Waterloo Road star Melanie Hill has revealed how settling down in Scotland has made life on the school-set drama better than ever.
Filming on the BBC One series back for a new run this week moved to Greenock almost a year ago.
Melanie plays regular character Maggie and says she’s put down roots north of the border with long-time writer partner James Daly.
“I absolutely love it,” Melanie, who has two grown-up daughters from her marriage to Sean Bean, told The Sunday Post.
“My kids are in London and I was trying to go home at weekends. But now I’ve settled mentally and I’ve not been back since the start of this filming block.
“If I get a couple of days off now I travel and see more of the country.
“We’re living in the West End of Glasgow and it’s just brilliant.
“What’s not to love?”
The couple have been clocking up the miles on sightseeing trips visiting everywhere from Stranraer up to the north of Scotland.
“My favourite place has to be Oban,” reveals Melanie.
“There was a whale in the bay when we were there. We sat watching for hours we were worried it was going to beach itself, but it got away.
“It’s just such a brilliant place. And because I’m from the north east I can nip to Newcastle and Sunderland more easily than from London.
“So I’m feeling very blessed at the moment.”
There’s drama right from the show’s return with Maggie’s teacher husband Grantly, played by Philip Martin Brown, being taken to hospital where it’s found he needs a kidney transplant.
He wants to keep it a secret but the need to find a donor makes it very public.
“It’s a very topical subject with the big increase in organ donation,” says Melanie. “Maggie’s tested to see whether she could be a living donor.
“Personally I wouldn’t do it, I wouldn’t feel brave enough.
“But while we were filming all this I saw a documentary about a guy who was a living donor to a complete stranger.
“It made me think what a selfless act that was.
“I think it’s so important that everyone carries a donor card.”
And Melanie says Waterloo Road fans are in for an anxious time as they watch the donor hunt unfold.
“Philip and I normally have a lot of fun but this has been emotional,” adds Melanie.
Waterloo Road, BBC 1, Thursday, 8pm
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