Waterloo Road fans plead with star after she reveals she won't return for series 18: 'How dare you'
A fan-favourite star has confirmed series 17 is her "final" appearance
Waterloo Road is heading into series 18 with a noticeable change: a star has confirmed that series 17 marked the end of her time on the show.
Cast shake-ups are nothing new for the BBC school drama. Pupils move on, teachers leave, and new faces regularly arrive to take their place. It is part of what keeps the series evolving.
That said, the fallout from the ending of Waterloo Road series 17 suggests the next chapter could look very different.
Filming on series 18 is already underway, but one cast member has now revealed she will not be returning.
***Warning: spoilers from Waterloo Road ahead***
Waterloo Road star confirms Debs exit as Hollie-Jay Bowes bows out
Hollie-Jay Bowes, who has played Debs since the revival began, has confirmed that she will not appear in the next series of Waterloo Road.
Responding to a fan on TikTok who asked whether viewers would “see more of our Debs”, the actress shared a brief but definitive reply: “My final series.”
@holliejay_bowes I’ve Heard WE’RE BAAAAAAAAACK. @Waterloo Road on @BBC iPlayer ♬ original sound – Hollie-Jay Bowes
Fans were quick to react to the news. “No we need you,” one wrote, while another commented, “How DARE you!”
“Nooo I love your character,” added a third, with another simply posting, “Gutted.”
Bowes also responded to a separate comment asking whether Tonya, played by Summer Bird, would appear in series 18. “Ask her,” she replied, alongside a laughing emoji.
How Debs’ story comes to an end in Waterloo Road
Debs avoids the intense drama that dominates other storylines in series 17, but her sister Nicky, played by Kym Marsh, is not so fortunate.
The series introduces Tony, Nicky’s ex-husband, played by Karl Davies. After reconnecting through his football club, he appears keen to rebuild his relationship with Tonya. However, it soon becomes clear that he has a far darker side.
While attempting to present himself as a reformed family man, Tony begins grooming Portia, a student and promising footballer.
What starts as lifts home and extra attention gradually shifts into deeply disturbing territory after he realises she has spoken to others about being in his car.
In one scene, he pressures her into changing clothes in front of him. Later, he isolates her at his club and gives her alcohol.
The situation is stopped before it escalates further, with Nicky intervening and Tony ultimately being arrested and charged. The impact is devastating for both Nicky and Tonya, who openly condemns her father.
In episode 6, Nicky reveals she has been offered a job at St. Clements Academy and accepts the role, marking her exit. However, Tonya later returns in the finale.
As for Debs, her final moments include a passing comment about St. Clements not having a cleaner and relying on “robots”.
This hints that she may have followed Nicky to the new school, though Tonya could provide clarity in the next series.
Read more: Waterloo Road fans issue warning after ‘glitch’ causes viewers to miss 2 full episodes
