After breaking hearts in a tragic cancer storyline, former Hollyoaks star Niamh Blackshaw is bringing her acting talents to another popular show.
It has been revealed the 26-year-old star – who played Juliet Nightingale on the Channel 4 soap – is joining the cast of Waterloo Road.
While Niamh’s casting has not been officially announced, The Sun reports it was leaked by a director on Instagram, who tagged her in pictures of clapperboards taken on set while filming the new series.
Niamh left Hollyoaks in 2023 after five years in the role of Juliet, who died following a terminal cancer diagnosis.
The actress – who is in a real-life relationship with former Hollyoaks co-star Angus Castle-Doughty, aka Eric Foster – has since appeared in hit BBC drama The Jetty as Rosie.
Niamh previously spoke of how she had ‘complicated’ feelings about her Hollyoaks exit.
She told Metro.co.uk last year: ‘I was very open to options as to how I would leave the show, and this exit felt like a very powerful, finite story that I was excited to do.
‘But obviously I love the character deeply and I’m upset for her – we have all once in our lives grieved a fictional character!’
She continued: ‘I’m happy to have seen her through to the end. I believe in chapters, I think they’re so important.
‘Of course, there’s a lot that I will miss and I’m very grateful for everything I have experienced.’
Niamh is one of a number of new faces appearing in the new series of Waterloo Road alongside new headteacher Steve Savage (Jason Manford) and maths teacher Nisha Chandra (Saira Choudhry).
It was previously announced that Nathan Wood has joined as loudmouth Boz Osbourne, Matthew Khan (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) plays charming Jared Jones, while Danny Murphy (The Parts You Lose) has taken on the role of Luca Smith, a bright new pupil who is deaf.
Sonya Nisa (Damsel) and Miya Ocego (Wreck) have also joined as Aleena Quereshi and Lois Taylor-Brown, who are art of Stace Neville’s crew.
Waterloo Road airs on Tuesdays at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
