The hit drama series Waterloo Road has returned to BBC One with seven new episodes.
The popular TV programme sees one new pupil causing “fireworks” while elsewhere secrets come to the fore with “potentially devastating consequences for those involved”. Fractured relationships, betrayals and life-changing moments are all in a day’s work for headteacher Kim Campbell - played by Angela Griffin - and her team at the school.
The students and staff embark on another term of romances and friendships, all while navigating issues including mental health, racism, the cost-of-living crisis and being LGBTQ+.
READ MORE: Married At First Sight looking for LGBTQ+ singles who are 'ready to find the one'
The ECHO spoke to Noah Valentine, who plays Preston Walters - a student who fans watched struggle with his sexuality towards the end of the last series.
DON'T MISS:Coronation Street fans say guest has 'upstaged' Gemma with 'amazing' outfit
Timeline of This Morning's Phillip Schofield controversies as he quits ITV
Maya Jama says public will choose couples in first Love Island vote
Asked what fans can expect next of Preston this time round, Noah told the ECHO: "This season to me definitely seems bigger. I think it balances between a lot of different storylines really effectively and consistently.
“So there's never really a sort of dull moment. It maintains the same sort of heart and soul with one minute you're laughing and then the next minute you cry, and I think the show encapsulates that really well in the first season - the second season it's just the same.”
He continued: “For Preston, we see character development. In the first season, he is erratic and he still maintains that but you will see him grow as a person and understand more about himself and everything he deals with.”
Noah explained how playing a character like Preston is unlike anything he has done previously - but something he was always “very much aware of”.
He said: “I knew that’s the direction we were going with the character and it's incredibly important to be representing the queer community in the most authentic ways. Preston’s storyline is very individual in a specific kind of representation.
“There’s not really any shame surrounding him or his character in terms of who he is and his sexuality and I think that is something the show does well. It doesn’t pigeonhole Preston. There is a lack of emphasis on his sexuality and more of a focus on how he operates as a human being at such a young age.”
The 21-year-old from Manchester, where Waterloo Road is filmed, said the term “woke” is something which can often be used negatively these days but for him, it means “you’re trying to be inclusive and trying to do things justice”. The actor added how he is proud to call the reboot “woke”.
He said: “Young people are becoming so politicised, and rightly so. I think because the show aims these things towards a specific audience and our audience is between 16 and 34, it is important to tell stories that matter and have heart. It is important for older generations as well as it helps start a discussion and educates people who might not understand the way the world works now.”
Waterloo Road is available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Receive our weekly LGBTQIA+ newsletter by signing up here.
READ NEXT:
- Mum told social worker 'you can take them' after they checked on kids
- Dance school 'appalled' Hillsborough tribute snubbed by Britain's Got Talent
- Anger over some taxi drivers 'cherry picking' and quoting huge prices
- UK bank hits all customers with £570 warning
- Frankie Bridge wows fans in 'beautiful' £45 New Look midi dress
