Doctors cast: New, leaving and returning characters

WITH series 22 drawing to a close, BBC One is getting ready to for another instalment of the show.

As series 23 of Doctors is well on its way to viewers, here’s the lowdown on the comings and goings at the Mill Health Centre.

BBCDoctors cast has changed over the years[/caption]

New, leaving, returning cast of Doctors

Ashraf Ejjbair (Hazeem Durrani) – joined

Ashraf as Hazeem Durrani in Doctors

BBC Three viewers may have recognised him from Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK but, in September, 2021, Ashraf set out to take on the role of Hazeem.

Making his first appearance on our screens on January 17, 2022, Hazeem was introduced as a relative of Ruhma Carter.

Hazeem stays with Ruhma after travelling in Thailand and is followed by Daisha Rashid (Sophie Kandola), with whom he shared a casual relationship whilst in Thailand.

He eventually dumps her as he does not want a serious relationship and demands, later on, that Ruhma cut off all contact with her in spite of their close blond.

After introducing him to Bear, Ruhma asks that he finds a job and pays rent to live with her.

Hazeem has since been given a job as a receptionist at the Mill Health Centre, despite of his lack of experience.

While Karen gives him a hard time, Valerie believes the experience will do him good.

Leslie Ash (Mary McRae) – guest star

Getty Images – GettyLeslie Ash is set to return to BBC series Doctors later this summer[/caption]

Leslie Ash guest starred in Doctors just before the soap took its summer break.

The Men Behaving Badly star joined the soap in the role of Mary McRae in May, 2021.

She played the mistress of a late womaniser Malcolm Brown who ends up battling his wife, Joan, at his graveside. 

A source said: “It’s a big deal for Leslie to be back on the mainstream channels.

“Merseybeat and Men Behaving Badly were a long time ago and she’s been focussing on smaller personal projects which are made through her company BooksOffice.

“It’s only a short stint on Doctors but hopefully it reminds the nation what a talent she is and gets her name back out there a bit more for other roles.”

Leslie also returned to another medical series – Casualty.

Her character, Vanessa Lytton, who left spin-off soap Holby City in 2010, returned as a patient.

Harriet Shelton (Carley Stenson) – left

BBCEx-Hollyoaks actress Carley Stenson has joined the cast of Doctors[/caption]

Ex-Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson made her first appearance on Doctors in April 2021, as police sergeant Harriet Shelton.

The soap star, who played Steph Cunningham in Hollyoaks, said on social media at the time: “I couldn’t be more grateful to be working at this challenging time and extra happy it’s with a cracking storyline, with highly experienced, impressive actors in such a positive place.

“To be working again after so long, during this unnerving time..whilst pregnant, knowing how hard it has been for everyone. I know I am very very lucky, feel truly grateful and I’m extremely excited.

“Thank you @bbc#doctors for making this such a fun journey already.”

Seasoned copper Rob Hollins didn’t exactly welcome Harriet with open arms at the police station and quickly made clear he wasn’t happy about having to mentor her after she made her first appearance on the soap.

Speaking about her character’s tumultuous relationship with Rob, Carley told Inside Soap: “Harriet is a very determined and capable officer, and work-wise she’ll be going from strength to strength.

“We’ll see that there’s a camaraderie and trust between her and Rob.”

Harriet was eventually arrested, suspected of being responsible for the death of criminal Aaron Jeffries.

She last appeared in the BBC show on September 28, 2021.

But the actress has stated since that the end of her tenure on Doctors was mostly due to her being heavily pregnant.

Speaking to Inside Soap, once again, she mentioned that her character’s uniform had been “quite handy to hide” her growing bump.

Months before her last appearance, Carley welcomed a girl with her partner Danny Mac in June, 2021.

Luca McIntyre (Ross McLaren)  – joined

BBCStage star Ross McIntyre joined Doctors as Luca McIntyre in March 2021[/caption]

Ross McLaren joined the cast of Doctors as newcomer Luca McIntyre on February 24, 2021. 

Doctors is the stage star’s first stab at a TV role.

The actor, who has starred in stage productions including Big the Musical and Guys And Dolls, told Inside Soap upon joining the BBC show: “My grandma was already a Doctors viewer, and my mum’s now a massive fan, as she’s been watching it since I got the job – so it’s going to be very exciting, seeing my face pop up.”

Doctors viewers know that the new nurse practitioner didn’t have the best of starts on his first day at The Mill after he turned up late.

Just as Luca began to settle into his new job, it was revealed he was HIV-positive, homeless and sofa-surfing.

In a centric episode exploring his background, his past with homophobia in his former working place was revealed.

He also suffered a car accident which resulted in the death of his boyfriend Billy Parker (Daniel Cornish).

He has since developed a friendship with Emma Reid (Dido Miles) and has began living with her.

In another storyline, he was blackmailed by Jonno Parker (Tommy Sim’aan) but eventually helped him overcome his drug addiction.

His argumentative nature has led to confrontations with surgery partners Zara and Daniel.

Miranda Evans (Ruthie Henshall) – left

BBCRuthie Henshall began a recurring guest role on Doctors in March 2021[/caption]

Ruthie Henshall began a recurring guest role on Doctors in March 2021.

The stage star, who also appeared on the 2020 series of I’m A Celebrity, portrays Miranda Evans, the new head of the Patient Participation Group.

It became apparent that Miranda didn’t have the best reputation when receptionist Valerie Pitman revealed to Bear that she used to know Miranda – and that she was a terrible manager and a bully.

When Bear started gossiping about the new head of the PPG to a new colleague, he was stunned to discover he was talking to THE Miranda Evans.

After some failed attempts at flirting with Bear and some more drama with Valerie, Miranda left the programme, making her last appearance on April 22, 2021.

Makeda Sylvester (Angela Wynter) – Joined

BBCMakeda Sylvester is Bear Sylvester’s mother (played by Angela Wynter)[/caption]

Angela Wynter first appeared on the show as Makeda Sylvester on September 29, 2021, twelve years after a guest appearance in Doctors back in 2009.

Makeda is introduced as the mother of established character Bear Sylvester ( played by Dex Lee). 

She owned a Caribbean café since moving to Letherbridge but Bear suspects that there is an issue with the café. 

Bear persuades Makeda to see his doctor colleagues, who he promises Makeda will treat her well.

Zara informs Makeda that she needs a sigmoidoscopy and refers her to St Phils Hospital for the procedure.

Bear leaves nurse Cathy Jenkins (played by Laura Bayston), who continuously mispronounces Makeda’s name and speaks to her with an unkind attitude.

Makeda stands up for herself but Cathy responds with a racist attitude and Makeda refuses to be treated by her – the lack of treatment results in Makeda collapsing and going into a coma.