Class of his own!

As Waterloo Road returns, comedian Jon Richardson joins as a teacher struggling with his demons...

- NATASHA HOLT, VICTORIA WILSON.

You join Waterloo Road as media-studies teacher Darius Donovan. What's it like joining an established cast?

I found an old diary entry where, aged 15, I'd written, 'I'd love to be a comedian, but I'll probably end up being a teacher.' My first day was the most scared I've been since I started doing stand-up, but Lindsey Coulson [who plays head Stella Drake], Jason Merrells [school counsellor Jack Rimmer], Adam Thomas [caretaker Donte] and others were so kind. It's been like warming up for five-a-side and getting into the England team!

What can you tell us about Darius?