Actress Savannah Kunyo played Eliza Woodrow on the cobbles until 2024 when she quit alongside her on-screen grandfather Bill Fellows.

Now she’s landed a huge role in the school-set drama as one of headteacher Stella Drake’s granddaughters.

And her storyline is set to be a heartbreaking one as her character Hope Drake suffers an allergic reaction at school.

She will experience anaphylaxis at the school and her ordeal is set to raise awareness about food allergies.

The soap has worked with The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation for the hard-hitting storyline.

In the aftermath of it, staff and other pupils will be forced to confront the realities of food allergies.

It will explore the need for a prompt emergency response for anyone suffering from anaphylaxis.

The soaps executive producer Cameron Roach said: “We’re so grateful for the support and guidance from the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation as we wrote the storylines around raising awareness of food allergies in the school environment.

“As with many stories in Waterloo Road, the show can be an amazing vehicle to raise issues that young people and families face.”

The founder of The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation Tanya Ednan-Laperouse lost her own 15-year-old daughter Natasha when she died from a food allergy.

She said that the number of allergy diagnoses in children are on the rise.

Tanya added: “The growing number of children with diagnosed food allergies in schools means that food allergies are a significant issue in the classroom.

“We are delighted that Waterloo Road chose to highlight the issues and challenges around keeping pupils with food allergies safe in school.

“We hope this storyline will help raise awareness that food allergies are not a lifestyle choice but a serious medical condition.”