Waterloo Road legend Jason Merrells is making a full-time return to BBC school drama
Waterloo Road star Jason Merrells has revealed that his alter ego Jack Rimmer is returning to the school as an English teacher.
Jason Merrells is making a full-time return to Waterloo Road.
The 57-year-old actor first appeared as headteacher Jack Rimmer on the BBC school drama during the show's first series back in 2006 and has revealed that his character will be back on a long-term basis as the programme marks its 20th anniversary.
Jason told Inside Soap magazine of his return: "Jack is a character that I love to play, perhaps my favourite character on telly that I've ever played, so it's been a real gift to come back."
The former Emmerdale star's character was the original Waterloo Road headteacher before leaving to work at a school in Dubai.
Jack then returned for a brief guest stint during season three before making a longer return to the show last year.
He agreed to take on the role of a school counsellor but ended up leaving the post as he struggled with alcohol addiction.
However, Jason says his alter ego has now recovered and will be teaching English at the school.
The Cutting It actor said: "He's back as an English teacher! It wasn't important to me that he should return to the headteacher's role, though I think he's got it in him to do that job again if he stays long enough.
"He has a very good relationship with the current head Stella (Lindsey Coulson), they're on the same page and she's totally got his support.
"But it's Waterloo Road and it's still a drama, so Jack still puts his foot in it here and there, and maybe sometimes does things that are unconventional or not by the book!"
Jason explained that he never expected Waterloo Road to reach 20 years on air when he was filming the opening series more than two decades ago.
He said: "We knew we were making something good, but no one had any idea that it would run and run! We were working in this disused school in Rochdale, and we felt like we were inventing this drama that weaves together the audience of kids and adults.
"They would often use kids from local schools, so you had to have many of the skills of real teachers to keep control when doing a scene, which was great because it felt real."
