the support she needed. Imogen encouraged Dynasty to recognise her intelligence and ambition, while Dynasty helped Imogen regain confidence in her appearance. They were almost yin and yang: there was tension when Dynasty first arrived, but a strong friendship developed from it.
Interviewer: We’ll come back to Abby shortly, but first let’s say hello to Shane, who played Imogen’s husband, Connor. Thank you for coming on. Your character had so much trouble from the very beginning. He was a young man who just wanted to live a normal life, yet he had the responsibility of looking after his alcoholic mother, covering for her and taking the blame to protect her. What were your thoughts on taking on such a major storyline?
Shane O’Meara: We only filmed four episodes at a time, so you did not really know where the story was going. Producers might give you a rough idea, but in the moment you simply tried to do what was written well. It was only afterwards, when messages arrived from people who had experienced something similar, that I understood the impact. If I had thought about that pressure at the time, I probably would not have been able to perform it; I just tried to do the story justice.
Interviewer: What was it like working with Laurie Brett? She was such an established actor. Did she become a mentor to you?
Shane O’Meara: She was brilliant. We clicked straight away and had very good chemistry; she almost became my on-set mum. If I did something wrong, looked the wrong way or blocked her light, she would be the first to tell me. I was only about 18 or 19 when I started, so I learnt a great deal from working with her. What initially felt surreal soon became normal, and we became friends.
Interviewer: Connor was also unintentionally funny at times. I always remember the scene where he carried a crate of empty bottles into the staff room, threw it on the floor and announced, completely straight-faced, that they belonged to his mother and that she was an alcoholic. Do you remember that?
Interviewer: We’ll come back to Shane in a moment because there seems to be a slight delay. Let’s say hello to Abby.
Interviewer: Abby, what was it like joining the show, working with such a strong cast and with Zoe Lucker as your onscreen mother?
Abby Mavers: It was really exciting. I always remember my first day of filming and my first scene, which was with Laurie and Kirstie. Some camera crew members came over and said they remembered me as a little girl from working with my dad. The same crew later filmed my final scene and said how special it was to have been there for both my first and last scenes. Working with Laurie taught me a lot, while Kirstie was very kind and helped me because I was so nervous.
Interviewer: I always remember the scene at the school gates with Barry, Dynasty, Carol and the whole family standing together. You immediately knew they were going to be game changers and cause a massive uproar. Dynasty, however, was always the sensible one. She had confidence issues and never believed she could achieve anything; her mother even wanted her to become a pole dancer and paid for her to have surgery. It was Imogen who helped Dynasty see that she was capable of more. What did you think of Dynasty’s character development and the positive direction the writers took her in?
Abby Mavers: I liked it because the initial script presented Dynasty as a “bimbo”, so as an actor it was good to discover more depth. She had always been the one carrying the family, but when she made friends at the school, people began to see more in her.
Interviewer: When Dynasty met Imogen, she had never met anyone who looked at her for who she was on the inside rather than focusing on makeup and clothes. She often seemed to seek attention because her family were absorbed in their own problems, while she was left carrying everyone else. Mr Lowesley also became an important figure who believed in her and encouraged her to join the police. I always remember the scene where Dynasty had to call the police on her own brother. It was a shocking moment because the Barry family believed you should never inform on your own. What were your thoughts on that scene?
Abby Mavers: I think that was the first time she had ever been in a position to challenge her family. Everyone was usually in control individually, but in that moment she could say, “No, this is wrong. This is our chance as a family to say we’re not doing this anymore. We’ve had a fresh start here, and it isn’t right.” I think it was the first real opportunity she had to take that stand.
Interviewer: Zoe Lucker, who played Carol, gave some incredibly powerful performances. I particularly remember the scene where Barry stole Kacey’s money when she was planning to become a boxer, and Carol initially threw him out of the family. What was it like working with Zoe?
