With the usual chaos kicking off in the busy ED of Holby City Hospital, it's no surprise to Casualty fans how shocking the latest stories can be when they hit the headlines.
However, it's never easy when we have to say goodbye to some of our favourite Casualty characters — and 2023 was a year full of emotional, dramatic and unexpected farewells.
Robyn Miller (Amanda Henderson), Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford), David Hide (Jason Durr) and many more all left the soap last year.
We also welcomed back a familiar face to Holby ED as Donna Jackson (Jaye Jacobs) made a long-awaited comeback.
As we prepare to say another heartbreaking goodbye to more characters in 2024, let's take a look at who is returning and the newcomers set to join Casualty...
Who is leaving Casualty in 2024?
With the end of Breaking Point and the start of Storm Damage, Casualty has been shaken up with more exits and arrivals. Here's the latest on who has been sauntering through the swing doors of Holby ED...
Who left Casualty in 2024?
Some much-loved characters have already left the soap this year...
Patrick Onley
Introduced as a strong and charming new clinical lead for the fictional emergency department in a double-bill on 23 March, Patrick Onley (played by talented Jamie Glover) proved to be a relentless bully and a danger to those in his care.
However, his ultimate fall from grace in The Last Post - the final episode of the Breaking Point 12-parter - saw him exit Holby ED in disgrace.
Speaking to us about just prior to his exit, Jamie said:
"When I first started on the show, we didn’t want to give anything away and Patrick looked like somebody completely in control, so viewers would gradually think, 'Hang on a minute, he’s horrible!' From the response I’ve seen on social media, that’s what has happened, and it has now calcified into something akin to hatred!”
The full Casualty interview with Jamie
In a second interview, Jamie revealed his joy when we told him that clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie (played by Melanie Hill) would be the new clinical lead after Patrick's departure.
Our Casualty exit interview with Jamie
Charlie Fairhead
Casualty icon Derek Thompson left the BBC drama after 37 years in the role of Charlie Fairhead.
After nearly four decades, Derek hung up his scrubs for good as Charlie bowed out of the soap in a huge exit storyline, which saw him nearly lose his life.
Charlie was left fighting for his life after being stabbed by a patient who was trying to steal supplies from the pharmacy in the hospital.
While his friends and colleagues pulled out all the stops to save him, Charlie's life hung in the balance as he drifted in and out of consciousness re-living a pivotal day from his past in flashbacks.
In the flashback, a young Charlie (Jack Franklin) was seen arriving to work hungover, only to find a nail bomb had exploded and the emergency department was filling up with serious casualties.
At the end of the episode, fans were relieved that Charlie had survived the stabbing and his colleagues stood outside Holby to bid him farewell after his recovery. Charlie rode off in an old yellow car, just like the one he had in the 80s, with a sign saying "Just retired" on display.
Talking to What To Watch, Derek revealed that his final scenes were some of the best of his career as he said: “Michelle knows exactly what she’s doing. Every character is true to the moment and to themselves, but still manages to tell you something you wouldn’t have spotted easily. I couldn't actually go through the whole 38-year history of Casualty and find a better fit. For me it’s a work of poetry and I just thought ‘This is worth leaving for’ I think my final episodes are some of the best of my career. They were an absolute joy to do.”
Dr Zoe Hanna
Sunetra Sarker returned as Dr Zoe Hanna for two episodes as part of Charlie Fairhead's exit storyline.
She announced the news on Loose Women (Friday, September 8) at the time as she confirmed: "This week, I might have gone back to a certain hospital that I used to work at called Holby City hospital. I'm going back to Casualty."
"I'm going back for a special double episode because our lovely Charlie who has been there forever is going to leave the show. So I'm going back to make sure I get my last little moment with him."
Sunetra played Zoe Hanna for nine years, before leaving the show in 2016 after being offered a job in Michigan. She reprised the role in 2018 and reunited with her husband Max Walker (Jamie Davis) and they both went back to the US.
