Max Tyler

Maxwell Gerard "Max" Tyler is a fictional character in the BBC television drama series Waterloo Road. He is portrayed by Tom Chambers.
Storylines
Max makes his first appearance in the opening of Series 5. He becomes the Executive Head Teacher of Waterloo Road and three other schools in the Rochdale area, when Waterloo Road merges with a local private school John Fosters. On arrival, Max is adamant to assert discipline and order into both teachers and pupils by laying down the terms and rules during the welcome assembly. Both Rachel Mason and Kim Campbell voice their views on his handling of the pupils, both during a confrontation with Michaela White in the assembly and with both Michaela and newcomer Lindsey James after an incident later in the day. Whilst Kim is prepared to give Max another chance after he assures her he has the best interests of the school at heart, Rachel continues to wonder if Max's presence is a positive move. When both the Waterloo Road and John Fosters pupils become embroiled in a battle on the school field, Max decides to take immediate action and informs Rachel he is permanently basing himself at the school and that he is now in charge which angers Rachel. Max's reforms cause antagonism even in the characters of Jo Lipsett, Tom Clarkson with whom he gets on well. This results in a rapport between Rachel and Grantly Budgen. When Luke Pendle lost control and drove Max's car, it is revealed that Max's desire for power and his autocratic approach to teaching was due to the fact he had a tough upbringing.
Max becomes romantically involved with Kim but initially she is unaware that he already has a wife who works as the local LEA troubleshooter. Max tells Christopher Mead his secret. Eventually the Waterloo Road staff learn about Max and Kim's relationship. Rachel feels the responsibility to tell Kim about Max's secret. When Max finds out he threatens Rachel. Max also sacks Steph Haydock causing Jo to leave. He tried to use Phillip Ryan to spy on Steph. After Phillip's refusal, Max pushes the pupil into a filing cabinet and leaves him with bad bruising. In the next episode, Max tries to sack Rachel and manipulates her. Eventually, Rachel resigns but Jennifer Headley and the Governors aren't pleased. Phillip hears and stands up to Max aware of every misdemeanour Max does and revealed it to the whole school in stand-up comedy gaining him popularity for bullying the Executive Headmaster. Max however, blackmails Phillip. Phillip relunctantly tells Kim everything and they stop Rachel from leaving. Rachel tells the whole school and Jennifer Headley comes to suspend Max saying that it is extremely unlikely that Max will be teaching. Jennifer is also very sympathetic towards Kim. Max was chucked out of the school by Rachel and the security guards leaving the school cheering and gibing at Max staining his reputation forever. Also, Ruby vehemently defects from Max's coup too.
He last appeared at the pub where other staff members were drinking. As he made insulting comments about Rachel's past, Christopher punched Max in the nose. As a result of this, he is unaware that, later in the series, Kim was pregnant with and gave birth to his child.
Character
Personality and Traits
Max is ambitious and keen to measure the school's success by league tables. His strong educational ethos reflects his disciplinarian and autocratic approach and his belief that a student's poor background shouldn't excuse bad behaviour. His work ethic tends towards him being perceived as "terminally cheerless". Tyler's relationship with Kim Campbell shows a softer side to his tough character as Tom Chambers notes; “Max instantly saw Kim as an attractive woman with a strong personality. He had instant desire for her, as well as knowing that, if he got her on his side, he could use her to his advantage when making changes within the school".
Max however has a desire for power that is fuelled by his background and he feels that that is what keeps him going. Max is also highly manipulative especially over women and often takes advantage, especially seen with Helen Hopewell and Kim Campbell.

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See Also

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