Amanda Mealing has described it as a ‘remarkable privilege’ to have starred on Casualty as she leaves the medical soap after a seven-year run

Casualty has confirmed the exit of one of its best-loved stars, Amanda Mealing.

The Connie Beauchamp actress joined Casualty in 2014, having already played her in Holby City, and has described the last 18 years as “the most remarkable privilege.”

During her stint, the actress has performed in some of the soap’s most powerful and hard-hitting plot lines – including the ED’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Other plots have included car crashes, rescue missions, drug addiction, and have grappled with difficult topics like cancer and euthanasia.

And recently fans have watched as Connie’s relationship with Jacob (Charles Venn) unravel as she copes with the pressures of the pandemic.

Amanda has spent nearly two decades as Connie (Image: PA)

Amanda said of her exit: “It has been the most remarkable privilege to play Connie for the last 18 years.

“When she first hit our screens there were few female leads that weren’t ‘the wife of…’, ‘the mistress of…’ or needed ‘rescuing’.

“Most important for me is knowing that Connie has inspired so many women and young girls to seek careers, seek independence and strive to be their best.”

She’s had some of the soap’s most dramatic storylines (Image: BBC/Alistair Heap)