PC Harry Sinclair
PC Harry Sinclair (Rod Hallett) policed the ED as part of a series of zero-tolerance policies created by Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) to protect the staff from violence.
Harry was brought in to the department on a part-time basis to prevent and intervene in incidents.
Despite being a seemingly decent police officer, he was exposed for abusing his wife Mel by his friend Charlie Fairhead and he was arrested. He was later released and resumed his policing duties, but Mel took out a restraining order against him.
He chased her down in his police car and didn't call the emergency services when Mel was seriously injured after crashing her car into a tree. He later attended a major car pile up which resulted in a lorry carrying gas cannisters tipping over. Harry got caught in the lorry explosion when drug dealer Kyle Marsh knocked one of the cannisters over and he was rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries.
Dr Max Cristie
Casualty favourite Nigel Harman left his role as Dr Max Cristie after a year.
Max was recovering from vital kidney surgery after receiving a kidney transplant from his daughter, Jodie.
After Max had come around, he broke the news to Jodie that he had applied to work with Medics of the World and been offered a placement in South Sudan.
Jodie was furious to learn of her dad's plans and the pair got into a heated confrontation, but Max was set on his decision.
He told the Daily Star Sunday newspaper prior to his exit: “My time on Casualty is done for the time being. I’m on screen until February and there are no plans for me to come back at the moment.”
His time at Holby ED has been nothing short of dramatic. He had a difficult feat in trying to improve the Emergency Department amid budget cuts and a huge secret revealed that new nurse Jodie Whyte was his estranged daughter.
Paige Allcott
Paige Allcott (Shalisha James-Davis) made a shock decision about her future and decided to leave Holby ED.
On Saturday, February 24, Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari) was shaken when she overheard that Paige was doing a double shift in order to cover for Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) so he could attend his father’s funeral.
Paige prepared to leave the ED for a new career upstairs in Maxfac (Maxillofacial surgery) but unfortunately, the job fell through.
The disappointed doctor could stay on in the emergency department, but she reconsidered her options when she overheard Cam telling the other nurses that her ex Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) and friend Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell) are dating.
Paige told Jodie that she knew all about her hooking up with her former fiancé. But things were made even more awkward when clinical lead Max Cristie requested that she assist Paige in resus — and to make matters worse, Teddy was doing the handover.
In the end, Paige made the decision to leave Holby to work as a locum and apply for other jobs in the MaxFac.
Sah Brockner
Sah Brockner (Arin Smethurst) carried out their last shift as a paramedic after three years. Sah was the first-ever regular non-binary, transgender character on the medical drama and handed in their notice after they got a date for their top surgery.
At the beginning of the episode, they told Jan Jenning (Diane Botcher) that their surgery had been moved forward and it was sooner than expected.
Jacob Masters (Charles Venn) tried to persuade Sah to stick to their original surgery date as they were so short-staffed. However, their next callout was the straw that broke the camel's back.
The team were called to a hostel with protestors outside and Sah managed to calm down an anxious asylum seeker called Habid who had been accused of harassing someone's teenage daughter.
However, when they managed to leave the hostel the crowd surrounded them and trapped the ambulance so they couldn't move.
With the hospital unable to red card Habid on the new security system without his date of birth, Sah took matters into their own hands and put their foot down on the accelerator to disperse the crowd.
Back at Holby ED, Sah voiced their concerns that the new system is endangering the paramedics and said to Jan that they were taking the surgery date and putting themselves first.
Jan promised Sah that the door would always be left open should they choose to return. So could we see Sah return at some point in the future?
Ryan Firth
Eddie-Joe Robinson joined Casualty last year as "ambitious and glory-hungry Ryan Firth, Mr Popular at school who soon gets a wakeup call working in a busy ED."
However, his time in Holby came to a brutal end after he was attacked by a deceased patient's relative and was left fighting for his life. The traumatised nurse sustained serious injuries and felt that he could not continue working in such a dangerous environment.
