Ryan Thomas is brimming with pride as his daughter Scarlett

Ryan Thomas is brimming with pride as his daughter Scarlett, 14, makes her acting debut on Waterloo Road

Ryan Thomas is brimming with pride as his daughter Scarlett, 14, makes her acting debut on Waterloo Road as the BBC show returns after an eight-year hiatus

Waterloo Road was back on our screens on Tuesday night and Ryan Thomas was proud as hell as he watched his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett make her acting debut.

The teenager has acting in her blood as her mother is Tina O’Brien from Coronation Street and Ryan, 38, also rose to fame from the soap opera.

But now Scarlett is stepping out of her parents’ shadow and playing a starring role in the redesign of Waterloo Road, which is returning to the BBC after an eight-year hiatus.

Runs in the family: Waterloo Road was back on our screens on Tuesday night and Ryan Thomas was proud as a punch as he watched his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett make her acting debut

Runs in the family: Waterloo Road was back on our screens on Tuesday night and Ryan Thomas was proud as a punch as he watched his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett make her acting debut

Ryan said on Instagram ahead of the show: “What a time to be alive. Tonight, BBC One, 8pm, Waterloo Road, my little brother Adam, my little nephew Teddy and my eldest daughter Scarlett will take over the television screen together as a family.

“Speak of a proud moment for the Thomases! Wow. I can’t wait for you to see it. We watched it together as a family.

The episode ended with heartbreak for Scarlett’s character, Izzie, after her mother, Chloe, died dramatically after being hit by a car.

Excited: The teenager has acting in her blood as her mum is Tina O'Brien from Coronation Street, with Ryan, 38, also starring in the soap.  The actor took to Instagram ahead of the show

Excited: The teenager has acting in her blood as her mum is Tina O’Brien from Coronation Street, with Ryan, 38, also starring in the soap. The actor took to Instagram ahead of the show

After initially appearing to be fine, Chloe, played by Katie Griffiths, took the worst and collapsed on the kitchen floor before being rushed to the hospital, but it was too late.

The show is a complete family affair, as Scarlett plays her uncle Adam’s daughter, while Adam’s seven-year-old son Teddy, whom he shares with his wife Caroline Thomas, also stars.

Adam returns to his role of Donte Charles on the school series this summer after a 15-year hiatus from the show.

Family: Donte and his on-screen wife Chloe had a baby named Izzie on the show years ago and now she's grown and performing with Adam's son Teddy also being part of the family

Family: Donte and his on-screen wife Chloe had a baby named Izzie on the show years ago and now she’s grown and performing with Adam’s son Teddy also being part of the family

Tragic: Scarlett plays her uncle Adam's daughter on screen.  The episode ended in grief for Scarlett's character, Izzi, after her mother died dramatically

Tragic: Scarlett plays her uncle Adam’s daughter on screen. The episode ended in grief for Scarlett’s character, Izzi, after her mother died dramatically

Donte and his on-screen wife Chloe had a baby named Izzie years ago on the show and now she’s all grown and performing – played by Scarlett.

The show, which was set for secondary school, first aired in 2006 and won legions of fans by tackling numerous difficult issues throughout its 200 episodes.

Now it will address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on school children.

Written by the creators of ITV prison drama Bad Girls, the gritty show was originally set in Rochdale but the series was later relocated to Greenock, Scotland.

The new episodes will again be set in Greater Manchester.

Adam made the adorable announcement about Scarlett, the child of Coronation Street’s Ryan and his former co-star Tina O’Brien during the BBC’s Morning Live programme.

Big break: Scarlett is stepping out of her parents' shadow to have a starring role in the redesign of Waterloo Road, which returned to the BBC after an eight-year hiatus.

Big break: Scarlett is stepping out of her parents’ shadow to have a starring role in the redesign of Waterloo Road, which returned to the BBC after an eight-year hiatus.

Full of joy, the proud uncle began: “I can’t believe I’m actually saying that. I feel like I work for Marvel, I can never say too much about what’s going on…

“But what I can tell you is that my little niece, Scarlett Thomas, will be joining the cast of ‘Waterloo Road.’ She doesn’t know yet, so congratulations Scarlett.

‘Just kidding. She’s playing my daughter, I really don’t know how that’s going to be.

In addition to Scarlett, Ryan and his fiancé Lucy Mecklenburgh are the proud parents of son Roman and daughter Lilah Rae.

Proud Parents: In addition to Scarlett, Ryan and his fiancé Lucy Mecklenburgh are proud parents to son Roman and daughter Lilah Rae

Proud Parents: In addition to Scarlett, Ryan and his fiancé Lucy Mecklenburgh are proud parents to son Roman and daughter Lilah Rae