WHAT HAPPENED TO ANDREW AT THE END OF LAST SERIES?
Andrew and Jack had succeeded in saving Waterloo Road. And for now the school is out of danger. But there is still a lot of improvement to make.

TELL US ABOUT ANDREW AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH JACK?
Andrew respects Jack but it is an uneasy alliance as they are chalk and cheese. They are extremely respectful and tolerant of each other and both aware their differences mean they actually make a good team. Andrew respects Jack, so they may be very different but it works. At the beginning of this series it begins to look like Jack Rimmer isn't going to hold on to the Headship and Andrew is suddenly asked to step in. Andrew is ambitious but despite this, doesn't feel comfortable at all with how he is made the Head Teacher. He might want the job eventually but he doesn't want to stab Jack in the back to get it.

DO YOU THINK ANDREW HAS CHANGED AT ALL HEADING IN TO THIS SERIES?
Yes, I think Andrew has changed a bit. He is more settled in the school he's more convinced than ever he can make a difference. He's still headstrong and he does come a cropper because of this. But he's now gained the respect of the staff and pupils alike so he is more relaxed being himself at the school and so is less of a fish out of water.

A NEW INVESTOR, ROGER, HAS STAKED A LOT OF MONEY IN TO WATERLOO ROAD IN RETURN FOR HAVING THE SCHOOL RENAMED AS AN ACADEMY IN HIS HONOUR. HOW DOES ANDREW DEAL WITH THIS NEW INTRUSION?
Andrew is initially all in favour of the plans. And he at first thinks Roger may be quite a positive addition to the set up of Waterloo Road. At the beginning he and Roger Aspinall seem to be in harmony with the idea of tough love and a need for discipline within the school. But the cracks begin to show when Andrew realises his ideals are different to Roger's. As Andrew believes in discipline and tough love in order for the children to flourish and benefit. Whilst Roger enforces discipline in order to benefit his own reputation by having a zero tolerance school. These cracks soon become a full blown standoff when Roger and Andrew realise they are both at very different sides of the fence.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ACADEMY/TRUST SCHOOLS?
Far greater heads than mine are banging together about this and it's a thorny issue. I suppose ethically I'm all in favour of giving schools autonomy and enabling them to tailor their teaching according to their needs and their intake. But I'm fully aware of the dangers - ie when selection then comes in via the back door - as that can never be a good thing. But in principle I think schools should be given more control and be governed locally.

DO YOU RECKON YOU WOULD PASS TODAY'S EXAMS?
Shamefully I'm playing the Head of a school and I'm fairly unaware of the current exam system. I have heard however that the pass rates are increasing so I reckon I probably could pass today's exams. I was an average student but with a bit of revision I would hope I could pass.

DOES ANDREW LET HIS PRINCIPLES COME IN THE WAY OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE?
Yes Andrew does let his principles get in the way of his relationships as he just can't switch them off. He is headstrong and opinionated and perhaps not the most sensitive man. He can be fairly blunt. I would hope the right person would recognise this in him and it wouldn't hinder their relationship. Andrew is not good at communication on a personal level. But I do admire the fact he does stick up for his principles.

ANDREW AND KIM HAD A LOT OF CHEMISTRY BUT A LOT OF CONFLICTING VIEWS LAST SERIES. WHAT IS THEIR RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS SERIES?
This series is an emotional rollercoaster for Kim and Andrew. They obviously have very strong feelings for each other but it just seems other situations always get in the way.

DO YOU THINK THEY WILL BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THEIR DIFFERENCES IN ORDER TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP?
There is a question!

WHAT DO YOU THINK ANDREWS'S FEELINGS ARE TOWARDS KIM?
Andrew respects Kim and he wants to love her. Whether that will be allowed by either of them - well that is another matter! There is a strong magnetic pull between Andrew and Kim but so much stuff gets in between them that this might not be possible.

ANDREW IS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF ATTENTION FROM LORNA - DO YOU THINK ANDREW HAS TRUE FEELINGS FOR LORNA?
I think Andrew and Lorna become allies as they both become an easy place for the other to rest. They are both tired with what is going on in their own lives to they are both easy arms to fall into. Andrew likes and respects Lorna but there just isn't the chemistry there unlike with Kim.

WHY DO YOU THINK HE STRINGS LORNA ALONG?
He just doesn't know how to extricate himself from the situation. Andrew is not malicious and does not deliberately string Lorna along but he's too nice and too inexperienced in relationships to get out of it easily.

