Back to school

IT’S back to school for Neil Pearson, who plays new headteacher Vaughan Fitzgerald and is in the curious position of knowing that his tenure is limited to a 20-part farewell to the BBC’s award-winning drama after nine years of class performances.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a worthwhile desk-banging new school year without Fitzgerald having a problem with his partner Allie (Nicola Stephenson), who is taking the reins of the art department. The two have four children between them, but none of them get along... and the head’s ex-wife also puts in an appearance to ensure that his start is anything but an easy one.

There’s also former school boss Christine Mulgrew (Laurie Brett) to cope with. She’s been demoted and finds herself struggling with pupil Darren Hughes (Mark Beswick), who is beset by a tragedy involving his mother.

"Balancing work and family is a problem for everyone," explains Pearson. "When, like Vaughan, you're trying to balance work and two families, the problems come thick and fast. He has a lot going on: a new job, a new relationship and, with the arrival of two step-children, new domestic responsibilities too. It was never going to be dull."

Pearson made his mark with sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey and thriller Between the Lines, but has no problems working with the young actors playing his pupils and children.

"Vaughan is an experienced headteacher with a successful track record and a clear idea of the sort of education he wants any school of his to provide: an education which will help his pupils through life, not just exams. The show always has a chance if its audience feels connected to it, and Waterloo Road has a strong, loyal following among the kids and young adults I know. It talks about the subjects that concern them, and in a voice they recognise. They'll be sorry to see it go. Me too."

On filming the programme he adds: "I wish we shot more exteriors. The school we film in overlooks a beautiful part of the Clyde, and we're only a short ferry ride away from the Highlands. It's been easy to forget how beautiful this place is when we've had to shoot a long run of scenes set in classrooms and offices, but then at last we'll go outside and film in front of some of the UK's most stunning scenery."

The Supervet (Channel 4, 8pm)

BIONIC vet Noel Fitzpatrick is back for another four-part series, but the clinic has grown since we last checked in, and new staff have joined Noel and Padraig.

Schrodinger, a cat with a shattered thigh bone belongs to seven-year-old Shoshana, who has Pandas, an auto-immune condition which leads to behavioural problems, and the moggy has managed to calm Shoshana down. Noel prepares to save the cat's leg - he will be working through the night on an operation which will fuse the broken pieces of bone back together...

Meanwhile, also needing Noel's help are Lois, an English bulldog who has to be put on a strict diet in order to cure arthritis, and an elderly springer spaniel called Flossie, who has lost control of her back legs.

Scott & Bailey (ITV, 9pm)

RACHEL (Suranne Jones) is still intent on doing a bit of soul searching as the series continues. She can't get Gill's comments about her relationship with Will out of her head and has second thoughts about attending an award ceremony with him. She's convinced people will think she's sleeping her way to the top, so makes her excuses and ducks out of the event.

But tiring of her attitude, he ends their relationship and the cop is left gutted.

Meanwhile, Janet (Lesley Sharp) is not having a great time of it either, struggling with Elise's decision to live with Ade. Work-wise the officers this week look into the murder of Tam and Pat Robinson, shot at close range in their pub.