Adam Thomas reveals what it was like working on Waterloo Road reboot

Adam Thomas has revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy, 7, and niece Scarlett, 13, on the Waterloo Road reboot.

The actor, 34, has told how he was wondering what he’d ‘got himself into’ after the young pair argued on the first day on set – before things calmed down. 

Adam is set to return to his role Donte Charles in the school based series this summer alongside on-screen wife Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, after a 15-year break from the show.

Honest: Adam Thomas has revealed what it was really like working with his son Teddy, 7, and niece Scarlett, 13, on the Waterloo Road reboot

Scarlett – who is the daughter of his twin brother and former Coronation Street star Ryan – has been cast as Adam’s on-screen daughter Izzie while Teddy will play his son. 

Speaking on Wednesday’s Lorraine Adam said: ‘I know the children very well, I’ve got my son Teddy and my niece on the show with me as my children.

‘The first day on set they were arguing, Teddy was crying and I was thinking “what have I got myself into”.

‘But they have been amazing and I hate to say it but they are better than me!’

Family affair: The actor, 34, told how he was wondering what he’d ‘got himself into’ after the young pair argued on the first day on set – before things calmed down

On his return to the show in general he added: ‘I did the first ever series, I was there for four series, and it was the best time of my life so to get asked to go back 13/14 years later was amazing.’

‘To go back so many years later and see our characters (Dante and Chloe) as a big happy family was nice.’

Adam has been married to wife Caroline Daly since 2017. The couple have two children – son Teddy and a daughter called Elsie-Rose.

Yay! Adam is set to return to his role Donte Charles in the school based series this summer alongside on-screen wife Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, after a 15-year break from the show

The Waterloo Road reboot cast have begun filming in Greater Manchester in time for an expected release later this year, almost seven years after it was axed by the BBC.

Fellow actors playing the pupil characters have been announced as Adam Abbou as Danny Lewis, Priyasasha Kumari playing Samia Choudhry, with Noah Valentine joining as Preston Walters.

Adam Ali has been cast as Kai Sharif while Alicia Forde joins as Kelly-Jo Rafferty, Francesco Piacentini-Smith cast as Dean Weever, Liam Scholes as Noel McManus and Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams.

Busy: Scarlett – who is the daughter of his twin brother and former Coronation Street star Ryan – has been cast as Adam’s on-screen daughter Izzie while Teddy will play his son

The junior student cast also includes Summer Violet Bird playing Tonya Walters, Ava Flannery as Verity King, Thapelo Ray cast as Dwanye Jackson, Inathi Rozani joining as Zayne Jackson, Chiamaka (ChiChi) Ulebor playing Shola Aku.

Finally, Sahil Ismailkhil will be become Norrulah Ashimi – who was talent scouted following a production research trip to a local Leeds school.

Across the term, teachers and parents are going to have to learn on their feet as they try to navigate the ever changing social landscape – from teen homelessness to the cost of living, being LGBTQ+, racism, sexism, mental health and everything else facing young teens today.

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Candid: Speaking on Wednesday’s Lorraine Adam said: ‘I’ve got my son Teddy and my niece on the show with me as my children. The first day on set they were arguing, Teddy was crying and I was thinking “what have I got myself into”

Amongst the chaos, the students, faculty and parents still make time for friendships, fun, and a few romances. The pupils have a lot to contend with this term, but they will learn to lean on one another to survive the year and try to stay out of detention as much as possible.

Riots, scandals, fractured families and challenging kids – for Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) and her team, fire-fighting is a way of life.

The secondary school-set show first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous tough issues over its 200-episode run and now its coming back and will tackle the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school kids.

Cast: The secondary school-set show first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous tough issues over its 200-episode run and now its coming back and will tackle the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on school kids

Piers Wenger, Director of BBC Drama, said: ‘Waterloo Road is the perfect lens through which to explore post-COVID Britain, from the perspective of those who have arguably been affected most young people in education.’

The gritty show – which was written by the creators of ITV prison drama Bad Girls – was originally set in Rochdale but later series saw a relocation to Greenock, Scotland.

It has been confirmed that the new episodes will be set once again in Greater Manchester.

Executive producer Cameron Roach said: ‘Waterloo Road will continue its reputation for kickstarting, supporting and enabling careers both in front of and behind the camera, in a truly inclusive way, from our base in Greater Manchester.’

Adam made the adorable announcement about Scarlett, the child of Coronation Street‘s Ryan Thomas and his former co-star Tina O’Brien during BBC‘s Morning Live. 

Filled with glee, the proud uncle began: ‘I can’t believe I’m actually saying this. I feel like I’m working for Marvel, I can never say too much about what is going on…

‘But what I can tell you is my little niece Scarlett Thomas is going to be joining the cast of Waterloo Road. She doesn’t know it yet so congratulations Scarlett.

‘Only joking. She’s playing my daughter, I really don’t know how that’s gonna be.’

Role: Headteacher Kim Campbell (Angela Griffin) will have to deal with riots, scandals, fractured families and challenging kids in the new series

When asked by presenters Gethin Jones and Kym Marsh if he’s given his relative any advice, Adam replied: ‘To be fair, she doesn’t need any. I saw her at the audition and I was blown away.’

He continued to gush: ‘She’s a force to be reckoned with. A triple threat. She can sing, she can dance, she can act. Oh man, she’s amazing and she’s stunning.

‘It’s her first day filming today so good luck Scarlett. It’s all kicking off.’

Waterloo Road will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later in 2022.

Exciting: Adam made the adorable announcement about Scarlett, the child of Coronation Street ‘s Ryan Thomas and his former co-star Tina O’Brien, during BBC’s Morning Live