Waterloo Road fans can't believe another star isn't coming back for series 18: 'Really upsetting'
Fans have been left 'heartbroken' by the star's exit
Waterloo Road series 18 is shaping up to look very different, with another cast exit now confirmed following the events of series 17.
Just days after Hollie-Jay Bowes revealed she would not be returning as Debs, another much-loved character has bowed out.
While Debs’ departure felt narratively fitting, this latest exit has hit fans harder.
Plus, it confirms that the next series will feature a noticeably reshuffled student lineup.
***Warning: spoilers from Waterloo Road ending ahead***
Waterloo Road confirms Luca exit as Danny Murphy bows out
Danny Murphy, who plays deaf student Luca, has confirmed that series 17 marked the end of his time on Waterloo Road.
The actor shared a clip from episode 8 on social media, writing: “At last, getting to watch my final ever scene at WLR.”
View this post on Instagram
The news has not gone down well with viewers, particularly after Luca’s emotional send-off in the finale.
“Luca needs to come back to Waterloo Road, I love the character,” one fan wrote on Reddit.
“What, that’s gutting. He has been my favourite of the students,” another added, while a third said simply, “It’s really upsetting.”
Some fans speculated Luca might still be referenced in future episodes, particularly through Freddie. However, that may be unlikely.
Luca and Freddie storyline set to end after series 17
Adding to the disappointment, it appears Freddie will not be returning either.
Freddy Chippendale Smith commented on one of Murphy’s Instagram posts, which was captioned “That’s a wrap for me”, writing: “I had a blast working together, well done mate.”
In a separate post promoting the series, Smith described the experience as “incredible”.
Both characters were in the same year during series 17, meaning their exits align with graduation. That makes sense narratively, even if fans are unhappy about it.
Series 17 ended with Luca and Freddie finally getting together, complete with a BSL performance of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’. It was a fitting conclusion to their story, but many viewers hoped it was only the beginning.
One fan wrote: “Noooo, I really wish Luca and Freddie had more time together, they were great!”
Read more: Waterloo Road series 17 ending explained: Darius’ fate revealed, and if there’ll be a series 18
