Waterloo Road series three
Denise Welch plays Steph Haydock
Can you tell us what happened to Steph at the end of the last series?
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"She was threatened with the sack – again – because Jack thought she was lying about Davina and Brett having a relationship. Davina eventually came clean, so Steph lived to fight another day!"
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Do you think Steph has changed at all this series?
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"She is back to the old Steph! I think she lost some of her humour in the last series, but it's back!"
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Steph has new responsibilities this term and has been promoted to Head of Pastoral Care. How do you think she will cope?
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"Steph is happy to have her own office, but that is more important to her than her actual duties. I don't imagine for one minute she has thought much about her approach to her Pastoral Care role."
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Does Steph still try and seduce Jack this series, or has she admitted defeat?
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"She has accepted Jack and Davina's relationship, but is still happy to have any crumbs from Jack's table – so she will wait until he is drunk or depressed and then zoom in."
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Do you think Steph will ever find true love?
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"I hope she does, but not while we're filming! It would spoil the character for me if she became a couple. I'd love her to have lots of affairs, though!"
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On the theme of inclusion this series, should pupils with different needs and abilities be educated within the mainstream system?
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"Yes, absolutely – as long as there is someone there to assist the child during school hours. The other children's education should not suffer. I love Steph's ignorance regarding Asperger's Syndrome, and I'm sure there are many teachers who don't have the patience to deal with children like Karla."
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Do you think it is important for television programmes to illustrate these issues, especially within education?
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"Yes, but we must remember that this is a drama series and not a documentary."
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What is your favourite storyline this series?
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"I love the musical from a fun, camp point of view, and I love working with Chris Geere – who plays Matt Wilding, the new drama teacher."
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What are Steph's best qualities?
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"She's kind and, although she's a gossip, I think she does genuinely stand by those she likes and respects. I love her sense of humour and the fact she keeps trying –even if the situation is completely hopeless. She is a hopeless French teacher, though, and she drinks too much and is such a gossip. It's all fun to play, though!"
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What school did you go to?
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"I went to Consett Grammar School. I attended a convent school for a few years and the uniform was so strict. They used to put me in detention regularly for not wearing the hat! We had these straw boaters to wear and, of course, my school skirt was far to short for the nuns liking!"
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Were you naughty at school?
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"Yes, I was quite naughty at school but I think it was because I was very easily led. I played hooky one lunch time and I got caught by Sister Helen Marie!"
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Have you ever had an opportunity to teach?
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"I have, and I taught movement and drama to young children at Watford Palace Theatre. I don't think I could teach long-term, though."
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What sort of student were you?
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"I was academically lazy, but, funnily enough, the minute I got to drama school that all changed and I was really committed."
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Did you have an inspiring teacher at school?
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"I had a really inspiring teacher at school, Terry Cudden. He was my drama teacher and he was brilliant. He really did give me the belief I could do something – he was an inspiration. If he hadn't encouraged me to go to drama school, I don't think I'd have tried. I was going to teacher training college – so I do have a great deal to thank him for. If it hadn't have been for Terry I could have been Steph for real! But I don't think I could have ever taught French, though."
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What was your favourite school dinner?
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"I loved school food and my favourite meal was probably the day we had cheese pie and chips, followed by chocolate sponge and pink custard!"
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