Waterloo Road
Nick Sidi plays Roger Aspinall
Roger's a new character but what is his role at Waterloo Road?
"Roger is a former pupil of the school who is now a very successful and wealthy businessman. He has decided to invest several million pounds in the school in order to turn it into a state-of-the-art Academy. In exchange for the new facilities, however, he is looking for a change in attitude in the pupils and some of the teachers. He is very 'hands-on' in his approach and is not afraid to speak his mind. He is ruthless, determined and opinionated."
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What do you like most about Roger?
"He is passionate and is generally acting in what he believes is the best interests of the school and the pupils. He had a horrible time when he was a pupil at Waterloo Road because he was dyslexic and, as dyslexia was not that well documented in those days, he was constantly being told he was lazy or thick.
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"Nevertheless, he has overcome this to become a very successful businessman. He is driven and determined and doesn't suffer fools gladly. I like his desire to give something back to his community.
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"He is also incredibly wealthy – which is fun to play. I like the suits and being chauffeured about in a £210,000 Bentley! Playing a character who can be arrogant and isn't afraid to hurt people's feelings is also quite enjoyable – sometimes playing nasty is fun…"
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What do you like least about him?
"His bloody-mindedness gets a bit tiring after a while and he certainly needs to spend more time relaxing. Also he needs to get his priorities right when it comes to solving problems closer to home. Initially, he seems much less interested in dealing with problems with his own son than with the school. I guess he is so keen to prove himself that he has lost sight of the more important things."
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Do you share any characteristics with him?
"Roger is a very controlling person, which, if I'm honest, I think I am too. I am also quite a driven and determined person but I would like to think I'm more open than Roger. Certainly, since becoming a dad myself, I realise that there are many more important things in life than work! I love to work but I am not driven by money in the same way that Roger is. He wants all the trophies of success: the car, the big house, even his name in big letters over the school. I'm not as flashy."
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Does Roger have a love interest?
"Roger's wife died of cancer quite recently so he is not involved with anyone at the moment."
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Which member of staff at Waterloo Road does Roger relate to best and why?
"Initially, it seems to be Andrew Treneman – he is serious about his work and has a strong belief in discipline, which Roger absolutely agrees with. I think he views Andrew as someone with a similar work ethic, and he is also ambitious."
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Roger is a multi-millionaire – if you had his cash, how would you spend it?
"I would probably buy Manchester City a new striker and a left-sided midfield player! I have been a City for fan for 35 years and am still a season ticket holder, despite living in London. So, if I was super-rich, I might be one of those blokes who throws all his money at the football club he loves. It nearly always ends in tears (like most things with City) but I don't think I'd be able to resist!"
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Would you be tempted by a fantastic car like Roger's?
"I'm not that into cars but I have to say being driven about in the Bentley is quite a treat. I'm really glad they have got Roger a chauffer, though, as I wouldn't want the responsibility of driving it in and out of the school gates – apparently it is a limited edition and would cost £210,000 to buy! People who know about cars get very excited about that sort of thing."
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What goes through your mind when you think of your own school days?
"I still get nightmares about exams – there was a lot of pressure. I'm glad they're over for ever!"
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What sort of student were you?
"I went to Manchester Grammar School and, if I'm honest, as I got older I became less focused on my studies. Before I went there, I was always pretty near the top of my class but that school has a really high level of academic success and I felt a bit swamped. I was also really young for my year, so I struggled a bit. But I played football a lot and ended up running the sixth form common room, which was quite a cool thing to do. They seemed like more important things to excel at!"
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What were your first impressions on arriving at the Waterloo Road set?
"It smelt like a school and it was cold and echo-y in the corridors. Being on set is a bit like being at school in that you are meant to be on your best behaviour – which actually makes you want to giggle and be naughty. So in many ways we have all regressed…"
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Do you think you could teach?
"I'm not sure. I think I would be able to motivate the kids if it was something I felt passionate about. I think it's an incredibly important and tough job – the real challenge seems to be how you hang on to your passion and patience day in and day out."
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