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 | ||||
| |||||
Helen Hopewell is a fictional character in the popular BBC television drama series Waterloo Road. She is portrayed by Vinette Robinson.[1]
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.
In episode 8, it's inspection day and Helen is overcome with fear. Resorting to foul play, she pays student Amy Porter to keep the class quiet for the inspection - this happens, and she passes. However, things take a turn for the worse when Amy suggests that they make it a regular payment, and Helen denies her this. Amy reports Helen to Rachel who subsequently tries to suspend Helen as she feels her "hands are tied", but Max stops her. This is all just an act however, as when Chris reveals to Max that he realises he only gave Helen the job at John Foster's because they were sleeping together, Max tries to convince Helen to leave Waterloo Road. She refuses however, saying he feels his reputation is more important than anything else and reminds him of the DVD evidence of their school trip tryst. Subtly giving her one more chance, Helen teaches a PSHE cover lesson. Amy Porter kicks off, saying that Helen is " a rubbish teacher and she knows it". Things take a turn for the worse, though, when Helen breaks down in front of the class. They all rally round her though and turn against Amy. Escaping the classroom, she shouts at Tom and Rachel that she is leaving and not coming back. On her way out, Max sees her. She gives him one last cold glance before walking away from Waterloo Road forever.
References
- ^ BBC Press Office."Waterloo Road returns to BBC One".