Ackley Bridge star admits Waterloo Road reboot will force show to ‘up its game’ – and takes brutal swipe at Netflix

ACKLEY Bridge star Robert James-Collier has admitted that the comedy-drama series will have to "up its game" when the Waterloo Road reboot comes to light.

In September last year, the BBC revealed that the hit school-based drama was being revived after a six-year absence from our screens.

When it first aired in 2006, the iconic show left fans glued to their screens as they tuned in for their weekly dose.

So, it was hardly surprising that fans jumped with joy when they heard the series was returning to the silver screen.

And it’s sure to draw in a huge following after consistently remaining among the top five most-watched shows among young audiences on BBC iPlayer after it was released as a boxset in September 2019.

With that said, Ackley Bridge's Robert - who plays deputy headteacher Martin Evershed - spoke of his delight to see its return, adding that the reboot will prove to be fair competition.

"Listen, anything getting picked up again, and going again, it's fantastic," he told The Sun's TV Mag.

"If it means more work for access, because, you know, is a very competitive field out there."

Rob even took a swipe at streaming giant Netflix, sharing his relief that they hadn't got their hands on it.

"We've got to be careful, as great as the streamers are," he affirmed.

"The money and the boost that they've given to our industries, we don't want the world to become completely Marvel or completely Star Wars without having our own national films and TV series being made."

Ahead of Waterloo Road's return, Rob admitted that the reboot will give Ackley Bridge an excuse to up their game.

"It's great when BBC shows come back and they revamp them," he concluded.

"Because it's a brand and it was a very successful show and if revamped in the right way there's no reason it can't be successful again.

"And if anything, I think if Ackley does go again, if the audience do want more, it kind of forces us to up our game as well, in a good
way."

Read the full interview in TV Mag, available exclusively with The Sun every Saturday.