Daniel Chalk (né Gareth Dinsdale) was a Maths teacher at Waterloo Road and the adoptive father of Kevin Skelton.
Chalky is an accident waiting to happen. Nervy, with a bad haircut and old fashioned clothes, the minute he steps into a classroom every kid smells an easy kill. Incredibly bright and academic, on paper Chalky is every head's dream. In reality he's completely detached from the real world, out of date and out of touch – but only in his mid 40s.
Chalky comes to Waterloo Road straight from the all-boys school, and despite being on the receiving end of many a joke and prank, Chalky got by as a teacher – even gaining the respect of much of the class, simply through knowing his subject so well. Maths suits Chalky. It requires no opinion, no emotion and no modernisation. Equations will always be equations, they don't follow trends, or require an understanding of popular culture – of which he has none.
Chalky has become a bit of an oddball. His main problem is women. He's never had a girlfriend, never been in love. Coming to Waterloo Road he faces the biggest and hardest challenge of his career – teaching highly sexualised teenage girls, and he's terrified.
Series 7[]
Series 7A saw Chalky struggle with class discipline to the point where he almost hit a pupil, but with guidance from Rob Scotcher and unlikely ally Janeece, Chalky has managed to instil some kind of order, respect and discipline to his classes. Not least in the music department, as it is revealed that he is a bit of a wiz on the guitar.
In the episode where Sambuca Kelly dies he sees Denzil Kelly is struggling and breaking down in class. Denzil explains the situation to Chalky, and Chalky gets Tom to help Denzil get over Sam's death.
In Series 7B Chalky has a brief romance with Linda Radleigh. However it quickly comes to an end when it's revealed that Linda was the one who ran over Michael Byrne and she was just using Chalky to get back at Michael.
In Series 7C Chalky chooses to go to Scotland to join Lorraine Donnegan's new Waterloo Road school.
Series 8[]
In Series 8, following a very brief relationship with Janeece, he goes on to adopt Kevin Skelton, and it is discovered Daniel was abused in the care home he used to live in as a child.
Daniel helps Kevin Skelton legally change his name to Kevin Chalk and they together create a mobile game called 'Chalk and Cheese' which becomes an addictive and popular game amongst the children and adults, including Lorraine Donnegan. Lorraine helps Daniel and Kevin sell their game, which also leads to Daniel being offered his dream job as a video game developer in London. After much consideration and some words from Kevin, Daniel agrees to take the job and is told by Kevin that he will stay in the school home to finish his final year while Daniel is in London. Kevin will then go to live with him when he finishes school. Daniel tells Tom Clarkson that if there is any trouble from Kevin he will be on the first train back to the school.
Series 9[]
Chalky made a brief guest return in Series 9 Episode 16 when Kevin was having an interview for his university/bursary fund. Kevin is later rushed to hospital after suffering a stroke. Chalky is last seen at Kevin's bedside alongside Dynasty Barry. Kevin recovers and Chalky departs back to London.
Residence[]
- 2011: 8 Kinderely Road, Rochdale.
- 2011-2012: 12 The Terrace, Rochdale.
Triva[]
- His real name is Gareth Dinsdale.
- His Maths classroom in Waterloo Road in Greenock was replaced by George Windsor's Modern Languages (MFL) classroom after Daniel left.
- In Series 9 Episode 16, Chalky mentions to Maggie that it must be difficult coming back to the hospital, which indicates he was possibly made aware of Grantly's death earlier in the series and by possible extension Tom's passing as well.
- In Series 7 he is shown to have friendships with Matt Wilding and Rob Scotcher
Quotes[]
- "Yeah I'm uh, I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in!" (first line)
- Rob: "Teenagers, they smell fear."
- Daniel: "Yeah, and I reek. I'm just...crap at it."
- "Think that's funny, do you? I'll tell you what's funny. Me, getting up every morning feeling sick to the pit of my stomach cos I have to come in here and teach the likes of you! That's funny, isn't it?! I still do it! I still get up, I still come in here and teach! Cos that's what I'm supposed to do, and you! You're supposed to learn! You just don't get it! What have I ever done to you?! WHAT HAVE I DONE?! EH?!"
- "How are we supposed to have this opening with them lot chained to the fence? Mrs Fisher wanted to show it off to some bighead bureaucrat at the council!"
- "What is the point of parents' evening, eh? We dread it. The kids dread it. The parents dread it. It's just one great big ball of dread."
- "Why don't we just skip the preamble, and go and have a night of wild passionate sex?"
- "Surprise, surprise. D'you know what, an amoeba has more brain cells than you."
- "Hello there, we've uh, not been introduced, uh, I'm Daniel Chalk. Most people call me Chalky."
- Daniel: "Why should I? I'm sick of lying for you! I'm sick of being a 24-hour baby dumping service! I'm sick of watching you neglect Cheryl!"
- Janeece: "Oh, d'you know what, you're just like the rest of 'em! You think I'm some bimbo who can't do right by me own girl! Well d'you know what, Lorraine saw my potential and she's offered me a job!"
- Daniel: "For once in your life can't you see?! It's not about you, it's about Cheryl!"
- "Well, all the best relationships are built on mutual air guitaring."
- Daniel: "Well, I was thinking of maybe, um...fostering."
- Audrey: "Excellent idea."
- Daniel: "What, you don't think I'd make a pig's ear of it?"
- "My name's not Daniel Chalk. My real name is Gareth Dinsdale. That's it, that's all."
- Tom: "This is Waterloo Road's original heartbreaker, Bolton Smilie."
- Daniel: "Daniel Chalk. Waterloo Road's original geek."
- "Are you serious? I mean...you've only just like offered me my dream job!"
- "I know! What am I gonna do without you, eh? Always have milk in the fridge. Won't have to queue for the bathroom, that'll be nice. When I come back from work, all my CDs will be in chronological order." (final line of his regular stint)
- "Hey! Oh! Y'alright?" (first line upon his return in Series 9)
- "You had no right! He's my son, not yours!"
- "Absolutely. Dynasty's gonna make a start on the decorating!" (final line)