3AM's Clemmie Moodie goes back to school at Waterloo Road

3AM's Clemmie Moodie goes back to school at Waterloo Road

Adjusting my slightly itchy, polyester tie and secretly plastering on another layer of mascara, I am instantly transported back 15 years.

With the unmistakable waft of teenage hormones â€" and what smells suspiciously like Lynx Africa â€" I am back at school... at one of the most famous comprehensives in the land: Waterloo Road.

Back in 1998, I was desperately trying to look cool, sexy and older than 15. And probably hoping to snog a boy.

This time around, I’m doing everything possible to reverse the cruel ravages of time. And an attempt to snog a pupil would see me added to some register.

So with the return of this hugely popular British drama â€" now in its ninth series â€" I was delighted at the prospect of landing a cameo role. I pondered as I strolled on to set: Perhaps I would be playing a strict-but-fair, very attractive teacher. Or a young, very young, parent?

Minutes later, I am clutching a cheap, slightly see-through white shirt an d a Waterloo Road-embossed tie. This is not what I had in mind.

Clemmie dusts off her school uniform

 

“If you can quickly slip into these things, we’ll get you off to the SA area,” says costume supervisor Angela Robertson.

SA, or Supporting Artist, is what I’m to be for the day. In other words, a schoolgirl.

“Don’t worry,” she adds, seeing my look of horror. “Lots of the SAs are old, we have a 24-year-old schoolboy.”

But I’m 31. The prospect of spending 12 hours interacting with a bunch of teenagers does not fill me with relish.

Nonetheless, off I am packed, clad in my ill-fitting uniform, to meet my fellow pupils.

Walking into the holding area â€" a disused classroom â€" I really do feel like the new kid at school. There are whispers as around 15 youths, with varying levels of spotty complexions, stare at me. None looks particularly enamoured with their latest addition to the classroom.

“Hello,” I beam, waving two-handedly like a lo on. “I’m the new girl.” There is silence. I am mortified. Quickly I shuffle to an empty seat and plonk myself down.

Still no one talks to me.

Clemmie takes a tour of the classroom

 

Three painful minutes pass in which I self-consciously fiddle with my iPhone and pretend to be totally cool with being totally ignored.

Eventually, a kindly lad takes pity on me. Christopher Dixon, 17, wanders over to introduce himself and offer advice.

Having worked on the hit BBC1 show for 18 months, he knows what he is talking about.

Inspired by his time on the series, he now wants to be an actor and has just landed a drama school place. The days are long,” he explains. “We do at least 12 hours and it is hard work. But it’s good fun and brilliant experience if you want to get into the industry.

“It has been a really good grounding. I thought we wouldn’t be allowed to talk to the cast or make eye contact but often they come up and talk to us.

“My advice to you today is, ‘Don’t stare at the camera and try no t to trip up or fall over’.” Which is easier said than done. My first scene involves me playing a background pupil in deputy head Nikki Boston’s English class.

Having studied English at university, I am quietly confident.

It turns out a dissertation on Thomas Hardy does not translate into a natural acting ability.

With a huge camera to my right, and eight members of production and crew crammed into the set classroom, it takes seven attempts to get the two-minute scene correct.

Nikki, played by the talented Heather Peace, effortlessly nails her delivery every time, as do main pupil protagonists Carl Au and Abby Mavers, who play Barry Barry and his sister Dynasty.

Us SAs, however, not so much.

Hanging out in the hall

 

“Oi, blonde girl at the front,” barks an assistant producer. “Stoop a bit more â€" your head is in shot.”

I am devastated. Another SA looks similarly mortified after mistakenly dropping her textbooks when the lunch bell rings, meaning the scene has to be re-shot once again.

“We often have to pretend to chat in the background,” explains Christopher. “And though it looks easy, it’s not. You feel very awkward and self-conscious at first.

“But the key is to be really animated and hyper, and just mime a load of nonsense. You quickly get used to it.”

Filmed in Glasgow â€" part of the BBC’s relocation scheme â€" this series kicks off for a new term with ­Christine Mul­­­grew, played by former EastEnder Laurie Brett, as acting headmis-tress. With naughty new pupils, which include me, and troublesome debutante teachers â€" including Simon Lowsley, played by Richard Mylan, and George Windsor, played by Angus Deayton â€" the new ser ies will again be a mix of serious issues and lighthearted adventures.

Attracting more than four million viewers per episode, the hit BBC1 show has tackled issues such as gender identity, teenage abortion and child abuse.

But it remains a prime-time family drama and the third most watched show of all time on iPlayer.

While most teens spend their holidays working in McDonald’s or strawberry picking, thousands of Scottish youngsters auditioned for an SA role. The term “extra” is no longer PC, apparently.

Kim Stewart, supporting guests co-ordinator, says: “It was a bit like The X Factor for this series.

“Hundreds of kids were queuing around the block, waiting to get seen. It’s a long day but much more fun than what they might otherwise be doing.”

Getting some extra help?

 

Starting at 7am sharp, filming takes place 40 minutes out of Glasgow, in the former Greenock Academy. At 12.30pm, everyone is given an hour off for lunch before filming wraps at gone 7pm. Paid £60 a day, SAs film for 23 continuous days. And on any one day, parts of four episodes are shot.

Anyway, back to my afternoon’s work.

I was told to stand against a wall and flirt suggestively with Waterloo Road’s bad-boy Barry Barry. I froze.

WHEN asked to look all coy and winsome, I appear as if I’ve been injected with horse tranquilliser. Carl Au, positively ancient at 26, tries to help me.

“You’re doing just fine,” he lies. “Follow my lead and forget about the cameras.”

Carl is positively brooding. He smiles and whispers sweet nothings into my ear. I am convinced he fancies me.

Seconds later, I find myself stroking his tie, flicking my hair and giggling, well, like a schoolgirl.

“And that’s a wrap!” someone bellows .

With that, Carl is off, barely giving me a backward glance. Oh. I suppose this is what they call “acting”.

3 The new series of Waterloo Road airs on Thursdays on BBC1, 8pm.