“A Heartfelt Farewell: Cathy Shipton Reflects on the Axing of Doctors”

Former Casualty star Cathy Shipton has spoken out about the BBC’s decision to axe Doctors after 24 years.

Cathy played one of Casualty’s longest serving characters (Picture: Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images)

The actress, 67, walked the corridors of Holby City Hospital as Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin sporadically between 1986 and 2020.

Now, ahead of Doctors’ end, she’s set to appear in her third role.

It was announced last year that the popular daytime soap would be taken off air following cost-cutting measures across the corporation.

Final episodes, which are due to air in December, were filmed in March. At the time, director Niall Fraser took to Facebook to ask fans not to gather outside of their production base in Selly Oak, Birmingham, as the show wrapped.

She’s no stranger to a medical drama (Picture: Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images)

The cast and crew were celebrated earlier this week at the Inside Soap Awards when they were presented the gong for Outstanding Achievement.

In an interview with TV Times, Cathy spoke about her upcoming part and compared its cancellation to that of Casualty sister show Holby City, which ended in 2022.

‘It’s a real shame and a shock, and I think, sadly, an ill-advised decision’ she said.

‘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.’

She’s set to appear alongside Shayne Ward in her final Doctors role (Picture: BBC Studios)

Cathy continued: ‘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.’

Her episode of Doctors, Shock Therapy, will air tomorrow and sees her portray straight-talking Melissa Horner alongside former Coronation Street star Shayne Ward.

Whether or not she’d go onto other soaps, she 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!’

Former Casualty star Cathy Shipton has spoken out about the BBC’s decision to axe Doctors after 24 years. Cathy played one of Casualty’s longest serving characters (Picture: Don Smith/Radio Times/Getty Images) The actress, 67, walked the corridors of Holby City Hospital as Lisa ‘Duffy’ Duffin sporadically between 1986 and 2020. Now, ahead of Doctors’ end, she’s…