October 2nd 2024.
Cathy Shipton, a beloved actress known for playing one of Casualty's longest serving characters, recently shared her thoughts on the BBC's decision to cancel Doctors after an impressive 24 years on air. The 67-year-old star, who portrayed Lisa 'Duffy' Duffin on and off for over three decades, is now preparing for her third and final appearance on the show.
Last year, it was announced that the popular daytime soap would be coming to an end due to cost-cutting measures within the corporation. The final episodes, set to air in December, were filmed in March amidst strict safety protocols. Director Niall Fraser even took to social media to ask fans to refrain from gathering outside of the production base in Birmingham as the show wrapped up.
Cathy, who is no stranger to medical dramas, was recently honored at the Inside Soap Awards along with the rest of the cast and crew. In an interview with TV Times, she opened up about her upcoming role and expressed her disappointment over the show's cancellation, drawing a comparison to the end of Casualty's sister show Holby City in 2022.
"It's a real shame and a shock, and I think, sadly, an ill-advised decision," she stated. "Holby City has gone, Doctors has gone... Young directors, writers, actors; they all cut their teeth on these kinds of shows. You are aware, particularly with the crew, that people buy homes and move their families there."
In her final appearance on Doctors, Cathy will star alongside Shayne Ward, a former Coronation Street actor. The episode, titled "Shock Therapy", will air tomorrow and will see her playing the role of straight-talking Melissa Horner. When asked if she would consider joining other soap operas, Cathy playfully teased, "Oh, yeah! I'm not an EastEnder but I can do a London accent. But having done my northern accent for Doctors, you never know – Corrie might come knocking!"
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Reflecting on the show's cancellation, Cathy shared, "I didn't want to talk about it on set because you're there to do a job, but I did have a few chats with people on the QT and it was a real blow to everyone." She ended the interview by encouraging readers to share their own soap and TV stories, videos, and pictures with Metro. So why not join the community and leave a comment below? Stay tuned to our homepage for all the latest updates on your favorite soaps.
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