TV drama filmed in Rochdale relocated to Scotland

Award winning school drama series Waterloo Road is to relocate from Rochdale to Scotland.

The popular drama series, made by Glasgow based Shed Productions, is currently filming its seventh series in the town and will move to Scotland in April 2012 - as part of the BBC's move to increase network programming from Scotland and the other nations of the UK.

Viewers of the BBC One show will see a ‘dramatic and explosive’ storyline at the end of series 7 which will see a number of current teachers and pupils setting up a new independent school in Scotland.

Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning, said: "As part of our ongoing commitment to establishing a drama base in Scotland I asked Shed whether they would be interested in relocating future series of Waterloo Road to their home country. Whilst sad to leave Rochdale they immediately saw the potential of the new stories they could tell, as well as being excited about putting down roots in their native Scotland. I am sure fans will love what Shed have planned – it will remain the show our audience love.

"Alongside River City, the arrival of Waterloo Road establishes Scotland as a home of mass drama production and I am excited about the many new Scottish developments coming down the track.

"I would like to pay tribute to Rochdale and the local community who have taken the hit series to their hearts over the past seven years and saw it triumph at this year's National TV Awards to win most popular drama.”

Talking about the move Shed's CEO Eileen Gallagher said: "Waterloo Road has had an incredibly happy six years in Rochdale working with one of the best TV crews in the country. But now we have outgrown our present site and we couldn't resist the BBC offer to take the show to Scotland.”