Linsey Coulson, best known for her role as Carol Jackson in EastEnders, returns to the BBC tonight as the new headteacher in school drama Waterloo Road

Waterloo Road returns to our screens tonight with a whole host of new faces joining the cast of the school drama.

Among them is new headteacher Dame Stella Drake, played by Lindsey Coulson.

The 64-year-old actress, best known for her portrayal of Carol Jackson on the BBC soap opera EastEnders, is also known for roles including Cheryl in Manchild, DC Rosie McManus in Murder Investigation Team and DCI Sarah Tanner in Bulletproof.

Away from her long career, Lindsey has been married twice.

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Her first husband was the showbusiness agent Philip Chard, and the couple share a daughter together.

They tied the knot in 1989 and divorced in 1996 – the same year tabloids claimed they had uncovered an alleged affair between her and EastEnders co-star Michael French, who played David Wicks on the BBC soap.

Lindsey spoke out two years later, slamming the reports as ‘nonsense’.

She said at the time: “Because our characters had an affair, they tried to make it a real life one and that was nonsense.

“He was a really good friend and we started on the show at the same time.

“Apparently two people of the opposite sex can’t go out together without it being an affair, which is a shame”.

Following her split from Philip, Lindsey began dating Harry Harris, the brother of Patsy Palmer, who played her daughter Bianca in EastEnders.

They walked down the aisle in 2002. Speaking about her 23 year marriage to Harry, she told Good Housekeeping: “I think I love him more now than I did when I met him – just in terms of having grown really well together.

“It’s not hard work, although relationships can be. I was lucky enough to meet somebody who’s on the same page as me.”

The first episode of the new series of Waterloo Road airs on Tuesday, February 11 on BBC One at 9pm.