Harley Taylor is a pupil from Waterloo Road, and the brother of Phoenix Taylor.
Series 7[]
Harley joins Waterloo Road in the spring term alongside his brother Phoenix. They realise that their nan has died, but still attend school. On the same day, Harley wants to tell others what has happened, but Phoenix is determined not to as he doesn't want to live with their dad. Harley makes good friends with Zack Diamond and Naseem Siddiqui. At the end of the summer term, Harley decides to travel up to Scotland (due to the school's closure) with Michael Byrne, Sian Diamond, Tom Clarkson, Daniel Chalk, Grantly Budgen, Maggie Croft, Josh Stevenson, Tariq Siddiqui, Denzil Kelly, Jodie Allen and his brother Phoenix.
Series 8[]
In Series 8 Harley's accommodated in the School Boarding House along with his brother Phoenix, Jodie Allen, Tariq Siddiqui and Rhiannon Salt (later Jade Fleming and Kevin Chalk). He also becomes good friends with Lula Tsibi and Kacey Barry. In the spring term, Phoenix and Harley win the lottery, with Phoenix leaving with his dad to work for the family business. After some argument and disagreement, the family come to terms and make up. On the first day of the summer term, Harley accepts drugs from new boy Fergal;, much to Lula's disapproval, and climbs onto the school roof while high, however he's saved by school handyman Ndale Kayuni. He is seen crying after Tom Clarkson dies.
Series 9[]
Harley appears in Series 9. In Series 9 Episode 6, Grantly has returned to Waterloo Road and takes over Tom Clarkson's poetry competition. Harley writes a poem about Grantly, but he thinks he has copied it from the internet. Harley later persuades Grantly to bet on Kacey Barry, in an attempt to prove to him that he told the truth. It works, and he wins the poetry competition, but while he reads the poem out to the whole school, Grantly passes away from kidney failure, leaving Harley distraught.
In Series 9 Episode 16, his best friend Lula Tsibi is threatened with deportation, and he and other students, along with Maggie Budgen and Audrey McFall, campaign to get her to stay, but to no avail and it ends when Harley throws a bucket of paint which almost hits Sue Spark. Lula reveals herself to immigration and is taken away by them. Harley and Lula share a kiss and reveal that they always loved each other. The following episode, Harley destroys the school library, grieving over Lula's deportation, but is comforted by Audrey McFall.
Trivia[]
- Harley was the only student from the Rochdale era to still be in the show in Series 10. He and Maggie Budgen were the only Series 10 characters who were present in Rochdale.
- Harley is one of the longest-serving students, appearing in four series.
Quotes[]
- "You're not funny." (first line)
- "I've got something for you. It were my nan's. It's a bit boring in some places but it's got some good stuff in there. 'He who believes in me has eternal life'. That's John. Chapter Six. It helped, you know, when my nan died."
- "Your wife died last week. Everybody understands."
- "Miss, I know this. It's called the well fit genre. Kristen Stewart? Oh yes."
- "Thanks for giving me another chance. You're alright you, sir."
- "Can't believe we just heard that - we've won the lottery!"
- "I'll show you something neither of you could do!" (before going on the roof)
- "For you. If I could pray your pain away, I surely would. If I could hold you fast, until your pain had passed, I'd try. If I could cry your weary tears well dry, I'd weep. But all I have are words, and words alone. But these few words I have hewn, from dank and unyielding pits, and torn by wretched, tattered hands, in charcoal dark, from brittle, bitter stone. These are my words, and I have polished them. For you." (Harley's poem for Grantly, spoken as Grantly dies)
- "What does that mean? Are you sending her back to Africa, then?"