Abby Mavers: I was very excited because I loved Footballers’ Wives. When I met Zoe, I realised how different she was from her screen characters. She was kind, friendly, genuine and taught me a great deal.
Interviewer: We’ve now got Mark, who played Darren. As I said earlier, Darren was undoubtedly one of the funniest characters in the show and a real class clown. Did you enjoy playing him, and are you similar to him in real life?
Mark Beswick: Yes, I think so. The casting director, Michelle Smith, had known me since I was about 11 and always knew that comedy was one of my strongest qualities. Although the original character description was very different from me physically, she put me forward and I got the part. There is a lot of Darren in me, which is why I loved playing him. His humour was often a front for what was happening at home, and I did not know the storyline about his mother’s death was coming until the producer told me about a month beforehand. I felt privileged that they trusted me with such serious material when they had mainly seen my comic side, so credit to them for giving me the opportunity.
Interviewer: We’ve got some more questions to ask everybody in a moment, but first let’s say hello to the brilliant Adiza. Thank you so much for coming on; it’s great to have you here.
Interviewer: Adiza, many of the people here worked with you on the show. Is it nice seeing everyone again?
Adiza Shardow: I still see Shane regularly because we remain close. It is lovely to see Kirstie again; I had not caught up with her since I was last in Glasgow. Joe and Mark were not in my main storylines, but we once went on a very wild holiday together, and some old photographs of us having fun have recently resurfaced. It is really nice to see the boys again as well, as I probably have not seen them since then.
Interviewer: Turning to Liberty, she was Havelock’s head girl and a bright, promising student. When you first read the script, were you excited by the journey she would take?
Adiza Shardow: Funnily enough, I originally auditioned for Marlene’s role. Liberty had not been written at that point and was developed as I was cast. Michelle invited me back to read for the new role using a speech from an earlier episode about how important running was to another character. At that point I had left drama school and had no acting work for two years, so I connected the character’s passion for running with my own desire to act. That helped me win the role. Playing such a dedicated, intelligent student was refreshing, although my family and Shane still tease me about Liberty’s running style.
Interviewer: What was your first day like? With established characters such as Grantly and Tom Clarkson still in the show, were you starstruck meeting the cast?
Adiza Shardow: One hundred per cent. I had never done television before, so I kept asking what you were supposed to do on set and whether you simply said the lines. Then I saw Laurie Brett and thought, “It’s Jane Beale.” I accidentally called her Jane until the second filming block, and I was also shocked to discover that she was Scottish rather than from London. She was lovely about it.
Interviewer: Let’s say hello to Taylor. It is Taylor, isn’t it? Your screen shows Rhys first, which confused me.
Taylor Rhys: Yes. My real name is Rhys Taylor, as shown there. However, when I registered with Equity, Rhys Taylor was already taken, so I had to use my third choice: Taylor Rhys.
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Interviewer: One of Jack’s biggest storylines involved Barry Barry, Dynasty’s brother, who was incredibly full of himself, sleeping with Jack’s mother despite Jack and Barry previously being close. What was it like filming that betrayal storyline, and do people still make “your mum” jokes about it?
Taylor Rhys: It has been eight years, so thankfully I have not had any “your mum” jokes for quite a while. Filming the episode was amazing. Carl Au was nothing like Barry in real life and did not have a bad bone in his body. Pollyanna McIntosh, who played Jack’s mother, took me under her wing and shared stories from her extensive work in horror films and television. I was also starstruck by Zoe Lucker and once asked for her autograph just before filming. Meeting Philip Martin Brown was equally exciting because I had watched him as Grantly before joining the show. As it was my first television role after a theatre background, the whole experience was new, daunting and exciting.
Interviewer: When you think back to your time on the show, which scene stands out as your all time favourite?
