Waterloo Road
Jamie Glover plays Andrew Treneman
What happened to Andrew at the end of last series?
"Andrew and Jack had succeeded in saving Waterloo Road and, for now, the school is out of danger. But there is still a lot of room for improvement."
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Tell us about Andrew's relationship with Jack?
"Andrew respects Jack but it is an uneasy alliance as they are chalk and cheese. They are extremely respectful and tolerant of each other and both aware that their differences mean they actually make a good team. Andrew respects Jack, so they may be very different but it works.
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"At the beginning of this series, it begins to look like Jack Rimmer isn't going to hold on to the Headship and Andrew is suddenly asked to step in. Andrew is ambitious but, despite this, doesn't feel comfortable with that situation. He might want the job eventually but he doesn't want to stab Jack in the back to get it."
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Do you think Andrew has changed at all heading in to this series?
"Yes, I think Andrew has changed a bit. He's more settled in the school and more convinced than ever that he can make a difference. He's still headstrong and he does come a cropper because of this. But he's now gained the respect of the staff and pupils alike, so he's more relaxed and less of a fish out of water."
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A new investor, Roger, has staked a lot of money in Waterloo Road in return for having the school renamed as an Academy in his honour. How does Andrew deal with this intrusion?
"Andrew is initially all in favour of the plans. At first, he thinks Roger may be quite a positive addition to the set-up and he and Roger seem to be in harmony when it comes to the idea of tough love and a need for discipline within the school. But the cracks begin to show when Andrew realises that his ideals are different to Roger's.
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"Andrew believes in discipline in order for the children to flourish and benefit, whilst Roger enforces discipline to benefit his own reputation by having a zero tolerance school. These cracks become a full-blown stand-off when Roger and Andrew realise they are on very different sides of the fence."
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Does Andrew let his principles get in the way of his relationships with people?
"Yes but he just can't switch his principles off. He is headstrong and opinionated and perhaps not the most sensitive man. He can be fairly blunt but I would hope the right person would recognise this in him and it wouldn't hinder their relationship. Andrew is not good at communication on a personal level, but I do admire the fact he does stick up for what he believes."
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What do you think Andrew's feelings are towards Kim?
"Andrew respects Kim and he wants to love her ... whether that will be allowed by either of them, well, that's another matter! There is a strong magnetic pull between them, but so much stuff gets in the way that this might not be possible."
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Andrew also receives attention from Lorna in this series...
"I think Andrew and Lorna become allies as they both become an easy place for the other to rest. They are both tired with what is going on in their own lives, so they are both easy arms to fall into. Andrew likes and respects Lorna but there just isn't the chemistry there – unlike with Kim."
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Are you saying he strings Lorna along?
"He just doesn't know how to extricate himself from the situation. Andrew is not malicious and does not deliberately string Lorna along but he's too nice and too inexperienced in relationships to get out of it easily."
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Bullying is an issue this series. Have you ever had experience of bullying?
"I think most people at some time or another have been bullied or teased. I was always told that the things someone chooses to pick on you for will actually become the very same things that someone else will cherish in you or love about you – and these things make you a more complete person."
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What are your own memories of school?
"I went to Frensham Heights in Farnham. My schooling was quite mixed: some of it was disastrous but most of it was wonderful. I generally look back at my school days fondly but I do remember the cruelty children are capable of. You need a good amount of resilience at school. It was quite exhausting keeping up with it all.
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"I did get a shiver the other day when we were filming with lots of kids from local schools and just watching them all interact with each other, I was reminded of that – being a child and getting through school daily is exhausting."
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Were you in any school sports teams?
"I was captain of the cricket team for a time and I play the occasional game now."
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Were you often naughty?
"I am sure I was probably considered fairly naughty. But I think I was more mischievous – I wasn't a troublemaker."
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What did you get up to in between the first and second series of Waterloo Road?
"I directed a play at RADA and was in an episode of Midsomer Murders – I played an enigmatic baddy!"
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You're a new father – how is it going?
"It's going well. My daughter, Edie, is adorable. She is now six months old and my life has completely changed; it's been tipped upside-down and inside-out, but all in the best possible way."
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