Why everyone left Casualty this year

Victim spoilers follow.

Like most other long-running shows, Victim is no stranger to the regular comings and goings of actors.

And while several exciting new characters have joined the ED this year to shake things up, we’ve also seen a handful of established favorites step down.

Here, we look back at the biggest departures of the year so far and why each of the exits happened.

George Rainsford (Ethan Hardy)

2023 began with our farewell to fan-favorite Ethan, whose final scenes aired in February.

Fans had been speculating for a while that George Rainsford was stepping down from his role after nine years, especially since it had been confirmed that he would be joining the stage adaptation. by Peter James’ I wish you were dead. Ethan’s exit was finally confirmed in November last year.

George later explained to digital spy that he had made the decision to leave to try other roles and spend more time with his family.

“I had been there for a while and it had been amazing,” he said. “Obviously I had a lot of interesting and emotional stories to play out. I think that was the case with a few things that were happening around the same time.

“I spoke at length with my family about the long commute which I’ve obviously been on for years, as my family doesn’t actually live in Cardiff. We’ve talked about sort of an extended break so I can be with my family more.

“But on the other hand, I’m an actor and I’m interested in new projects and new challenges. I thought maybe even if Ethan was a little quieter on the scripts, it would be nice to have a break and kind of see what else is out there.”

Amanda HendersonRobyn Miller

In the saddest twist of 2023 (or maybe ever!), Robyn was killed off as part of a huge story in March.

The devastating scenes saw Robyn succumb to injuries she suffered in a car crash, after a long shift and a row with her boss Jacob.

In real life, Amanda Henderson – who had played Robyn since 2013 – was written out as part of the story, and later explained that it wasn’t her choice to leave.

Robyn’s exit was the catalyst for launching various new subplots, including the nurses’ strike, Jacob’s change in career direction, and ultimately the introduction of four new nurses and Donna’s crossover from City of Holby.

“It was really their decision,” she said on The Double L Show. “For a long time I thought maybe it was something I did. I was like, ‘Does anyone hate me, is that why?’ I can now understand and see why it was Robyn who had to leave.”

Jason Durr (David Hide)

David was another much-loved character in the Victim fanbase, but his time on the show also ended in March.

David’s exit saw him stage a protest alongside the other nurses, due to the devastating nature of Robyn’s death.

digital spy understands Jason Durr wanted to try and explore opportunities elsewhere, having played David since 2016. Jason has confirmed he is leaving Victim in a post on instagram Last year.

He wrote: “After 6 years of playing the wonderfully intricate #NurseDavidHide @bbccasualtyofficial, I’ve hung up my scrubs. I’ve forged some strong friendships, learned to pronounce Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty and had my delicacy all the way!

“Here are some new adventures (hopefully with less blood and guts).”

Shaheen Jafargholi (Marty Kirkby)

Shaheen joined Victim in 2018, and quickly became a fan favorite with his portrayal of the loveable Marty Kirkby.

He left the show in a surprise twist in March, stepping down from ED alongside David following Robyn’s tragic death.

digital spy had confirmation at the time that this was the last we would see of Marty but his exit had not been announced until the transmission.

Paul Popplewell (Paul Pegg)

Paul Popplewell played the character of receptionist Paul on and off from 2021, after he was introduced as a new love interest for Robyn.

Paul’s final stint on the show saw him reconnect and eventually get engaged to Robyn, before finally deciding his heart belonged in Wigan. With that in mind, he and Robyn planned a long-term move, and Paul quit his ER job.

Tragically, Robyn was killed in a car accident before the couple were happily ever after, and Paul’s final appearance aired in the same episode.

Paul was brought in as a recurring guest character and we understand his story ended naturally once Robyn left the show.

Derek ThompsonCharlie Fairhead

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss anything because Charlie is still part of the Victim currently casting, but it was confirmed in May that his time at ED was running out.

Derek Thompson is stepping down from his role as Charlie after nearly four decades of playing it, with his exit scenes due to air next year.

digital spy understands that Charlie’s exit will be the culmination of a huge new story, which will see his character back at the center of the action.

VictimExecutive producer Jon Sen, explained: “Derek and I often joked that after such a long and dramatic career in the NHS, there was almost nothing that Charlie hadn’t seen. So that was a surprise. amazing to me when Derek came up with a brilliant idea for Charlie’s exit as part of an upcoming story that was too good to pass up.”

Discover more of our Victim blanket:

– The wounded Donna Jackson will tell a shocking lie after a car accident

– Victim special episode explained

– Victim confirms Charlie Fairhead’s exit after 37 years

– Soap Movers: who leaves, returns and joins Victim, EastEnders, coronation street, Emmerdale, At home and away And Hollyoaks?

Victim airs these scenes on Saturday July 28 on BBC One.

Learn more Victim spoilers on our dedicated homepage