WHAT HAPPENED TO GRANTLY AT THE END OF LAST SERIES?
Grantly was surprised Waterloo Road against all odds stayed open - and even more surprised he retained his job.

DO YOU THINK GRANTLY HAS CHANGED AT ALL, AND IF SO, HOW AND WHY?
Grantly is a little more careful where, when and to whom he grumbles as he's not popular with senior management. They are looking for any excuse to sack him.

GIVE A DESCRIPTION OF GRANTLY BUDGEN?
Grantly is looking forward to retirement. He is Head of English at Waterloo Road. He does not hold a degree and is suspicious of the new teaching methods implemented by new deputy Andrew Treneman. He is hanging on to his job by a thread as the new investor is desperate to have him sacked.

DESCRIBE YOUR CHARACTER IN 3 WORDS:
Cynical, disillusioned and sarcastic.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT GRANTLY?
He is an educational dinosaur who cares little for his pupils.

WHAT ARE GRANTLY'S LIFE VALUES AND DO THESE DIFFER FROM YOUR OWN?
Grantly takes as much as possible with as little effort as possible, which is not like me at all.

HOW ARE YOU SIMILAR TO GRANTLY?
I have the same sense of humour but that is all I hope.

WHICH OTHER CHARACTER DOES GRANTLY RELATE TO BEST?
Steph or Tom.

DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD MAKE A GOOD TEACHER?
I have been told I am a good teacher, I have done supply teaching before.

WATERLOO ROAD HAS A NEW INVESTOR THIS SERIES. HOW DOES GRANTLY GET ALONG WITH HIM?
He can not abide "Roger the Bodger". The boy who couldn't sting a sentence together and now he walks in flashing his cash. He should leave education to educationalists.

WHY DO YOU THINK GRANTLY IS OPPOSED TO THE IDEA OF AN INVESTMENT-BACKED SCHOOL?
A school should be a place of learning and not a means of self promotion for an individual. Education is not a business: It should not and can not be run like one.

DO GRANTLY'S STRONG OPINIONS IN REGARDS TO EDUCATION GET HIM IN TROUBLE THIS SERIES?
Aspinall wants revenge for the way Grantly treated him as a child at the school. Aspinaall and Treneman both want Grantly out; one for revenge and one for altruistic idealism.

BULLYING IS AN ISSUE THIS SERIES. IS GRANTLY INVOLVED?
Unfortunately Grantly doesn't get much opportunity to bully this time.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD TO GIVE ADVICE IN REGARDS TO BULLYING?
As a parent I have told my children to A. stand up to the bully and B. Tell someone.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD?
The camaraderie with the cast and crew.

WHY DO YOU THINK GRANTLY IS SUCH A BULLY?
Grantly has an old school approach. Run the classroom through fear. Nothing will get him to change to any new fangled, wish washy liberal approaches.

DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TELEVISION PROGRAMS TO ILLUSTRATE ISSUES?
I think it may be helpful to school students who can identify with the characters they see and realise that they aren't the only ones with teenage problems.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE THIS SERIES?
I don't have a favourite as they are all cracking.

WHAT DID YOU DO BETWEEN SERIES?
I had an operation on my foot which took an age to recover from and walk again.

DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER PROJECTS LINED UP AFTER WATERLOO ROAD HAS FINISHED FILMING?
I hope to go to Australia in January.

IF YOU HAVE KIDS OF YOUR OWN - DO YOU TAKE A KEEN INTEREST IN THEIR EDUCATION?
Yes.

HOW DO YOU KEEP IN SHAPE NOWADAYS?
I have a motto when it comes to exercise; "no pain - no pain."

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Manchester, Carlisle, Barrow-In-Furness and Blackpool. My dad was a clergyman and moved a lot.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Kent.

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF ARRIVING AT THE WATERLOO ROAD SET?
The set is excellent. It is, in fact, a disused school which adds to the authenticity.

ARE THE CLASSROOMS AND CORRIDORS OF WATERLOO ROAD THE SAME AS WHEN YOU WERE AT SCHOOL?
They have changed I think. My old school was a Victorian, unwelcoming building.

DO YOU SEE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN WATERLOO ROAD AND A SCHOOL YOU KNOW OR ATTENDED?
Yes, the detail is excellent in terms of notices, staffroom, furniture etc.

DESCRIBE THE STAFF ROOM AT WATERLOO ROAD?
Organised chaos - typical.

DO YOU THINK WATERLOO ROAD IS A REALISTIC PORTRAYAL OF A SCHOOL?
Of some schools, yes it is.

HAVE YOU BEEN TO ROCHDALE BEFORE?
No.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
My first TV role was Sam Potter in "A Horseman Riding By".

DO YOU SUPPORT A FOOTBALL TEAM?
Manchester United.

HAVE YOU ANY LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
To keep doing the best work I can.