SCHOOL may be out for Greenock-based TV drama Waterloo Road but one of its main new actors says he has a lot to thank Inverclyde for.

Teenage actor Max Bowden will be unknown to many but he is set to shake things up as pupil Justin Fitzgerald when the show returns around October.

He will star as the son of new head teacher Vaughan Fitzgerald, played by Neil Pearson of Drop the Dead Donkey fame.

Waterloo Road is the first big break for the 19-year-old from Surrey, who got the part straight out of college.

With filming now complete, Max says he’s savoured every moment of his time in Inverclyde and on set at the former Greenock Academy on Madeira Street.

He said: “I got offered the job and shipped my whole life up to Greenock and started working here.

“I’ve absolutely loved it.

“I love it here. Everybody is incredibly friendly. I’m from London way and it’s a very different atmosphere — it’s quieter here, but the scenery and the general population around Greenock are very friendly and welcoming.

“I’ve loved it and probably would come here again.

“I’m upset it’s ending because it’s been my first job and I’ve met some great people but it’s going out with a bang and I’m happy to see it go like this.” Max arrived in Greenock a year ago and has spent the best part of that time working hard with the rest of the cast and crew to make sure Waterloo Road goes out on a high in series 10, the last instalment of the programme due on screen next year.

Before that, the final episodes of series nine will be aired later this year.

The talented young actor says it was a strange feeling as filming ended just over a week ago, pictured.

He said: “In the last 24 hours of filming everybody was a bit glum.

“Some people were not really ready for it to go.

“It’s been a great show and I’m sad to see it come to an end but everything has its day.” Max thinks that Inverclyde has truly put itself on the TV map after being such a fabulous home for a top BBC drama.

He said: “It’s such a beautiful place for scenery, especially for location shoots.

“There’s so many options that you have here so I could definitely see something else coming here again.”