Kym Marsh reveals fiery feud with new Waterloo Road headteacher comes to blows – as Nicky battles further heartbreak
WATERLOO Road’s Kym Marsh reveals a fiery feud with the new headteacher that comes to blows as Nicky battles further heartbreak in the new series.
After former headteacher Steve Savage was arrested for covering up a murder at the end of the last series, Waterloo Road badly needs to renew it's reputation.
In the previous season, Steve had covered up the murder of pupil Boz Osbourne which his son had committed.
Former EastEnders star Lindsey Coulson will take over his role as Head Teacher Dame Stella Drake in the new fifth season.
Lindsey is best known for her role as the formidable Carol Jackson in Albert Square, though she left the show in 2015.
Waterloo Road's reputation has plummeted and it now needs some tender loving care however the pupils won’t get it from new boss Stella.
waterloo road
She's a highly regarded educator, and breezes into the school with change on her mind - and woe betide anyone who stands in her way.
In an interview with The Sun TV Magazine , Kym Marsh, 48, who plays dinner lady Nicky Walters warns: “She doesn't take any messing.
“Stella doesn't like the kind of lackadaisical attitude that maybe the school are used to. She wants to come in and make her own mark.”
And so she does. With no time for pastoral care, Stella and Nicky come to blows when she dismisses Nicky’s daughter Tonya’s endometriosis diagnosis.
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“You could argue that Nicky hasn't always been great about it either,” admits Kym.
“She was quite dismissive of Tonya's pain but came to realise that she wasn't very well.
"The frustration is that she’s in an environment where it seems Tonya’s well-being is not being taken care of.”
Nicky has also severed romantic ties with Dante (Adam Thomas), who’s now dating lazy teacher Nisha (Saira Choudhry).
“He's clearly moved on – and very quickly!” laughs Kym.
“Nicky is quite upset by it, but Dante is still very much there for Tonya, who needs that father figure in her life.
Kym Marsh's career so far
Actress, singer and presenter Kym Marsh has a career spanning almost three decades, across a wide variety of projects. Here is a look at Kym's body of work so far.
- Hear'say (2001-2002): Kym and the four other winners of reality TV series Popstars formed the band Hear'say. Her bandmates include Myleene Klass, Suzanne Shaw, Noel Sullivan and Danny Foster. She left the group in January 2002, with the brand breaking up months later.
- Coronation Street (2006-2019): Kym joined the cast of ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 2006, playing the character Michelle Connor. During her time in the soap, the character's storylines included marrying Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and discovering her son Ryan was not hers biologically - having been swapped with another baby at the hospital. Kym left Corrie in 2019, after 13 years.
- Popstar to Operastar (2010): She appeared in series one of this show - which saw eight stars known for singing pop music trained in how to sing opera. Fellow contestants included McFly's Danny Jones and The Saturdays' Vanessa White. Kym placed fourth overall; the now-late singer Darius was named the winner.
- Morning Live (2020 - present): Morning Live first debuted as a 40-part series to connect with viewers' real-life concerns and to offer trustworthy and expert advice. Kym co-fronted the show alongside Gethin Jones - the likes of Michelle Ackerley and Helen Skelton have since also come on board.
- Waterloo Road (2023 - present): Following Waterloo Road's revival at the Beeb, Kym was named among several new cast members joining the show. She portrays school canteen worker Nicky Walters.
"The one thing with Dante and Nicky is that they will always care about each other.” she concludes.
As well as acting, Kym is, of course, a TV presenter and busy mother of four. How does she manage to fit it all in?
“I'm actually a robot,” she deadpans. “I love what I do and that I've been given so many opportunities to work in so many different areas of the entertainment industry.
"That doesn't happen all the time. The day will come when I stop getting offered jobs, so for now I'm going to take them.”
Read More on The Sun
For the full interview and many more inside scoops grab your copy of the The Sun's TV Magazine at the weekend.
Waterloo Road returns to our screens on Tuesday 11 February at 9pm on BBC1.
