Why Waterloo Road fans are convinced Janeece is coming back: 'They teased this way back'
Janeece may be coming back, and she may not be alone...
Waterloo Road may be gearing up to reintroduce one of its most beloved characters in series 18: Janeece, played by Chelsee Healey.
The BBC’s revival of the school drama hasn’t shied away from recruiting the original cast. It started with Angela Griffin’s Kim as the headteacher, Adam Thomas’ Donte is one of the main characters, and it brought back Denise Welch as Steph Haydock.
However, big changes are coming. With young stars departing after the end of series 17, the ensemble is about to get a big shake-up (especially with a merger on the cards).
The question is, who else will they bring back? Will Jamie Glover’s Andrew reappear? Better yet, will Healey come back as Janeece? The latter seems “highly” likely.
What happened to Janeece in Waterloo Road?
Healey played Janeece for two stints in the original Waterloo Road run. She was a pupil between series 1 and 4, enduring some of the show’s most shocking storylines (including the murder of Maxine Barlow).
She came back as a school secretary (and pregnant) in series 6, and developed a sweet relationship with Mark Benton’s Daniel Chalk.
Janeece also joined Waterloo Road’s move to Scotland (which has never been mentioned again), but she left to live with her mother and daughter in Ibiza.
Her character was last seen at the start of the revival following Chlo’s death. Ever since then, fans have been curious about whether or not she’d make a full return – and there’s good reason to believe she’s already coming back.
Chelsee Healey just made room to play Janeece again
Since 2016, Healey has played Goldie McQueen in Hollyoaks. However, her tenure has literally just come to an end.
According to The Sun, the actress hasn’t had a full-time contract on the soap “for some time now”.
The outlet’s source also said something else that raised fans’ eyebrows. “She’s been doing other stuff on the side for a while – like Waterloo Road – but she’s taking the leap fully now,” they claimed, adding that it’s a “new start for this year.”
This also comes after reports in 2025 that Healey could be returning as Janeece.
“Ooh seeing Janeece again will be amazing,” one fan commented. “Great! Perhaps her daughter Cheryl might be a student there,” another speculated.
Well, it’s funny they should say that…
Waterloo Road series 17 planted a clue for Janeece with Cheryl
In series 17 episode 2, Steph phones someone called Cheryl and asks for a favour (to get a load of STI tests for the pupils).
The way Steph speaks to her (“Yes, that Steph,” she says) left fans curious. Is it possible she was talking to Janeece’s daughter Cheryl?
Now, let’s get a grip on the timeline here. Cheryl was born in series 6, which aired in 2010. Waterloo Road takes place in the present day, so that would make her 16 years old.
If it is the same Cheryl, why isn’t she in school? Is it possible she left early to work in a sexual health clinic? Could it be an Easter egg planted to make us think about Janeece again?
Regardless, it’s left viewers convinced that Janeece will return, with her daughter Cheryl possibly playing a new student.
“I thought she might be too young cause she’s supposed to be a year or two younger than Izzy… it seems unlikely but I’d like to see her and Janeece return in the future,” one fan speculated.
“Maybe it’s Cheryl and the Bryants have come home to Manchester again,” another user theorised.
“Janeece has been on the show as a pupil, then on the staff, so now it would be interesting to see her as a parent,” a third commented.
Read more: Waterloo Road fans reveal ‘insane’ plot to bring Tom Clarkson back from the dead
