The actor reveals what it was really like starring on the medical drama and reveals how he ‘left door open’ for an iconic return.
Actor George Rainsford has opened up about his return to Casualty for the show’s huge 40th anniversary, revealing he would be open to putting his scrubs back on and resuming his role as Dr Ethan Hardy.
The actor, who played the popular doctor for almost a decade before leaving the BBC medical drama in 2023, shocked fans as he made a surprise return for the landmark anniversary episode.
Now, speaking exclusively to online slots site Betway, George has lifted the lid on his time on the show, from his nerve-wracking audition to leaving the door open for the potential return of Ethan, admitting there are still plenty of storylines that could be explored with the character.
What was your audition for Casualty like?
I’d done a couple of weeks on Doctors back in 2009, and a lot of the Casualty creative team had actually come through that route. The producer, Ez Hossington, was also the producer on Casualty, and Steve Hughes, who became the director I worked with most, had directed Doctors too. I got an audition for a new regular and went into the BBC for the first round. I honestly didn’t think anything of it because, up until that point, I hadn’t really been cast in professional roles where I was playing someone with a proper job. I looked quite young for my age, so I remember thinking, ‘Oh God, this is for a doctor. I’m never going to get that.’
I was quite surprised when I got a recall and was paired up with Richard Winsor, who played my brother Cal. We got on really well. I remember seeing this really tall, good-looking guy come into the room and thinking, ‘Oh damn, he’s going to get the part of Ethan,’ not realising he was being seen for Cal and I was being seen for Ethan. We ended up getting on really well and realised we were both Tottenham fans and had similar Midlands upbringings.
Then we had a third round, which was a screen test down in Cardiff, where they film the show. We had costumes and make-up and did a proper mini scene from Casualty. Steve directed us, and it felt like quite a long process. It all happened over about five weeks. I was quietly hopeful, but I knew there were a couple of other actors who had been in for Ethan, so it was a lovely surprise when I got it.
Was there something about Ethan’s character that you helped shape? Are you similar to Ethan?
To begin with, Ethan was definitely intended to be quite bookish, serious and studious, especially compared with his brother Cal, who was more into hedonistic things. The writers then see you act, and the character develops from there. Richard and I had a natural chemistry, so we wanted to make sure Ethan and Cal weren’t just endlessly fighting. It was about showing that they loved each other, then pulling them apart again.
As the years went on, because of everything that happened to Ethan, he naturally changed. He ditched his glasses and went through a lot of tragedy. A lot of people died, so there was always a sense of sadness at the heart of him. But he would always try to be caring with his patients and be a good doctor. That was his way of keeping hope. I’m sure there are similarities between Ethan and me because you inevitably bring a bit of yourself to a part.
How would you describe the anniversary episode without giving too much away?
Explosive, dramatic and heart-wrenching. There are lots of twists and turns, and there are moments where you think it’s going to go one way before it suddenly changes direction. It’s one of those brilliant episodes where everybody has something to do. It’s a big ensemble, so fans of all the different characters will absolutely love it because everybody is featured.
Do soaps need to change to attract younger viewers?
I wouldn’t know exactly what the departments are doing, but I think keeping a younger audience engaged is important. The good thing about Casualty is that it has a really loyal fanbase. There will be people who have genuinely watched the show for 40 years, but they obviously always want to bring in new audiences as well. I think that’s why they’ve put so much effort into making the anniversary special. Hopefully people will join the show at this point and stick with it.
I know they do these almost story-arc-style episodes now, and I think that’s quite nice because there are jumping-on points. Instead of joining a show where you don’t know any of the characters or what’s going on, they can complete little stories within 12 episodes. If you joined at that point, you could quite quickly pick up what’s happening and who the characters are, which is helpful when there’s so much choice out there.
What storyline left you most nervous to tackle?
I wouldn’t say I was nervous, but there were definitely storylines where I wanted to do them justice. Cal being killed was obviously a huge one, and later Felicia being killed. Another storyline I wanted to treat with a lot of care was the Huntington’s storyline, from the point where Ethan was diagnosed.
We explored different aspects of Huntington’s without necessarily doing symptomatic stuff. These are big, difficult subjects to tackle. We made sure we spoke to people from the Huntington’s Disease Association because I was really keen to make sure we were doing those stories justice and being true to what it might actually be like. So I was nervous in the sense that I didn’t want to give the wrong impression.
Did you have to do a lot of research for the Huntington’s storyline?
I spoke directly with people from the association and with families living with Huntington’s. I was really keen to shine a light on something that not a lot of people know about and do it authentically.
Were there any storylines you were particularly pleased to get?
I was always really lucky to get lots of interesting stories and really good scene partners. I got to do some good storylines with Richard and Olivia D’Lima, and then I did a good storyline with Amanda Mealing. There was lots of good stuff to play, and I felt really lucky.
