Casualty star Anna Chell, who plays Jodie Whyte in the long-running BBC medical drama, has opened up on how the departure of Ryan Firth (played by Eddie-Joe Robinson) following a vicious attack in the ED, affected the team dynamics. Ryan and Jodie were part of a group of four new nurses that arrived in Holby ED in April 2023 – the other two being Cameron “Cam” Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh) and Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari).
Eddie-Joe Robinson left the show in January after a vicious assault. He struggled to cope in the aftermath and handed in his resignation. As they all started at the same time many of their stories were intertwined and Jodie and Ryan even had a fling.
So it is unsurprising when Anna admits that he was a “huge loss”. “Ryan’s attack affected the whole group, definitely.
“We came in there with a really strong bond and we grew together, so seeing one of their own lying in that state, it was really really sad. And I think if anything, it actually brought Jodie, Cam and Rida together a little bit more, brought them closer.
“We definitely missed that fourth component. Even in Anna, Sarah and Barney we definitely missed it as well. So it was a huge loss for the ED. And for that group and for the cast because he [Eddie-Joe] was brilliant.”
Anna previously starred in The Bay before joining Casualty to play the young nurse. Her character has been at the centre of some huge storylines since her arrival.
She had barely walked through the doors of the ED when it transpired the clinical lead Max Cristie (Nigel Harman) was actually her estranged father.
Over the past several months the pair have rebuilt their relationship and in recent weeks viewers have even seen her offer him a kidney as he desperately needs a transplan
She was also responsible for a beloved couple breaking up when she slept with Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) behind fiancee Paige Allcott’s (Shalisha James-Davis) back.
With Teddy now back on the market following Paige’s departure, it begs the question could there be a future for the pair?
“You have seen two characters that have been through similar things in terms of grief. With Teddy losing his uncle Gethin and Jodie losing her mum.
“That’s how they first kind of connected. Yeah, there might be a future for them,” she ruminates.
“Especially I think as Teddy kind of gives Jodie a bit of a backbone of support in a way. Yeah, you’ll have to stay tuned to watch that play out,” she teases.
