Tiling onto backing plaster, skim coat, or strip back and board?

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Hi all, first post here - total novice in need of advice.
I’m retiling a shower room and removing the old tiles has taken the smooth plaster surface with them leaving what I assume is backing plaster. This is sound and level other than a few gouges. This wall is the opposite end to the shower so not directly in contact with water but am planning to tank it to be safe.
Question is can I tile onto this plaster or do I need to either remove it and cement board or skim coat first? If I need to skim, how long does this need to dry before I can tile it?
Attached are pictures of the wall in question, the top half will be tiled, the bottom half will be built out into a ledge box section and that tiled. Cheers.
 

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Hi Ollie.....if the tiles are within the limit for plaster (20kg/sq mtr) then you will be ok to tile over. I would use a tanking kit that has a supplied primer as some tanking won't stick to plaster.....it just peels off like a skin. Mapie do a tanking kit with a primer....water it down so it soaks into the plaster rather than sits on it
 
Thanks for all the advice, appreciate it. Tiles are fairly lightweight 25x20cm ceramics but maybe it’s better still start from scratch and know where I am.
 

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Tiling onto backing plaster, skim coat, or strip back and board?
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