Adam Thomas issued somewhat of a double apology to fans as he tried to record a message following the first episode of Waterloo Road. The new revival series began on BBC One on Tuesday night (January 3) after the return of the much-loved, school-based series was announced in 2021.
The new era of Waterloo Road, which is currently available to binge-watch on BBC iPlayer, features original cast members and famous faces including Adam, who has reprised the role of former bad boy pupil-turned-parent Donte Charles, Angela Griffin as new head teacher Kim Campbell, and Kym Marsh who has joined the much-loved show as Nicky Walters, a school canteen worker and mum to two pupils.
The new series marks Waterloo Road's first return to screens in almost eight years after it was axed. The hit show was filmed at Hill Top Primary School in Rochdale before relocating to Scotland and ran from 2006 to 2015. And the reboot has seen the team return to Greater Manchester.
Warning: Spoilers...
And for those who waited for the first episode of the eleventh series to air on BBC One, they were quickly given a taste of what was to come as the drama instantly began as the new intake of pupils angrily protested over the school being named William Beswick High School over its namesake's connections to the slave trade.
Fans were also delighted to see Adam as Donte reunited with Katie Griffiths who reprised her role as Chlo Charles. It showed the pair grown-up and as parents to Izzie, played by Adam's real-life niece Scarlett Thomas, and their son Tommy, played by Adam's son Teddy, with Izzie heading off for her first day in year nine at her new school.
But after the nervous youngster got a pep talk from her dad, who said he wished he could do it again and that he was 'jealous' of what his little girl was about to experience, disaster struck. At the start of episode one, viewers saw Chlo preparing a pitch for headteacher Kim about a new scheme for children at the school.
After a traffic backlog due to the pupils' unruly protest, the mum-of-two walked the rest of the way with daughter Izzie as Donte turned round and headed off to work. But in all the chaos, Chlo was hit by a car in a bump caused by head of English, Coral Walke, played by former Corrie star Rachel Leskovac.
Luckily, Chlo appeared fine with just a sprained wrist and despite getting the date of her meeting wrong, was keen to pitch her animal therapy idea to her former teacher. After returning home later in the day to her worried husband Donte, Chlo revealed she had realised she wanted become a teaching assistant at the school.
Chlo and Donte appeared more loved up than ever until a dramatic turn of events saw Chlo collapse in the kitchen. As Donte shouted for his daughter to phone and ambulance, the dad and his kids were soon seen arriving at the hospital. And in a shock and tragic ending, Donte was delivered the devastating news that Chlo had died and viewers watched as he and his children sobbed in the corridor of the hospital.
And it's fair to say fans were left fuming over the dramatic twist, claiming the reboot had instantly been 'ruined'. @tillie_66 said: "Killing off chlo has just ruined it! She was why half of us wanted to watch again to see her and donte back on the screen. back to the old episodes."
@zak_2021_123 commented: "Massive kick in the teeth what was the point of bringing back Chlo if you’re just gonna kill her off in the first episode." @eloise_toon09 wrote: "Ruined it why did chlo have to die." @AWhirlwindx tweeted: "They killed Chlo off in #WaterlooRoad what even is this? That's it, whole season ruined for me now." @shaysbenzo added: "2023 has been ruined as they killed chlo off in the first episode i'm heartbroken#WaterlooRoad."
But Adam, who had already been promoting the series on his Instagram throughout the day as well as making an appearance alongside Katie on The One Show, had a different response. Filming himself in the bed of his hotel room, the former Emmerdale star said into the camera: "Er..." before laughing.
"I'm sorry guys," he added before bursting out laughing again. Before putting his hand over his mouth, he said: "I'm so sorry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just a nervous laugh. I'm so sorry." As he struggled to hold back his giggles, he eventually said: "No though... How? Why? I mean I knew it was coming but bloody hell."
Adam then fanned his face with viewers no longer able to tell if his eyes were filling up through laughter or tears. "I'm not crying, you are!" he declared before laughing again. "What a first episode. I know, I know guys. But the first episode is out. I hope you all enjoyed it. Shoutout to the rest of the cast, what a phenomenal job they all did. It was amazing from start to finish."
Adam later returned with one last message, thanking fans for their messages. "I've tried to reply to all of you but I'm done in. I don't know why, I've not even done anything but I think I'm emotionally drained. I think the whole hype of the show coming out, doing The One Show... it takes it out of you," he said.
He then started to laugh as he quipped: "I don't know I'm bloody born. But yeah, thanks again to everyone who has watched the show tonight, binge-watched it or watching it now on iPlayer. Enjoy the rest of the series." He then promoted the podcast, which he hosts, and joked: "Honestly, it's like the gift that keeps on giving!"
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