How did you handle the bloody scenes on Casualty? Was there anything that left you squeamish?
I loved all that stuff. They used to do these clamshell thoracostomies, basically an open chest, and they were able to use fake lungs and a fake heart that were rigged to beat at the right time. They’d fill it with the correct amount of blood, so it looked incredibly realistic. I loved doing that kind of surgery and having the medics on set who would tell you exactly what you were doing. You’d be cracking through the sternum with your instrument, and I found it fascinating. You’re also just imagining that this is what people have to do in real life, which is crazy.
Did any of the cast struggle with the blood?
I don’t think so. Sometimes patients have to pretend to be sick, and I suppose nobody really likes that sensation. They give you something that looks quite like puke, usually apple juice with some sort of cup of soup, and I know that can set people off a little bit.
Were there any funny tricks of the trade on Casualty?
The fake blood was really sweet and sugary, and it got incredibly sticky. It had the right consistency, but it would stick to your gloves. We’d be rubbing our hands together trying to get the gloves clean, and if it got on your trainers you could hear it sticking to the floor.
Was there a serious scene that was actually a disaster to film?
In moments of high pressure and tension, especially when you haven’t got very long left in the day, and you’ve got something emotionally difficult to film, those are often the scenes where everybody starts laughing. There’s a natural pressure you put on yourself and then, over nothing, you can suddenly start laughing. I remember a massive episode where Sheila Hancock was in as a guest. She was in resus with her partner, and it was the end of both their lives. They’d both been injured, and it was a very loving story where they held hands.
Someone made a noise that sounded like a fart. Lee Mead started laughing, and when you see somebody struggling to keep it in, it’s really hard not to find it funny. The pressure of knowing these two actors were delivering something really good made it incredibly difficult to sustain, and as soon as the scene finished, we all started laughing.
Did you feel Ethan choosing Bodhi over his career was the right ending?
It was a conversation we had because I didn’t want to leave with complete finality. I wanted to leave the door open, or at least ajar, and they were really good about that. I fed back that I wanted him to leave with some hope because there had been so much sadness. He had lost all these people, so I think it felt quite good that he was off doing something else and had some time to explore that properly. I didn’t want to leave the show dead because I do think there are future storylines to play. I don’t know when or if that would ever happen, but I’d certainly be keen to do it.
Do you get recognised as Ethan? What do fans ask you?
It’ll often happen in places where you least expect it, like a petrol station or somewhere similar. When Ethan was really suffering in the storylines, people would often ask if they could give me a hug. I suppose he was quite vulnerable and sweet, and people probably felt sorry for him. I’m quite awkward in those situations. You just sort of go, ‘Yeah, sure, come on then.’
How did the opportunity to appear on Call the Midwife come about?
It was a very normal audition that my agent put in front of me. I went in on series one, so I did series one and two. I didn’t necessarily know what the show was going to be because it was so new, but I read the script, and it read so well. I thought it was such a good drama, with really clearly drawn characters and really moving stories.
I then had a recall with Jess, who played Jenny, the main character. I knew her a little bit through friends, so again there was a nice, natural chemistry. I remember they asked us to improvise an anecdote about how the characters had grown up together. I couldn’t think of anything in the moment, so I told a real-life story about how my wife and I were chased by a field of cows. I just told that story as the character and somehow got away with it.
What was it like working with such a big cast?
My main takeaway from that job was being in the room, on set and in read-throughs with these amazing actors who were stalwarts of British comedy, like Miranda Hart, Jenny Agutter and Pam Ferris. I remember thinking, ‘This is so exciting.’ I was quite young, so I was just trying to take it all in.
It was a really enjoyable job, and there were some real highlights. I remember an episode where we had to break into this swimming pool. My character had broken the midwives out for the day, and we filmed at this massive mansion in Hertfordshire. We spent all day in a swimming pool, mucking around, and it was just a really joyous job.
What was the filming process like for the Christmas specials? Was it actually filmed in winter?
I never got to do a Christmas special, which is why I’m so excited to be doing the Ludwig Christmas special, because those Christmas shows are part of people’s traditional festivities and I think it’s exciting to be part of them. I do know that they tend to film Christmas specials in the middle of summer, so you have the challenge of blue skies while wearing huge, thick coats and having to put fake snow down. Interestingly, Ludwig was shot back in January, and there was a crazy cold snap. We were in what was going to be a hotel set in Yorkshire, but it was actually in Rickmansworth. It was an amazing location but had no heating, so they had industrial-strength heaters firing up between takes because it was absolutely freezing.
Were there any memorable props or costumes?