Actor Eddie-Joe Robinson told What To Watch that he was originally in the dark about how his exit would play out. He said: “I knew I was going to be leaving, but you're always wondering how you're going to leave.
"While I was on the show there were a couple of other people that left at a similar time and it's a point of real speculation of how your character is going to exit, so I was really excited to find out.
"When I saw what it involved, I was even more excited because it’s really high drama and going out with a bang.”
Who is returning to Casualty in 2024?
Blake Gardner
Blake Gardner hasn't been on our screens since 2018, but he is set to return to Holbyland on Saturday 10 August 2024 in an episode called All for Love.
Originally portrayed by Kai Thorne from 2017 until 2018, when Blake comes back to the Casualty fold he will be now played by David Ajayi (Supacell, EastEnders).
The last time the character was seen on the show, his father Jacob Masters was blindsided by the arrival of his mother, Blake's grandmother, Omo (Ellen Thomas) at the ED. In recent months the nurse-turned-paramedic has been seen frantically searching for his son, after the troubled young man left his own son, Carter, at the hospital. When Blake returns, Jacob will be tested like never before.
Blake's mother Elle Gardner was played by Jaye Griffiths from 2016 until 2019, but it is currently unknown if she will also be returning to BBC's medical series.
We will add an image of David as Blake as soon as one is released.
Who else returned to Casualty in 2024?
A much-loved character made a short but sweet return to the ED...
Dr Zoe Hanna
Dr Zoe Hanna returned to Casualty for a special two-part farewell to Charlie Fairhead.
Talking to What To Watch, Sunetra revealed how she felt about being part of Charlie's exit storyline. She said: “What an honour. When I got the call asking if I’d like to be part of Derek’s exit episodes it was bittersweet because I don’t like the thought of the Casualty without Charlie. It honestly chokes me; he’s been the throughline since the show started in 1986. I really hoped I’d be one face among many, but to be singled out as the doctor involved in looking after him when he gets injured, I was thrilled to be there for him.”
Who is arriving to Casualty in 2024?
With the beginning of new box set Storm Damage and the release of its trailer, not one, but THREE new characters arrived on Casualty:
The opening episode of Storm Damage, Sinking Ships - Day 1, heralded the beginning of psychiatric nurse Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), firefighter Rich Walker (Michael Keogh) and board member Jamie Cleveland's (Ryan Hawley) time on Casualty...
Jamie Cleveland
Emmerdale star Ryan Hawley makes his presence felt as enigmatic new character, Jamie Cleveland, who shares a past with Cam. The nurse is shocked to see him at Holby ED and quickly learns that Jamie has been newly appointed to the Holby Hospital board.
Speaking to WTW Barney Walsh revealed: “Jamie is someone who was a kind-of mentor to Cam growing up, and it’s very interesting for Cam to see him again. We will allude to Cam’s past and explore the reasons why he’s such a shy, timid character as well as his struggles as a Band 5 Nurse.” The full interview is available here
Ryan Hawley is probably best known for his role as Robert Sugden in Emmerdale. His other credits include the 2008 Survivors reboot, Father Brown, Silent Witness and All Creatures Great and Small.
Rich Walker
Michael Keogh is introduced as MARRIED firefighter Rich Walker- who may or may not be keeping a secret. Will Stevie’s moral barometer prove faulty as she gets to know Mr McMysteryMan, Rich? And will a shocking connection burn them both?
Michael Keogh made his TV debut in Cutting It in 2002. Since then he’s starred in Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, Emmerdale, Doctors and Peaky Blinders.
Sophia Peters
Kellie Shirley also joined the Casualty cast in Storm Damage as Psych Liaison Nurse Sophia Peters, and she is set to be a regular presence on the wards of Holby Hospital. She may also be a regular presence in Dylan’s thoughts, as it sounds like she’s going to get under his skin!
