Gun incident plot for Waterloo Road

A gun incident will shape the forthcoming term at Waterloo Road.

The BBC One series, set in a tough Rochdale school and starring former Coronation Street actress Denise Welch, will begin with a 90-minute special in which a shooting takes place at the school.

The school is then forced to employ a security guard, Dave (played by Tim Healy), who takes a shine to French teacher Steph Haydock (Denise). However, Steph rebuffs Dave's advances - he's not in her league.

The school is also rocked by the arrival of the Kelly family, after head teacher Rachel (Eva Pope) introduces a non-exclusion policy and opens the schools doors to everyone by the addition of creche and adult education classes.

"They manage to have a far reaching influence across the school and there isn't anyone who escapes the impact they make," said a show insider.

Waterloo Road starts at 8pm on Wednesday, January 7.