Characters of Casualty
Casualty is a British medical drama television series that premiered on 6 September 1986 on BBC1. The series was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin. It is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, in the equally fictitious city of Holby, and features occasional crossovers of characters and plots with spin-off show Holby City. Casualty follows the professional and personal lives of the doctors, nurses, paramedics, hospital management and patients at Holby General. It features an ensemble cast of regular characters, and began with ten main characters in its first series, including the longest-serving character Charlie Fairhead. They have all since left the series. Many main characters have been written in and out of the series since. In addition, Casualty features guest stars each week, as well as recurring guests that take part in story arcs that span a portion of a series or multiple series.
Main characters
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Matthew Afolami
Matthew Afolami, portrayed by Osi Okerafor, first appears in the thirty-fifth series, in an episode originally broadcast on 29 May 2021. The character and Okerafor's casting was announced on 20 May 2021, alongside that of Elinor Lawless in the role of Stevie Nash. Matthew is billed as an experienced locum registrar who has worked in "trouble spots" across the world. The character shares a backstory with established character Fenisha Khatri ; she jilted him on their wedding day, something which is explored in his first episode through flashbacks. Loretta Preece, the show's series producer, praised the relationship between Okerafor and D'Lima. Writers used Matthew's introduction to create tension between Fenisha and her love interest, Ethan Hardy. Okerafor expressed his joy at joining the cast and looked forward to playing Matthew's devotion to his patients, something which he liked. Preece praised Okerafor for his talent, describing him as "handsome and debonair, sensitive and steadfast, passionate and unpredictable". She added that his "beautifully layered performance" would develop the character further than being a "classic romantic leading man".Rida Amaan
Rida Amaan, portrayed by Sarah Seggari, made her debut appearance in the series thirty-seven episode "Welcome to the Warzone", broadcast on 8 April 2023. The character and Seggari's casting was confirmed alongside a new cohort of nurses being introduced to the programme on 23 March 2023.For her portrayal of Rida, Seggari received a nomination in the "Soaps - Best Actor" category the 2025 Digital Spy Reader Awards. The plot in which Russell Whitelaw sexually assaults Rida was nominated for "Best Soap Storyline".
Paige Allcott
Paige Allcott, portrayed by Shalisha James-Davis, first appears in the thirty-sixth series, in an episode originally broadcast on 8 January 2022. The character and James-Davis' casting was confirmed on 8 January 2022, just hours prior to transmission of her first episode. Paige is introduced as a bartender, who is joining the medical profession, and arrives in the E.D. after having an accident at the bar she worked at, where she handcuffed herself to a customer to stop him from falling over a railing. Paige introduces herself to the team at the E.D. as the new F1 Doctor, and this is soon established. Paige's storylines have included her relationship with Clinical fellow, Rashid Masum, being tested for the BRCA1 gene, and nearly losing her medical licence after a lack of support from her mentor, Stevie Nash. James-Davies made an unannounced departure on 24 February 2024, in a story arc which saw Paige decide to move to another specialty, and leave the department behind.Jez Andrews
Jez Andrews, played by Lloyd Everitt, made his first screen appearance on 12 March 2016. The character and Everitt's casting was announced on 29 January 2016, whilst further details were announced on 24 February 2016 with the casting of David Hide and Elle Gardner. Executive producer Oliver Kent described the three castings as "wonderful" and said their storylines would be "brilliantly vibrant, bold and gripping". Jez is characterised as a "young, ludicrously handsome and very openly bisexual" paramedic.Kent teased the dynamic between Jez and his paramedic colleague, Iain Dean, calling it "fun" and "unlike anything we've seen before". Tasha Hegarty of Digital Spy described Jez as "Iain's new partner in crime". It was announced that Jez would "fail to impress" Iain with his "cheeky banter and lax attitude" upon his arrival, and would struggle to replace Iain's former colleague, Dixie Dixon. Kent also revealed that a "big" friendship would be established between Jez and Max Walker. Everitt had already filmed his first scenes when his casting was announced and revealed that his favourite thing to film had been a scene where he rescued a girl from falling from a cliff, "I actually felt it was a real life situation and that excited me." Of his casting, Everitt said, "I feel honoured to be joining such a successful show and look forward to bringing a different essence to a programme that's synonymous with British culture and television. It's actually the first programme I remember watching when I was a child at my Nan's house – there's a great beauty to that."