My main memory was that the costumes were quite hot because everything was wool and quite heavy. Jimmy also had this amazing old car. I think it was an Austin 20, and it had this big stick gear. It was really hard to drive, and the problem was that I hadn’t even got my driving licence at that point. I had this terrifying day where I told the producers I couldn’t legally drive, but I’d had a few lessons. I knew there was a big scene where I had to drive the midwives up this huge driveway towards a stately home. I was told they were going to put the car on a low-loader and have someone else drive it, but then I found out they were actually going to put cameras on the side of the car and have me drive it. I told the director, ‘I can’t drive.’ There was silence for about 30 seconds, and then I said, ‘I’ll give it a go.’
Because it was private land, I was allowed to drive. I didn’t feel very confident, particularly because I had all the regulars in the back and very expensive camera equipment sealed to the car. I was told the lenses themselves were worth around £20,000. I had to drive and talk to Jenny while making sure I didn’t crash the car. It was a real test of my ability as an actor.
Why do you think people love Call the Midwife so much? And what makes it stand out to other Christmas TV shows?
I think it carries a sense of nostalgia because of where it’s set, and people love looking back. But at the heart of it, it tells very gritty stories. Christmas can carry both sides of that. There’s always a place for a ghost story at Christmas because you can’t just have all the froth and lightness. That’s why people love Dickens at Christmas. You need a bit of light and shade, and I think Call the Midwife can carry both. It has sweet comedy, light-hearted and lovable characters, but it can also carry dark, gritty stories.
How did you get into character as Jimmy?
I remember there weren’t a lot of men around, and Jimmy was definitely one of them. There was a story in series one where he lived in the nurses’ house for a bit because his accommodation had fallen through and Jenny had sneaked him in. I would be the only man in this group of women, and we’d sit around the dining room table as actors, chatting. Jimmy was quite cheeky and liked to tease people, so I think I was naturally doing that. I’d just muck around, basically.
Did you wish you’d stayed on Call the Midwife for longer?
Back then, the stories in series one and two were pretty much drawn from the books because they were originally based on three books by Jennifer Worth. I knew my character wouldn’t be in it forever because, in the books, he disappears after making his feelings known to Jenny and being rejected. She later mentions bumping into Jimmy in a Tesco car park, where he’s henpecked by his wife and she feels a bit sorry for him. I knew they weren’t going to do that big flash-forward, but what they did was transpose that idea into the period in which Call the Midwife was set.
They finished with him being with a girl who wasn’t best suited to him, but because he was a man who stood by his actions, he stayed with her. That storyline gave me a bonus episode or two, but I knew there unfortunately wasn’t going to be a proper future for him because he didn’t feature any more in the books.
Who was the biggest joker on the Call the Midwife set?
Miranda Hart was as funny as you’d want her to be. She was great, but beyond that she was really nice to chat to. I remember we had to share a car a few times. For those scenes where we were having a Sunday dinner, the director definitely trusted Miranda with coming up with an awkward joke or a funny moment. Miranda was able to bring it straight away. I loved working with her.
How do you think Miranda Hart will do on Celebrity Traitors?
I think Miranda could do really well. It’s a long time since we interacted, but I remember her being fiercely intelligent and quite perceptive. I can imagine her keeping herself to herself and observing quite well. I’ve no idea, though. I’m a massive Traitors fan. I absolutely love the show, so I saw the trailer the other day, and it was really exciting. It’s got an amazing mix of characters.
Would you ever do Celebrity Traitors or Strictly?
I went to watch Charles Venn when he was in Strictly Live, and there was something about seeing it live that made me nervous on his behalf. I can’t imagine how much guts it takes to stand up there on a Saturday night, live, and dance when you’ve barely rehearsed. I massively admire anyone who can do that. I’m not sure I’ve got the right personality for it.
As for Celebrity Traitors, the calibre of people they get is really A-list, so I’m not sure there’s going to be a spot for me. But it’s a fantastic show. I absolutely love it. I’ve been obsessed since series one, and with all the theatre tours I’ve done lately, when The Traitors is on, because we’ve been on stage, I rush home, don’t put my phone on and watch it straight away because I’m so scared of finding out any spoilers.
What are you working on now and what would be your dream role?
I’ve just done an episode of Professor T, the ITV detective drama with Ben Miller, which was shot over in Belgium. That was really good fun, and I love that kind of genre. Then, towards the back end of last year and this year, I was doing a big tour of the National Theatre production of Dear England, the story of Gareth Southgate and the England footballers throughout his tenure.
The show was a monster hit, and it was amazing to be part of. It was genuinely the best company I’ve ever worked with. We all got on really well, had a fantastic experience, and the show is a real audience-pleaser.
I’ve done a lot of theatre. I’ve done about four plays since I left Casualty, and I really enjoy it. I don’t know what the next thing is right now. I suppose I just want variety. I’d love to do more screen work, and I’d also love to do another play. I’d really like to work at the National Theatre again because I just love that theatre. I’d also love to work at places like the Donmar Warehouse or in the West End. I auditioned a few years ago for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and that’s definitely a show I’d love to do. Something like Stranger Things would be fantastic.
