Waterloo Road generates £6.5 million for Greater Manchester economy since return, while successfully reaching and representing working class viewers

As all episodes of the brand new collection of hit school-set drama Waterloo Street arrive on BBC iPlayer this morning (Tuesday 10 September), Waterloo Street continues to make vital contributions to the native financial system, in addition to on and off-screen illustration.

From casting decisions to storylines addressing real-life points affecting teenagers, households, and college employees as we speak, all instructed with Waterloo Street’s trademark mixture of sharp writing, heat, and wit, the present’s writers have ensured that the collection authentically portrays lives seen much less typically on display.

Reaching and authentically portraying underrepresented audiences continues to be an industry-wide problem that the BBC is looking for to deal with.

Waterloo Street has established itself as a agency favorite amongst viewers underneath 35 years outdated and significantly these from low socio-economic teams, who made up almost half of the viewers for the primary three new collection to air because the programme returned in January 2023. The title stays one of many prime manufacturers on BBC iPlayer for viewers underneath 35.

Filmed and set in Higher Manchester, Waterloo Street has additionally introduced vital financial and cultural advantages to the area.

The manufacturing of the primary three new collection generated at the very least £6.5 million for Higher Manchester and over £9.5 million for the broader North West space*. These figures mirror greater than only a monetary increase; they underscore the present’s position in contributing to a thriving native artistic {industry}, as a part of the BBC’s dedication to again the perfect of homegrown storytelling.

Past its on-screen illustration, the manufacturing group launched a number of initiatives to foster artistic expertise and supply important {industry} expertise, equivalent to working with a broad vary of writers, administrators and producers, lots of whom have been new to hour-long drama. Different initiatives embody:

• Coaching 35 aspiring professionals in key craft areas, with many securing additional {industry} roles and a few persevering with with the manufacturing
• Offering hands-on expertise to 30 younger folks, from a various vary of backgrounds, in TV and movie
• Reaching over 300 college students from Higher Manchester faculties and youth teams, igniting curiosity in TV and movie careers, through outreach classes held throughout the area

Charlotte Moore, BBC’s Chief Content material Officer, says: “Waterloo Street is an excellent instance of the BBC’s dedication to again the perfect homegrown storytelling proper throughout the UK. It’s a collection that helps nurture and champion native expertise and immediately helps the financial system within the North West. It’s additionally a part of a a lot greater story. The BBC now invests greater than 60% of its TV finances outdoors of London – supporting tons of of manufacturing corporations and suppliers.”

Govt Producer for Rope Ladder Fiction, Cameron Roach says: “Manchester is within the lifeblood of Waterloo Street, the sense of satisfaction the solid and crew have for the present is totally related to its Higher Manchester base. The manufacturing of Waterloo Street within the area has not solely made a major influence on the native financial system, nevertheless it has additionally helped energise a vibrant artistic sector in a area the place the display industries are flourishing.”

Audiences can stream all episodes of Waterloo Street up to now on BBC iPlayer. All eight episodes of the of the brand new collection launched on BBC iPlayer from 6am as we speak, and the primary episode will broadcast at 9pm on BBC One tonight.

It was introduced that the programme was commissioned for 2 additional collection final month. The double order signifies that new episodes of Waterloo Street will proceed to premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One till at the very least 2026.

Waterloo Street is ready and made in Higher Manchester and produced by the award-winning Wall to Wall in co-production with Rope Ladder Fiction. Lindsay Williams is the Collection Producer. Waterloo Street is government produced by Cameron Roach for Rope Ladder Fiction, Leanne Klein for Wall to Wall, and Gaynor Holmes and Jo McClellan for the BBC.

Notes

The manufacturing of the primary three new collection to air since Waterloo Street returned generated at the very least £6.5 million in gross worth added (GVA) for Higher Manchester and over £9.5 million for the broader North West space, measure primarily based on spend on crew and suppliers within the area.