Speaking to WTW about her new role, Kellie revealed: "
“Dylan and Sophia spar a lot to begin with because his manner riles her — he really gets on her nerves because he’s so abrupt and rude with no filter! But then Sophia sees another, more vulnerable side to him. She starts to think differently and you see the relationship blossoming. Also, the fact that he’s at the top of his game and is a surgeon who’s really good at his job is sexy and an aphrodisiac for her!”
Our interview with Kellie Shirley in full
Kellie Shirley is best known for her roles in EastEnders and In the Long Run. Her other credits include The Office, Call the Midwife, The Dumping Ground, Death in Paradise and Biff & Chip.
Who else arrived to Casualty in 2024?
When Breaking Point kicked off on 23 March, 2024, some new faces were introduced to Holby ED, including the arrival of three new characters, with one replacing Max Christie as Clinical Lead:
Nicole Piper
Actress and comedian Sammy T Dobson joined the cast of Casualty as Junior Doctor Nicole Piper.
It was revealed by the show that: "Sammy's character, Nicole, is the epitome of work hard, play hard and often the loudest in the room, full of vibrance and humour.
"Nicole is a late starter in her chosen career – coming from a working-class background she’s found it hard to find the funds to afford medical school– but she’s finally made it, and now she’s on the cusp of achieving her dream."
Speaking of her new role Sammy said: “Joining Casualty has felt like a dream. To become a piece of such a well-regarded part of BBC history is incredible but to get there and find everyone to be so genuinely lovely, welcoming and committed to making the best show possible is just wonderful.”
Patrick Onley
Jamie Glover took on the role of Holby's newest Clinical Lead, Patrick Onley after Max Cristie left the show.
Patrick is a tenured and respected trauma surgeon turned ED Consultant. Charismatic, affable and old-school, Patrick has always been able to charm his way through anything.
Patrick appreciates precision, process and order. Operating as if he’s in complete control of everything. With his straightforward but personable bedside manner, one wouldn’t even question his capabilities as a doctor.
Doctor Dylan Keogh (William Beck) has been embroiled in a bitter feud with clinical lead Patrick as he tries to save the future of Holby ED from a major scandal under his leadership.
Dylan and Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) have joined forces to try and prove that Patrick is a danger to patients, but the sleazy boss won't go down without a fight and has some tricks to try and discredit them.
On joining Casualty, Jamie said: “Having been a fan of the show since its very first inception (yep, I’m that old) it is a real honour to be joining the incredible team at Casualty.
"I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to be working with such a dedicated, skilful group of people who care so passionately about the minutiae of each episode as well as the show’s wider impact."
Tariq Hussein
Manpreet Bachu was cast as Junior Doctor, Tariq Hussein.
Having recently moved back to the UK after spending three years in Australia, Tariq is a loveable rogue who is determined to climb the ranks as an NHS doctor and get involved in the most exciting and challenging medicine along the way.
Tariq Hussein is the cousin to Holby’s resident doctor, Rash Masum (Neet Mohan). Although close in age the pair couldn’t be more different. Tariq is the reckless ‘ying’ to Rash’s careful ‘yang’. Although there’s mutual admiration between them, competition has always been at the heart of their relationship.
Manpreet said: “Joining Casualty is both an honour and an absolute privilege. I’m thrilled to be a part of such an iconic show, the warm welcome and love from everyone has made this experience truly amazing. I can't wait for the fans to witness Tariq's unique journey unfold.”
Siobhan McKenzie
Casualty cast Coronation Street legend Melanie Hill as Clinical Nurse Manager Siobhan McKenzie, whose no-nonsense character will "ruffle a few feathers."
On Siobhan's first day at Holby ED, she quickly realised the chaotic department was going to need a firm hand.
First, she let the junior nurses know who was boss after hearing them gossiping about her, before jumping straight into action and expertly treated distressed schizophrenic patient Scott Baker.
From there, Siobhan spotted a myriad of problems, including a lack of essential equipment and a stressed out workforce. However, it was Stevie who caused her the most concern.
Siobhan is a hardworking nurse with years of experience, who joins the Emergency Department at a time when the staff begin to crumble.