Jez arrived and tried flirting with Connie Beauchamp until his colleague, Iain Dean, revealed she was the department's clinical lead. Jez and Iain escorted Emilie Groome to a hospice, where she would spend her final days. They stop the ambulance during the journey whilst her sons and doctors, Ethan Hardy and Caleb Knight, treat her. Jez allows Cal to steal the ambulance so he can take Emilie to the seaside. Jez then spends the rest of the day trying to impress Iain with his banter whilst they search for a lift back to the hospital. Jez finally wins Iain over and they receive a lift back to the hospital. Jez installs a basketball hoop in the ambulance bay and befriends Max Walker, who often spends time playing basketball with Jez. Max and Robyn Miller then begin renting a room to Jez.
Jez went on a night out with Isaac Mayfield, after he had a row with boyfriend Dominic Copeland resulting in a one-night stand. This eventually leads to Mayfield physically, sexually and emotionally abusing Copeland in sister show Holby City, resulting in his dismissal. He later pursues Louise Tyler and, although she tells him she is uncomfortable knowing he has been with both men and women, he eventually wins her over and the two go on a date. He later expresses concerns to Iain that he thinks Louise expects too much after she invites him to an expensive restaurant. He bails on their date, wanting to avoid being embarrassed because he can't afford any of the food and hooks up with a guy. To his horror, Jez wakes up in the young man's bed and discovers that he is Elle's son. He is injured after falling from Elle's drainpipe in his attempt to hide from her. Her son later visits the hospital to give Jez his ID which he had left behind, leading Elle to find out about them sleeping together. Although angry at first, Elle eventually calms down and tells Jez to use the front door next time he wants to stay over.
When Roy Ellisson is brought into the ED following a fight, he abuses Jez in the ambulance for being black and "queer". Jez later reveals that he knows the man Roy was fighting with from bars in town. He tries to support Mickey Ellisson after discovering that he is gay and helps him apologize to the man his father beat up. He encourages Mickey to come out and provides reassurance when Roy rejects him. After his father dies, Mickey goes to see Jez at the ambulance station and the two share a kiss.
Jez and Mickey commence a relationship, keeping it a secret from Mickey's family. Mickey participates in a race-related assault on a shopkeeper and is injured during the getaway, landing him back in the ED. When Mickey is almost discovered, he racially insults Jez to demonstrate his loyalty to his brother. Grieving and seething with injustice, Ethan reveals Mickey's relationship to Scott. Scott goes to attack Jez, but Mickey shields him and says he made the wrong choice. Scott attacks them with a knife, and in the struggle is tossed over a second floor balcony, leaving him badly injured. Denise arrives and disowns Mickey, and Scott later dies.
The 'shot-in-one-take' episode "One" opens with Jez bravely dragging a Korean woman from a burning building. He finds out that her baby was left behind in the building, which leaves him devastated. This event completely shatters Jez's confidence and he begins to take sick days from work. He freezes up when a fire is started in his apartment and Robyn tries to pass him her baby. Because of the timing of the fire, it is concluded that Jez was targeted in the attack, and that Denise Ellisson was involved. This event is the last straw for Mickey who says he is going travelling and invites Jez to come with him so they can escape everything and start anew. Jez wonders what he has to lose at this point and considers joining him, but when he reacts quickly and saves Robin's baby from choking, he appears to be at peace with staying at Holby. After a talk with Iain he changes his mind and meets Mickey at the airport. The Holby staff later receive photographs of the couple relaxing in Mexico.
Linda Andrews
Linda Andrews, played by Christine Tremarco, made her debut appearance in the twentieth episode of the twenty-fourth series, broadcast on 16 January 2010. Linda was originally introduced to aid the departure of Jessica Harrison, who she trained to be a nurse with. Linda told Jessica that she is moving to America and "almost flippant remarked" that Jessica join her, which she agreed to. Tremarco reprised the role as a regular cast member in 2011 and Linda returned to the hospital as a clinical nurse manager, but was later demoted to staff nurse. She was billed as a "fun-loving nurse" who is "determined to become more sensible." Tremarco said she was "delighted" to be invited back to the show, adding that it was "so exciting joining a long-running show" and how "everyone has given me such a warm welcome". To prepare for the role, Tremarco observed a real nurse, who "was incredibly helpful" because she is a "squeamish person". Tremarco described Linda as "a party girl" with an "attitude that she's young free and single". She added that she was "fun and outgoing", but had "a heart of gold" and would "do anything for anyone."The show introduced Linda's family in 2012, beginning with her "recovering drug addict" sister [|Denise Andrews] who hasn't had "any contact in years". Of Denise's introduction, producer Nikki Wilson said, "Denise suddenly arrives with two kids in tow, and leaves them with Linda. So party girl Linda finds herself responsible for two children – which will affect her working life in a big way." Wilson also teased a possible romance between Linda and Lenny Lyons, noting that they have a "really sparky relationship". The character departed from the series in the thirty-fifth episode of the twenty-seventh series, broadcast on 11 May 2013. The exit had only been revealed through advanced spoilers beforehand.