Denise Welch is returning to Waterloo Road as Steph Haydock

But will Steph reunite with Jack Rimmer?

As the latest series of Waterloo Road comes to an end, BBC One has confirmed the return of original cast member Denise Welch as Steph Haydock, when the series returns early 2026.

Having played Steph Haydock from the very first episode in 2006, before leaving in the show's fifth series in 2010, Denise Welch's portrayal of the then Head of French, was a firm fan favourite.

Known to bend the rules whenever she needed to, Steph may have been hopeless on the teaching front, but the students always had a friend in Miss Haydock. She was always one to offer the pupils a shoulder to cry on, armed with the best life and relationship advice, though she may have not taken it herself.

Steph was truly one of a kind and remains as one of Waterloo Road’s most memorable characters and 16 years after she was last on screen, she's back!

Denise’s return to Waterloo Road follows in the footsteps of fellow original cast members, Angela Griffin, Chelsee Healey, Jamie Glover, Katie Griffiths, Lauren Drummond, and Zeriozha Annika, who have all appeared in the series since the show returned to screens in 2023.

Other original Waterloo Road cast, Adam Thomas and Jason Merrells both featured as regular cast members in the series of Waterloo Road that concluded on BBC One last night.

Waterloo Road fans will remember that Merrells and Haydock’s characters had a tumultuous relationship, but audiences will have to wait and see whether there will be an on-screen reunion for the pair in the upcoming series.

When the school experiences a teacher shortage in the next series, Miss Haydock is called in as a supply teacher. Although teaching may still not be her strong suit, Steph knows exactly how to handle the chaos.

Speaking about returning to Waterloo Road, Denise Welch said "I'm thrilled to see the return of Steph to Waterloo Road. 15 years older, but certainly not wiser.  She’ll soon show that time has certainly not dulled her shine! Still unmarried but eternally hopeful, Steph is back as a supply teacher."

"What she is supplying remains to be seen, but I am having a great time stepping back into the shoes of a character I love. It’s also been great to reunite with some of my old castmates, like Jason Merrells. Steph and Jack go back a long way, but will they move forward?! You'll have to wait and see."

To which Cameron Roach, Founder of Rope Ladder Fiction and Exec Producer for Waterloo Road, added "Steph Haydock is a Waterloo Road icon, so we knew we had to find the right story if we were to see her back in our world."

"We were thrilled that Denise enjoyed our pitch and that the fans will get to see Steph once more - her one liners are just as sharp, her lip stick is fiercely drawn, and the staff room atmosphere is changed for good. Neil Guthrie has met his match. We can't wait for the fans to see her episodes."

Made by Rope Ladder Fiction and Wall to Wall North, Waterloo Road is executive produced by Cameron Roach for Rope Ladder Fiction, Leanne Klein for Wall to Wall and Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan for the BBC.

Waterloo Road returns early 2026 on BBC One