Helen Hopewell

Helen Hopewell
Waterloo Road character
Portrayed by	Vinette Robinson
Duration	2009—
First appearance	5x01
Last appearance	5x08
Created by	Ann McManus & Maureen Chadwick
In-universe information Occupation English Teacher

Helen Hopewell was a fictional character in the popular BBC television drama series Waterloo Road. She is portrayed by Vinette Robinson.

Series 5

As a newly qualified teacher, Helen is thrown in at the deep end on her first day at Waterloo Road. Not much older than the pupils, she finds it difficult to assert her authority. Appalled by the lack of respect and rules, Helen causes friction during class when it appears she is favouring the newly arrived John Fosters pupils over the Waterloo Road ones, an act that does not go down well with bully Michaela White. When Michaela and fellow newcomer Lindsey James come to blows, Helen is visibly incapable of handling the situation. She is later criticized by Tom Clarkson for her lack of progression and is given a warning by Rachel Mason. On discovering a vicious note left on the back of the door after one of her classes later in the day, Helen becomes more and more disturbed by the prospect of working at Waterloo Road and falls down the stairs. When questioned in the ambulance about the accident by Max Tyler, she denies falling and claims she had been pushed by Michaela, and demands action be taken to sort out the school. As Tom and Rachel before, Max questions Helen's capabilities as a teacher but is quickly forced to re-think when Helen reassures him she can prove how “special” she once was to him.

By the end of episode 5, Helen is tired of the way Max is treating her, and demands respect after presenting him with a DVD, seemingly proof of their former relationship. After snapping the DVD in half, Helen informs Max that there's "plenty more copies where that came from" and returns back inside. Max is left in a vulnerable position with after also spending the day trying to keep his other lover, Kim Campbell out of the way of his wife who just so happens to be the local LEA troubleshooter.

External links

• Helen Hopewell at Waterloo Road