Alec Newman
On 30 May 2011, it was announced that Newman had joined the cast of the BBC One school-based drama series Waterloo Road in the role of the new head teacher, Michael Byrne. He completed series 7 and 8 as the character, departing the show in June 2013, after the school was handed over to the council in a show storyline, leading to Newman's character to step down as head teacher.