Determined to pull her team together, Siobhan grapples with the issues of the ED head-on by using her knowledge and strength to provide what her department needs.
In an exclusive interview with Melanie Hill the star hinted at the dramatic twists and turns to come: “Siobhan’s been around the block and seen it all, but this is a massive shock. As these events get a life of their own, she’s in the background ready to unravel it all.”
Ngozi Okoye
Ngozi Okoye (Adesuwa Oni) joined Holby as an Emergency Department nurse who recently moved to the UK from Nigeria.
Her first scenes saw Ngozi take on challenges in her stride, showing her kind and compassionate nature and fans predicted that she'll be the "calm, strong" team member they need at Holby.
Casualty bosses first introduced the new character in a post on January, 3 with a video of the actor, alongside the caption: "There’s a new face in the E.D!"
There’s a new face in the E.D! 🏥Meet Ngozi 💚 #Casualty pic.twitter.com/anTbijcqMpJanuary 3, 2024
Who left Casualty in 2023?
Casualty was a rollercoaster of emotions in 2023, with four exits and a funeral. On top of that, fans were left devastated by the unexpected death of a much-loved nurse.
Ethan Hardy
After nine years in Casualty, doctor Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) left in February to spend time with his baby son Bodhi. Ethan revaluated his responsibilities and his future after being diagnosed with Huntington's disease, which led him to leave the ED behind to play a more active role in his son's life.
Ethan faced many hardships throughout his time working at Holby City Hospital, including facing the onset of Huntington’s disease, attempting to avenge the murder of his brother, registrar Cal Knight (Richard Winsor), and struggle to cope with his grief following the tragic death of his fiancée, paramedic Fenisha Khatri (Olivia D’Lima), on their wedding day.
Robyn Miller
Fans were devastated by the heartbreaking death of much-loved nurse Robyn Miller (Amanda Henderson) after she was involved in a horrific car accident that left her with catastrophic injuries.
Despite their desperate efforts to save her, Robyn tragically passed away on the operating table, leading to a mass walkout of nurses.
Amanda, who played the fan-favourite for ten years, confessed that she didn't have a say in the producer's decision to kill her off but understood the reason why she had to go.
She told The Double L Show: "No. It was very much their decision for me to leave. Their reasoning was that they needed a character who was really well-loved to go to kick off the nurses' strike and all of Jacob's story now, which I can't tell you about as I don't know anymore."
She added: "It wasn't my decision to leave, it was their decision. For a long time, I thought maybe it was something I'd done. I was thinking, 'Does somebody hate me, is that why?' I can now understand and see why it was Robyn that had to go. Ten years on a show is a really long time, and I am excited to see what else is out there."
David Hide
Nurse David Hide (Jason Durr) hung up his scrubs for good and resigned from Holby ED following the tragic death of Robyn.
David was one of the nurses on-hand to try and help save Robyn's life after there was no surgical team to perform emergency surgery on her.
Sadly, despite their best efforts, Robyn passed away and a distraught David was part of the mass exodus of nurses who walked out after the catastrophe.
David joined Holby ED in 2016 for a fresh start following a split from his wife, Rosa. He suffered from bipolar and struggled with his emotions during this difficult time and was deemed unfit to work. However, he managed to get his life back on track and worked at Holby Hospital for six years until he resigned.
Last year, Jason announced the sad news that he was leaving the medical drama after six years.
After 6 yrs playing the wonderfully complex #NurseDavidHide @bbccasualty I’ve hung up my scrubs.I’ve forged firm friendships, learnt to pronounce Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty & had my squeamishness thoroughly challenged! Here’s to new adventures (with less blood & guts 😁) pic.twitter.com/20GprvmH4WOctober 31, 2022
Marty Kirkby
Alongside David, nurse Marty Kirkby (Shaheen Jafargholi) also handed in his badge and quit after the death of his friend and co-worker Robyn.
