'Waterloo Road' to film back-to-back series

Shed Productions is to continue filming for a sixth run of popular BBC One school drama Waterloo Road immediately after completion of the fifth series, Digital Spy can confirm.

The fourth season of the show ended in May to an audience of 4.51m (20.6%) and signalled the departures of a number of long-term cast including Adam Thomas (Donte Charles) and Neil Morrissey (Eddie Lawson).

Filming for the new 20-hour series is currently under way in Rochdale, Lancashire, and will star ex-Emmerdale actress Jenna-Louise Coleman and former Holby City and Strictly Come Dancing winner Tom Chambers.

A further 20 episodes for a sixth run will begin shooting in the New Year, almost immediately after filming for series five wraps.

A spokesperson for the show told DS: "Series six of Waterloo Road will be going into production directly after production of series five has finished. This will enable the BBC and Shed Productions to take full advantage of the resources and expertise, both of the cast and local crew, assembled for series five."

An air date for this autumn's fifth season has yet to be confirmed but early indications point to September, while series six will air at some point next year.

Both series are being filmed in HD.