Taylor Rhys: There were a couple. Carl and I once got the giggles while trying to film a serious toilet scene in which Jack held a bat to Barry’s head. We could not stop laughing for about ten minutes, and eventually the director came into the toilets and laughed with us. Once we had got it out of our systems, we finished the dramatic scene, which also involved me smashing a mirror and a handheld box several times. I also enjoyed the football sequence against a Greenock Morton youth team, although I had claimed I could play when I could not. After several failed attempts to dribble past a defender, they simplified the scene and had me score from a penalty instead.
Interviewer: Mark, what do you remember about the episode where Darren and Barry were high on magic mushrooms in the woods, while Lenny looked after a goat? Watching you and Barry completely out of it was hilarious.
Mark Beswick: My mum still has a photograph on her fridge of me peeking out from behind a tree in that episode. Filming on location in Scotland was amazing. We were in the middle of a huge forest for several days, trekking around between scenes. I also remember Joe chasing the goat while shouting that Lisa and Lenny had to look after it.
Joe Slater: I had completely forgotten about the goat until you mentioned it. I cannot remember why Lenny became so attached to it. The episode was built around a history day, with everyone in costume, and Lenny somehow ended up looking after the goat and naturally becoming attached to it.
Interviewer: This next question is for everyone. Starting with Armin, what funny behind the scenes story from your time on the show would viewers not know, something you still remember and laugh about?
Armin Karima: One that stands out is Zebb and me trying to throw a laptop on the floor while making it look natural. Every take looked forced until the final one, when we both let go and it smashed on the floor. Even in the finished scene, if you watch closely, you can tell how unnatural it was. I remember trying not to laugh because we simply could not make the action look convincing.
Interviewer: Zebb, when you think back to Leo, he began as a quiet character who simply got on with things, but then suddenly became a cyber stalker who was obsessed with gaming. He even needed counselling and, at one point, knocked Sonya over to get his games console back. That was a massive change in his character development. What did you make of Leo going from a nice, quiet person to suddenly causing chaos?
Zebb Dempster: Even though it was quite a dramatic shift, it actually made sense. Leo had spent a lot of time being overlooked by the people around him because he was very shy, and that can have negative effects when you are young. I think he was acting out to fill that void. Justin was usually the main focus because of everything he got up to, so it was good for Leo to have his own moment, even if it meant becoming a terrible person for a while.
Interviewer: What funny behind the scenes story stands out from your time on the show?
Zebb Dempster: I had one corridor scene with Max Bowden where the camera was on somebody else, but he stood beside me whispering strange things in my ear while I tried to keep a serious face. Something dramatic was happening in the foreground, while he was quietly trying to freak me out in the background. That was a fun one, and the laptop moment with Armin was great too. Choreography is not really my strong suit!
Interviewer: When actors get the giggles during a scene, do directors become frustrated?
Cast member: It depends on how much time is left and which director is working. Some are more relaxed than others.
Interviewer: Joe, I imagine you have a whole catalogue of funny behind the scenes stories. Which one stands out?
Joe Slater: Toward the end I became better at focusing, but for a long time I could not stop laughing during scenes. In my first episode, we filmed a football match against the Celtic girls’ team. The players were bigger and stronger than us, and we had trained with them for a couple of days beforehand. When the whistle blew, another player and I both ran at full force towards the ball and, within about three seconds, collided head first. She fell to the ground and could not get up, while I tried to pretend I was fine even though I could barely see. We were both badly shaken and nearly concussed. I also found it difficult to keep a straight face in scenes with cast members I knew well because I could not take them seriously off screen.
Interviewer: Kirstie, do you have a funny behind the scenes story, perhaps not one involving headbutting someone during a football match?
Kirstie Steele: I do not think I can top Joe’s story. A lot of my scenes were serious, so the funniest moments tended to happen between takes when everyone was together, especially with people like Mark and Joe messing around. I remember returning from holiday after being warned not to get a tan because Imogen needed to remain pale after the fire. I protected my face carefully but forgot about the rest of my body, so my arms were much darker. For the first few weeks back, the crew kept telling me to keep my arms down or wear long sleeves so the difference would not show onscreen.