He joined the department as a student nurse five years ago and did not go without his fair share of struggles as he was disowned by his homphobic father for being gay, had a HIV scare and was a victim of racism.
The official Casualty Instagram page confirmed the end of Robyn, Marty and David's story and paid tribute to the three much-loved characters with a touching video.
Donna Jackson
Casualty welcomed back Holby City's fun-loving nurse-turned-ward sister Donna Jackson (Jaye Jacobs) earlier this year, who hired four new nurses to help tackle the short staffing issue after she was appointed clinical nurse manager.
However, her time on Casualty came to an end in September after she was sentenced to 12 months in prison — half in prison and half on licence, for falling asleep at the wheel and causing a car accident that fatally injured Ashley Morgan's (Connor Curren) mum.
Donna bid an emotional goodbye to her daughter Mia Barron (Jada Wallace-Mitchell), before being led away in handcuffs.
Gethin West
Robert Pugh arrived to Casualty this year as paramedic Jan Jenning's ex-husband Gethin West.
The paramedic boss was called out to check on a homeless man living in a local scrapyard who was believed to be dead. But Jan was horrified to discover that the man in question, who was very much alive — turned out to be her alcoholic ex-husband Gethin.
The pair had a rocky 20-year marriage and had son Ross, a nasty drug dealer who is in prison. Gethin has since been diagnosed with MND and Jan moved Gethin into her home she shared with wife Ffion Morgan (Stirling Gallacher) to support him.
Jan decided to assist Gethin in ending his life and accompanied him to Switzerland, where he went through with his assisted suicide decision. Does this spell the end for Jan's career?
Who returned to Casualty in 2023?
A familiar face finally made their long-awaited comeback as Donna Jackson returned to the ED. However, she left in September after being sent to prison for 12 months.
Who arrived to Casualty in 2023?
Donna Jackson was joined by four new nurses to help turn the department around, heralding a new chapter for the medical drama — but who else will be joining the ED?
Cameron Mickelthwaite
Barney Walsh joined the Casualty cast as accident-prone Cameron, which isn't ideal when working in an Emergency Department.
He's described by the BBC as: "Woefully lacking in self-confidence and a perpetually terrified fish out of water, Cam arrives at Holby to realise he might have bitten off more than he can chew."
Barney said of joining the show: "It’s been an incredible experience to join the cast of Casualty alongside Anna, Sarah, JJ and Eddie.
"It’s a real joy to come to work every day and play Cam. I can’t wait for the viewers to meet him."
Jodie Whyte
Anna Chell was introduced to Casualty as quick-witted and outgoing nurse Jodie Whyte, whose plans for a fresh start at the hospital were jeopardised when she became reacquainted with a face from her past. And she was soon thrown into the deep end when she was involved in a horror bomb incident.
Anna shared: “It’s been an absolute buzz so far, the team at Casualty are SO welcoming! Joining with the others (Eddie-Joe, Barney, Sarah & Jaye) has been such a beautiful experience, we have built up a great connection and friendship."
"Jodie is a JOY to play. She is fun, flirty and is ALWAYS up for a night out, often pushing her emotions aside with a vodka tonic! Jodie is hard-faced, strong & often let’s her brain fall out of her mouth, but despite all this she is great at her job and has quite a shock on her first shift"
Rida Amaan
Sarah Seggari made her Casualty debut as straight-talking and confident Rida Amaan, who "doesn’t suffer fools and knows exactly what she wants." Will she be able to keep her guard up or can this new challenge be the thing to finally unlock her softer side?
Sarah revealed: “It is an honour to play the first hijab wearing Muslim nurse on Casualty. I cannot wait to show the viewers who Rida is, she is the strength and the mother in the group. She has no problem putting people in their place even if it might come across a bit abrasive but will always stay loyal to her friends.
"At her core she is a carer and wants to help, this is at the forefront every time she has a patient to work with, even if it sometimes isn’t to protocol!”
Casualty airs on Saturdays on BBC One — check out our guide to every episode for all the latest news and spoilers.
