Amanda Burton: 'Waterloo Road is unique'

Waterloo Road star Amanda Burton has admitted that she did not enjoy her time at school.

The actress recently joined the cast of the BBC drama as new head teacher Karen Fisher.

"I think I was rather challenging at school, as I really didn't like it very much," she told What's On TV. "I wasn't very academic, but I did lots of plays and debates to break the monotony."

Burton joked that she has now "outranked" her sisters who work as teachers.

"I can understand young people's restlessness, it's not for everyone," she said. "My sisters are teachers and are amused I've finally made it in the family - and I've outranked them by being headmistress!"

Burton also said that she is enjoying her role in the "unique" programme.

"One of the lovely things about Karen is she's very much a mother as well as a working woman, which bring another dimension to the character, so it is quite different," she explained. "Waterloo Road is unique - it's got a huge, vibrant, young cast. It's also a show the whole family can watch together."

She added: "I really like that and it makes a change from playing characters involved in gruesome cases!"

> Burton explains 'Waterloo Road' character