Waterloo Road Win Most Popular Drama at National Television Awards

Cheryl Cole may have been the focus of attention for many of the tabloids at the National Television Awards simply by unveiling a new tattoo but inside the London ceremony there were a few surprises.

None more so when Waterloo Road beat fellow BBC Dramas Sherlock and Doctor Who to the most popular drama award. Sherlock was the favourite of many of the television critics however the National Television Awards are voted for by the viewers and Waterloo Road came out on top even beating Doctor Who which had won the award 6 years in a row.

Whilst critics fumed at Sherlock being overlooked it is easy to see why Waterloo Road came out on top. Over six series it has won over millions of fans with it gritty look at the lives of teachers and pupils at Waterloo Road comprehensive.

Not only has it managed to garner the respect of many of television’s most popular actors and win over the mainstream BBC audience but it has also managed to develop a following amongst schoolchildren and students who are rarely attracted to mainstream drama on the main channels.

It is this cross generational appeal that Gaynor Holmes, executive producer, believes helped the show win this award “It was a well-deserved award for everyone who works on the show and such an honour to be recognised by the audience in this way. Waterloo Road is not a big event drama or a brand new series that grabs a lot of attention. But this is a testament to its continuing popularity.”

“It has a very loyal fan base and audience and appeals to a really broad age group. So it’s something that people can sit down and watch together as a family. And everyone has been to school, so it’s an experience everyone can relate to.

“Quite often what our younger audience like about it is that it portrays teenagers in an authentic and truthful way. We tell it as it is and don’t talk down to them. They enjoy seeing young characters in quite grown up or difficult situations and trying to figure things out for themselves.”

The new series of Waterloo Road starts on BBC1 this week with new cast members including former Coronation Street star Tina O’Brien and with Robson Green also confirmed to join in the next series.

However if you want catch up with some of the previous series visit Acorn Media UK at http://www.acornmediauk.com/index.php/dvd/popular-television-series/waterloo-road.html where you will be able to purchase all the Waterloo Road DVDs at unbeatable prices and also new Waterloo Road DVD releases exclusively early.