Backlash against Waterloo Road’s move to Scotland

The BBC’s announcement yesterday that school drama Waterloo Road is to move from its current home in Rochdale, Greater Manchester to Scotland has prompted a backlash from some of the cast and local political leaders.

The BBC revealed yesterday that from April 2012 Waterloo Road would re-locate to Scotland with 50 one-hour episodes being ordered for the move which will air over the course of two years. The BBC One drama is produced by Shed Productions for BBC Scotland but is actually filmed in Rochdale, Greater Manchester at present and not in Scotland itself – but that will now change.

Similar to Casualty‘s move from Bristol to Cardiff, Waterloo Road will re-locate and the news has not gone down well. Just as with the BBC’s relocation of Casualty the news of Waterloo Road’s impending move north of the boarder has prompted a backlash and a campaign to keep the series based in Rochdale.

“This is a massive, massive shame. It will change the whole dynamic of the show and people know Waterloo Road as a northern school. The show will not be the same and it will not have the same appeal to the viewers. Most of the cast, especially the pupils, are based in the north and it has been very handy for them. People who are based in London are also only two hours away so the move to Scotland will be massive for everyone involved.” – Rebecca Ryan, who plays Vicki McDonald, quoted in Manchester Evening News.

“I knew they were struggling to keep the site at Kirkholt and obviously there was going to be a move, but it is a shame for Rochdale. The move will mean it will be a different show but it will probably be a practical move which has been based on finances, or the lack of them.” – Denise Welch, who played Steph between 2006 – 2010,  quoted in Manchester Evening News.

“I am disappointed that they have decided to move the show and I am not sure how it will function. The idea they have come up with is like bringing Bobby Ewing back in Dallas. It is a TV programme based in Rochdale and in the long term it will have a detrimental effect on the opportunities for young actors from the north west.” – Peter Williams, deputy leader of Rochdale council, quoted in the Manchester Evening News

The BBC promised yesterday the drama’s relocation to Scotland would be covered on-screen in an “explosive” plot but as yet there are no further details on the storyline. Its unclear whether on-screen it will be noted the location of the school has changed or whether it will still be “set” in the same place. Famously children’s school drama Grange Hill relocated from London to Liverpool in its dying years – a move which was widely panned and several years later the axe fell.

Waterloo Road may not be the only BBC drama on the move – Casualty is already moving – but daytime drama Doctors may be next. There are rumours that it may move from its current home in Birmingham to Salford and while Holby City and EastEnders futures at Elstree are secure for now in the long-term the prospect of both moving is likely to be raised again. It was previously suggested the two serials could move to Pinewood Studios something the BBC has ruled out for now.