Waterloo Road star Adam Thomas' niece is set to play his daughter when the school drama makes its comeback later this year.

Scarlett Thomas is the daughter of Coronation Street stars Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas, Adam's brother, and this will be her debut starring TV role.

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Her mum O'Brien has also previously appeared in Waterloo Road, which is due to be revived after seven years off air.

Adam, who is also known for having starred in Emmerdale and is set to return to his role as Dante Charles in Waterloo Road, told BBC One's Morning Live: "Dante and Chlo had a little baby called Izzy many moons ago and she’s now grown up and my little niece gets to play her.

"My brother’s daughter gets to play my on-screen daughter."

He warned that his niece is a “triple threat” after seeing her audition tape for the role of Izzy Charles, saying: "She can sing, she can act, she can dance. She’s amazing, she’s absolutely amazing."

Katie Griffiths is returning as Donte's wife Chlo Charles and Angela Griffiths is also back as Kim Campbell who has been promoted to headteacher.

Morning Live presenter Kym Marsh will appear as a canteen worker.

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The young pupil cast announced alongside Scarlett includes Adam Abbou (Time) as Danny Lewis, Priyasasha Kumari (You Don’t Know Me) playing Samia Choudhry, Noah Valentine (The Bay) as Preston Walters, Adam Ali (Little America) as Kai Sharif, Liam Scholes (Coronation Street) as Noel McManus and Lucy Eleanor Begg as Caz Williams.

Waterloo Road originally ran from 2006 to 2015 at the BBC and its stars included Denise Welch and Laurie Brett, with Rege-Jean Page, Phoebe Dynevor and Chelsee Healey getting their early breaks on the show.

The later series of its first run saw the school it is set in relocate from Rochdale to Greenock in Scotland, although this new series is back in the North West.

It began filming in Manchester today (Monday) and is expected back on screens later this year.

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