DESCRIBE MATT AND HIS ROLE AT WATERLOO ROAD:
He's the new drama and music teacher. He uses his enthusiasm and love for drama to good use by putting on a musical at the school in order to inspire the kids... hard as it may be.

WHAT SORT OF A TEACHER IS MATT?
He's a very caring, supportive passionate teacher who really wants to get the best out of his students. He tries to be on a level with the students so they can work together as a team, rather than a typical 'teacher/student' relationship.

WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE MATT?
Ambitious, caring and (a tad) melodramatic.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT MATT?
I like the fact that he's set himself on a near impossible task of writing, directing and producing a musical, practically single-handed, and despite several hurdles, he keeps going.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE LEAST ABOUT MATT?
Sometimes his over ambitiousness can lead to him losing perspective. He cares so much that sometimes it is 'too' much.

WOULD YOU LIKE MATT IF YOU MET HIM?
I think so. He talks too much though. If we could have a beer without him banging on about musicals all the time then I reckon he'd be quite cool. He's not really chilled out enough for me.

HOW SIMILAR OR DIFFERENT TO MATT ARE YOU?
We both think a lot. Twenty-six years and I still haven't worked out whether that's a good thing or not. I'm very open about myself though and Matt really keeps himself to himself.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE THEME OF INCLUSION IN THIS SERIES, SHOULD PUPILS WITH DIFFERENT NEEDS AND ABILITIES BE EDUCATED WITHIN THE MAINSTREAM SYSTEM?
Absolutely. I think it's important to integrate people with different needs and abilities into the mainstream system.

DO YOU THINK IT IS IMPORTANT FOR TELEVISION PROGRAMMES TO ILLUSTRATE THESE ISSUES, ESPECIALLY WITHIN EDUCATION?
The more people are made aware of these issues, the more understanding and co-operative they become. TV is probably one of the most effective ways of getting this message across.

DOES MATT HAVE A LOVE INTEREST?
He has a long-term partner, Colin, who features throughout the series.

WHICH CHARACTER AT WATERLOO ROAD DOES MATT RELATE BEST TO?
Definitely Steph. The helter-skelter friendship of Steph and Matt... I love it!

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON ARRIVING AT THE WATERLOO ROAD SET?
Like I was straight back at school. The canteen is almost identical to the one at my old school. It's a big old place.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PROFESSIONAL ACTING ROLE?
I was lucky enough to join the RSC in a very small part in 'All's Well that Ends Well' with Judi Dench. I couldn't believe my luck!

WHAT ROLE ARE YOU BEST KNOWN FOR?
I did a film last year called 'Blood and Chocolate' in which I played a Werewolf (ha,ha). Apart from that probably I'm known as the guy walking stupidly fast down a road in the commercial launch for 'Coke Zero'.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORYLINE COMING UP?
The musical.

WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT RECORDING WATERLOO ROAD?
The people. Everyone is so talented. Working with Denise, she's an incredible actress to learn from.

WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO DO AFTER FINISHING FILMING THE SERIES?
I'm going to Las Vegas with my Dad and best friend. Bring it on!

HAVE YOU ANY LONG TERM GOALS OR AMBITIONS FOR THE FUTURE?
Want to keep learning and doing as much as I can. Then there's James Bond 2017...

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND BROUGHT UP?
Born in Cambridge but brought up in and around Winchester in Hampshire. I've also lived in Hong Kong and America.

WHERE DO YOU LIVE NOW?
Wonderful Putney, south west London. Huge amounts of love to the W.A.P... they know who they are.

IF YOU WERE ALLOWED TO TAKE ONE PROP TO REMIND YOU OF WATERLOO ROAD WHAT WOULD YOU TAKE?
There's a figure of a triangular cat that sits in my drama room. We try to get him in the back of shot as much as possible!

WATERLOO ROAD IS FILMED IN ROCHDALE NEAR MANCHESTER, ARE YOU ENJOYING LIVING AND WORKING AROUND MANCHESTER?
What an amazing city! The people are lovely, the restaurants are wicked and the shopping is awesome.

HAVE YOU MANAGED TO SEE MUCH OF THE LOCAL AREA?
The weekends are sacred so I try to do as much as I can.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL?
We go to the wonderful 'Ox' all the time but have started to go further out when the weather is better.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Going back to London. It's like Big Brother up here and you have to evict yourself every so often to stay in touch with reality.

HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?
I go to the gym four times a week. And there's always badminton with Jason Done (Tom)... He didn't win the last game by the way... whatever he says.