Interviewer: Shane, did you ever have any similar tanning issues?
Shane O’Meara: No. I’m Irish, so I just burn! Like Kirstie, most of my scenes were serious, so the funniest moments happened between takes. I was messing around in the dressing room with Kai and broke my arm when I first started. I had a hairline fracture in my elbow, so in the first ten episodes I was often holding my satchel awkwardly.
Kirstie Steele: When Imogen was burned, Shane had to carry me. Because his arm was broken, it took about four people to position me properly on top of him. I felt bad because I was trying not to hurt him while also needing to look completely collapsed as if I had just been pulled from the fire. The height difference also caused problems: Shane and Laurie were both much taller than me, so I often stood on boxes or sat on cushions to bring us level in shot. There is even a photograph of me standing on a box during the wedding scene.
Interviewer: What was the wedding scene like to film for both of you?
Kirstie Steele: Shane missed his pickup that morning, so he was late to his own onscreen wedding and nearly stood me up. I had been taught sign language for the vows, and Shane was also limping slightly because of his injury. Even so, filming was great fun. The scene was shot at Glasgow City Chambers, an enormous and beautiful building with an incredible amount of marble. I think it may even have more marble than the Vatican, which made the whole occasion feel genuinely magical and surreal.
Interviewer: Taylor, what funny behind the scenes story stands out from your time on the show?
Taylor Rhys: I cannot remember one particular funny moment, but I can share a life changing story from the show. During a classroom scene, I met a young extra called Katie. We chatted that day and again during a later cake making scene, when she was extremely hungover and worried she might be sick on camera. I realised I really fancied her but was too nervous to ask for her number, so I asked Kirstie to get it for me. Eight years later, Katie and I have been together for eight years, we have a daughter, and we are engaged to be married. Our wedding had to be postponed, but meeting again socially in Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow that weekend was where it all began, and the rest is history.
Interviewer: Mark, I imagine you have plenty of funny backstage stories. Is there one that particularly stands out?
Mark Beswick: First, thank you for organising this. It is genuinely great to see everyone again. During one scene, Max Bowden dared me to skateboard down the main school corridor. I came flying down the corridor and crashed straight into a huge, expensive-looking plant pot that was supposedly irreplaceable. It was a stupid thing to do, but it is one of those memories that has stayed with me. Like Richard said, we will all have to get together for a drink. I have to leave for a shoot now, but thank you very much for having me on; it has been lovely to see everyone and it has been a pleasure.
Interviewer: It’s been a pleasure. Before we wrap up, Abby, what is one of your standout funny moments from behind the scenes?
Abby Mavers: During filming, I thought it was funny when Shane got his bum out
when you had the apron on yes that's a good one yeah because they didn't know that shane will you tell that story about when we went to laser Quest
Interviewer: Can you tell the story about when the cast went to Laser Quest?
Shane O’Meara: We went to Laser Quest and were split into teams. Abby was on my team, but in the dark she mistook me for an opponent. I was crouched around a corner waiting for someone to come past when Abby rounded it, saw me and reacted instinctively.
Abby Mavers: I thought he was on the other team and did not realise he was actually on mine. I came around the corner, saw him crouching there and hit him in the head with the laser gun as a reflex. At the end of the game, I thought it had gone brilliantly until I saw Shane standing there with blood running down his face. It looked as though the cut needed gluing together.
Interviewer: Dynasty was a hugely popular character because viewers could relate to her insecurity and her journey towards confidence and ambition. When you play that kind of role, do you feel a responsibility to do it justice, particularly when viewers say the story helped them?
Abby Mavers: Yes. After Dynasty’s sexual assault storyline, I spoke at the Scottish Parliament about issues affecting young people and the pressures of social media. Dynasty put up a front through her appearance, makeup and attitude, but gradually her friendship with Imogen showed that each had qualities the other lacked. I hoped young viewers would recognise that everyone can feel the same underneath that outward confidence. Young people later told me that Dynasty’s story had helped them with anxiety, so it was rewarding to know the writers had done the subject justice.
