Jon Richardson had pretended that he was stepping away from comedy to be a teacher, but it turns out that he meant he was joining the 16th series of Waterloo Road
Jon Richardson is joining Waterloo Road, after teasing that he was quitting comedy to be a teacher.
The 8 Out Of 10 Cats star had stunned fans when he posted a message on Instagram saying that he was stepping back from comedy and planned to head into the classroom to pursue a teaching career. Fans had been wondering if it was an early April Fools’ Day joke, and it has now been confirmed that while he will be a teacher, it will actually be on the BBC school series.
Jon will join the show’s upcoming 16th series. However, so far there is no word on the character he will play in the Manchester-set drama.
In his Instagram video, Jon had said he’d been taking a little bit of a break from stand-up. The 42-year-old said it had “really made me want to carry on taking a break from stand-up”.
He told fans that he had discovered an old diary entry from when he was 14, in which he said he would love to be a comedian but would probably be a teacher. “I’ve been thinking a lot about that,” Jon said.
“I’ve loved being a comedian, it was absolutely the right choice. But I’ve decided it would’ve been nice to try the other option, so that’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” he went on.
The star said that he had been training and that he had “taken a teaching position”. “I will update you as and when I can,” he added.
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Speaking after his Waterloo Road role was confirmed, Jon said: “I would say that joining Waterloo Road is a dream come true, but in truth most of my dreams about school revolve around not having done my homework or put on my uniform.
“I wanted to be a teacher growing up so hopefully this role will put all those ambitions to bed, and I can stop telling my friends and family that I will be testing them on what I’ve been saying or telling audiences on tour that it’s their own time they’re wasting.”
The show’s executive producer Cameron Roach said: “Waterloo Road always strives to strike the right balance between big emotion and comedy, and we feel we’ve struck gold in casting Jon Richardson as a new media studies teacher at Waterloo Road. Not only does Jon have brilliant comic timing, his dramatic performance will surprise and delight his fans in equal measure. Next term promises laughter, tears and whole lot of mayhem.”
Jon will join the cast alongside Lindsey Coulson, who plays head Dame Stella Drake. The new series will also see the return of Jason Merrells.
His alter ego Jack Rimmer became head of Waterloo Road in the drama’s first ever series, appearing in the show from 2006 to 2008. He reprised the role in the latest series, and it has been confirmed that he will be back as a regular main cast member in season 16.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
