Dr Esther Fairclough is a science teacher who joins Waterloo Road in Series 8C, after working in higher education.
Esther is a maverick science teacher who revolves her life around herself. She joined as the replacement of Sian Diamond as acting Head of Science. She finds an ally in Lula Tsibi, who she recruits into her campaign against vivisection, and more specifically Nox Pharmaceuticals, but Lula gets out of hand and eventually Nikki suggests for Lula to see a psychiatrist.
Later, Lula attempts to attack Lorraine Donnegan with sulphuric acid because she held the largest shares in Nox Pharmaceuticals, but Lula injures Esther's hand by accident as Esther grabs her to stop the acid attack.
Esther blames herself for everything and tells Lula to stop, coming clean to Tom Clarkson about what has been going on and that she is the person behind the protests about Nox, though doesn't reveal the attempted acid attack, instead simply saying that her hand injury was the result of an accident. Tom tells Esther that she needs to go to the police. However, Esther flees, leaving a note on the whiteboard explaining that she was sorry for everything. She isn't seen again.
Trivia[]
- Esther holds a doctorate, as she was greeted by Michael Byrne in Series 8 Episode 25 as "Dr Fairclough", though she herself says she "doesn't use the 'Dr' much".
Quotes[]
- "Hello there." (first line)
- Esther: "If I told you there was a concentration camp less than a mile from this school, what would you say?"
- Lula: "A concentration camp?"
- Esther: "Yes. Nox Pharmaceuticals. A research facility where they torture rabbits and mice in pursuit of profit."
- "I'm sorry if it seemed like I wasn't supporting you, Lula. I have to be a teacher first. I can't get involved with things that draw attention to me. You're like my little secret weapon. My eyes and my ears. And we're gonna need them. Do you know who the biggest investor in Nox Pharmaceuticals is? The person most responsible for the torture and suffering in that hell-hole? Lorraine Donnegan."
- Nikki: "Anything I can help with?"
- Christine: "I doubt it."
- Esther: "One-nil to you."
- Esther: "The more you fight them, the more they'll resist. Why not try a more subtle approach?"
- Lorraine: "How?"
- Esther: "Why not arrange for Lula and the kids to go on a tour of the Nox facilities?"
- Lorraine: "You want me to send Lula to Nox?"
- Esther: "Well, I'll supervise them. And who knows, once they see the good work Nox does, they'll maybe change their views, it's gotta be worth a try?"
- Esther: "The anti-vivisection protests. It's down to me. Her campaign was my campaign. I thought I could control the situation, but it's all gone wrong. You need help, Lula. Mr Clarkson will help you. Won't you, Tom?"
- Tom: "I'm more concerned with what we're gonna do with you."
- Esther: "I came to this school with a vendetta against Lorraine and her investments. I shouldn't've involved you, Lula, I'm sorry."
- "Whatever you think. I deserve it." (final line)