Waterloo Road revival defended by BBC boss after reboot criticism

Waterloo Road's upcoming revival has been defended by the BBC's chief content officer amid criticism of reboots.

During the Edinburgh TV Festival, Channel 4's Ian Katz took aim at the ITV Big Brother revival, labelling the fact it has been rebooted "depressing".

Speaking at the same festival, Charlotte Moore addressed reboots, saying (via Radio Times): "I don't think it's that easy to bring titles back and be successful – I think it actually takes a lot of creativity and it's a real creative challenge.

waterloo road young cast of 2022 pose around a table in a classroom

BBC

"If you're going to have an impact with young audiences and get people to come to a show, there's no doubt about it – some of these big titles really help create that impact. If that was all we were doing, I would be very worried, but there's lots of new shows coming through."

Moore added: "I don't think it's depressing, I think it's a challenge. I've just been watching the new Waterloo Road series and I think it's reimagined for the modern day and I think it's going to be great.

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"[Reboots have] always been part of television – I think you have to do it judiciously, I think you have to do it with real intent to reinvent it for a new generation, but yeah, I think it's part of what we do."

charlotte moore, bbc director of content, speaks on stage

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Last month, returning Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas labelled the new series the "best" one yet, telling the Evening Standard: "It has been great fun, really good and it's exciting to get back doing what I love and seeing some new cast and old cast as well. It has taken me back down memory lane a little bit."

The soap is also set to see the return of Angela Griffin as Kim Campbell, with new cast members including former Coronation Street star Kym Marsh and EastEnders' Jo Coffey.

Waterloo Road will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.