BULLYING IS AN ISSUE THIS SERIES. HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO GIVE ADVICE IN REGARDS TO BULLYING, OR TAKE IT YOURSELF?
Yes I have had to take advice myself. I think most people at some time or another have been bullied or teased. And I think it's advice I would pass on to to others too. I was always told the things someone chooses to pick on you for or single you out on will actually become the very same things that someone else will cherish in you or love about you. And these things make you a more complete person.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD?
I have loved working on Waterloo Road. It is a great bunch of people and the new cast who have joined this series have fitted in perfectly. I have had a few giggles - there was one scene where Nick Sidi, who plays Roger, and I had to walk down a long corridor in front of the camera. We just couldn't do it with out corpsing. I don't know what we were laughing at - but we just couldn't stop, I think we got told off for that. It's a good show because we film most of it at the school so we've all really bonded - I think and I hope this shows on screen too.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE THIS SERIES?
I have really enjoyed the storyline where Andrew mentors a student teacher. The student is an ex-policeman who has decided to come to Waterloo Road to train as a teacher's assistant. I think when the assistant arrives it suddenly highlights Andrew's strengths and I hope lifts the veil on public perception of Andrew. It is all down to the discipline area of being a teacher as Andrew believes in strict discipline to benefit and allow a child to flourish. And I think the student teacher thinks this is the same as what he is knows. But there is a difference. As this ex-policeman, Russell, is used to controlling large groups of people by force, so when the power of force is taken away - he flounders. I think it is then apparent just how sensitive Andrew's hands are. He does look after the pupils and doesn't tell people off for the sake of it. Andrew uses encouragement rather than force.

WHAT DID YOU DO BETWEEN SERIES?
Between filming series one and two I directed a play at RADA and I was in an episode of Midsomer Murders. I played an enigmatic baddy! It was a nice job - a couple of weeks - not a massive part but fun to do all the same.

YOU'RE A NEW FATHER - HOW IS ITGOING?
It's going well - my daughter Edie is adorable, she is now six months old and my life has completely changed - it's been tipped upside down - inside out but all in the best possible way.

HAS HAVING A CHILD OPENED YOU EYES MORE TO EDUCATION?
To be honest it does still seem a long way off so I've not thought about it in relation to Edie. But when the time comes I do want the state and us to get it right.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS LINED UP AFTER WATERLOO ROAD HAS FINISHED FILMING?
Well hopefully we will move on to filming Series 3. I also have a project I'm trying to get off the ground that I will direct.

IF YOU WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE ONE PROP FROM THE SET TO REMIND YOU OF WATERLOO ROAD WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?
If I could take one thing of Andrew's as a souvenir I think I would take his metal armbands. You don't see them very often but Andrew wears metal armbands to keep his shirt sleeve from slipping. I feel like Andrew the minute I put those on.

WATERLOO ROAD IS FILMED IN ROCHDALE NEAR MANCHESTER, ARE YOU ENJOYING LIVING AND WORKING AROUND MANCHESTER?
I am really enjoying being up in Manchester as it's a great city. Everything in Manchester is on your doorstep and it has a real vibe and a pulse. I think what is also great about Manchester is the inhabitants are all proud of their city and this positive attitude can't fail but rub off on you. It's still not home for me but it's a great place to be.

HAVE YOU MANAGED TO SEE MUCH OF THE LOCAL AREA - IF SO WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED?
Unfortunately due to our filming schedule I've not managed to see a lot of the local area. I have been to Crosby beach and seen the Iron Men - that is amazing really fantastic.

HAVE YOU SEEN ANY CULTURE/THEATRE/ART WHILST UP IN THE NORTH WEST?
Whilst I have been up in the North West I have been to the Royal Exchange, The cinema and the Manchester Art Gallery. There is a massive amount of stuff going on in Manchester.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MANCHESTER LOCAL RESTAURANT OR BAR.
I like Samsi which is a Japanese restaurant on Whitworth Street. I like a bar called Tribeca as it has a great atmosphere. It I'm trying to get away from the noise and bustle of the city. I like running along the canal as it's amazing how quickly you can be out of the city centre.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
I like running and watching football in my spare time.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?
Running and I do occasionally do a bit at the gym, but not much.

DO YOU HAVE ANY LONG TERM GOALS FOR ANDREW?
I think Andrew would like to continue with what he is doing as he and Jack have made a difference to Waterloo Road. I think Andrew would eventually like to be Head but he wouldn't want to stab Jack in the back so would be quite happy being Head somewhere else.

DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS?
I would like to do more TV. And I would like to direct.