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Original Silent Witness star Amanda Burton joins the cast of Waterloo Road as new head teacher Karen Fisher this autumn on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One, when the school drama returns for a new series.

An instantly dynamic and ambitious presence, Karen is determined to bring her unique vision to the school and make it a safe, vibrant place to learn. But Karen's steely exterior masks a deeper fragility as she and her family wrestle with the aftermath of a recent tragedy.

At home Karen has to cope with a cheating husband, Charlie (Ian Puleston Davies), a rebellious daughter, Jess (Linzey Cocker), and bulimic son Harry (Ceallach Spellman). Karen will have plenty of personal traumas to contend with as she battles her first term at Waterloo Road and attempts to keep her home life and school life separate.

Never one to shirk from a challenge, Karen has amassed a mix of personalities in the staffroom. Old regulars Grantly (Philip Martin Brown), Ruby (Elizabeth Berrington) and Tom (Jason Done) are joined by sexy, opinionated Spanish teacher Cesca (Karen David), principled home-school advocate Marcus (Wil Johnson) and Karen's own husband Charlie.

Also joining Karen's team is former pupil Janeece (Chelsee Healey) as school secretary – and it's very much a case of opposites attract as her warm, slightly dizzy approach collides with Karen's no-nonsense efficiency.

This term, Karen wants every staff member to pull their weight and it's down to ever-loyal Deputy Head Chris (Will Ash) to keep rebellion to a minimum.

Waterloo Road is a Shed Production for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland.

The executive producers for Shed Productions are Sharon Hughff and Lis Steele and the executive producer for the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is Gaynor Holmes.

The series has been commissioned by Jay Hunt, Controller ´óÏó´«Ã½ One and Ben Stephenson, Controller, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Drama Commissioning.

JP2