Casualty’s George Rainsford, who played the character Ethan Hardy for just over nine years, explained why he decided to leave the popular BBC One soap.

George’s exit left many fans heartbroken but he has shared the real-life reason behind his exit from the small screen after a near decade stint

On screen, Ethan decided it was time to quit when he realised that his job was getting in the way of his family life and time with his son, Bodhi.

But in real life, the Casualty star confessed that he had to work far from home causing him to miss out on other acting roles.

“There were just a few factors, I was living away from home for a long period and I also was missing doing other sorts of acting roles,” he mentioned.

Despite leaving the show, George revealed the producers have left ‘the door open’ for his possible return which means he could still come back to Casualty if he wanted.

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“I spoke to [the producers] about an extended break. As yet, there’s no return date planned, but I think the door is open,” disclosed the popular actor in his chat with The Express.

Finally hinting at a future return, George shared he’d love another go at Casualty to continue Ethan’s struggle with Huntington’s disease.

The condition hampers the brain’s functioning, causing symptoms like depression, clumsiness and difficulty breathing. There is no cure currently available.

george Rainsford as Ethan Hardy
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George has expressed his pride in helping to raise awareness of this ailment through his role on the soap, as his character inherited it from his mum Emilie who passed away from pneumonia complications in 2016.

He revealed his dedication to accurately portraying the storyline, saying: “I just wanted to basically be authentic and make sure I was telling that story correctly.

“I wanted to shine a light on a condition that not a lot of people know about, and I didn’t know about to be honest.

“I didn’t want to just skirt around the edges and do it generalised, particularly around how you go about telling family members or your work colleagues that you are living with something like that.”

* This article was crafted with the help of an AI engine, which speeds up OK!’s editorial