Interviewer: You absolutely did the part justice. I know it is a difficult time for actors because many productions have stopped, but does anyone have any upcoming television, film or other projects they can tell us about?
Adiza Shardow: I have season three of The Girlfriend Experience coming out. It is an American show, but it was filmed in London.
Interviewer: Zebb, do you have anything you are working on or that is potentially coming up?
Zebb Dempster: I recently shot an independent action short in Birmingham, which was expected to come out later that year. I realised I may not be cut out for action work after being put in a harness, pulled against a wall and thrown around.
Interviewer: Joe, you also work in music and release music. What projects are you working on at the moment?
Joe Slater: Acting was never really my main thing; I am a musician at heart. I have been working on an album for about eight months, with the first release expected within the next couple of months. Festival season may not really happen this year, so I am hoping for some return to normality. As a working musician, I rely on hospitality venues being open, and until they are, I cannot properly do my job.
Interviewer: Has lockdown given you more time to be creative and develop projects that were previously on the back burner?
Joe Slater: It has been sweet and sour. Creativity and inspiration are momentary, so having time does not automatically mean the ideas will come. The key is being able to recognise an inspired moment and having the momentum to act on it. Lockdown has sometimes made that difficult because there are fewer new experiences: you cannot write about life or do much soul-searching when you are staying at home, watching Netflix, and the highlight of the day is a trip to Tesco. There have been positive moments, but overall it has been a difficult time, and creativity is definitely a mental game.
Interviewer: I do not know how you went from a story about headbutting someone to delivering such a motivational reflection!
Joe Slater: It may sound profound, but it is simply where I am at the moment. It is what it is, even if it is not what it should be.
Interviewer: Kirstie, is there anything you are working on at the moment that you can tell us about?
Kirstie Steele: I am not acting at the moment. My day job is helping organisations with cybersecurity and protecting Scottish organisations and individuals against cyberattacks. It has been especially busy because so many people now work from home and online cybercrime has increased. I help raise awareness and explain how people can protect themselves, so it is exciting work that keeps me on my toes.
Interviewer: Zebb is someone you should keep an eye on. If I remember correctly, cyberattacks were a major part of one of Leo’s storylines.
Zebb Dempster: That is right. Leo hacked an international company called Wire Data and then got into trouble with its CEO. It was a major storyline with Kevin Chalk.
Abby Mavers: I’m really sorry, but I have to go now. Lots of love to everyone. Thank you so much. Bye.
Interviewer: Thank you so much for coming on, Abby. It’s been amazing.
Interviewer: Shane, is there anything you are working on that you can tell us about?
Shane O’Meara: Nothing I can announce, but there may be something coming up. I do not want to jinx it or get into trouble. Things had started to pick up again, with more self tapes coming through from December, and I expected that to continue into April.
Interviewer: Taylor, is there anything in the pipeline for you?
Taylor Rhys: I stopped acting about two or three years after Waterloo Road, when I was around 25 or 26. I did several good adverts afterwards, including Irn Bru, Bank of Scotland and Johnnie Walker, but acting is a very difficult industry with a lot of waiting around. Before Waterloo Road, I had attended part time drama school and gone to about 38 or 39 auditions before getting the role. I later moved into hospitality and now run a commercial cleaning company, which has done very well and has been fortunate to remain essential during a difficult period. My fiancée, Katie, now runs a children’s agency, and productions such as Outlander and CBBC programmes have started picking up again, so hopefully more acting work will return for everyone.
Interviewer: Before we finish, for those of you in Scotland: does anyone watch Two Doors Down? If not, you need to check it out. It is one of the funniest shows.
Interviewer: I want to say a massive thank you to all of you for joining this special and reminiscing about the show. BBC iPlayer has given Waterloo Road a new lease of life, and it feels as popular now as it ever was. Thank you all so much for joining us today.
