Nigel Harman has left his role as Max Cristie in the long-running BBC medical drama Casualty a year after he first appeared on our screens.

Casualty fans couldn’t believe it when Max Cristie (played by Nigel Harman) callously left Holby ED after receiving a new kidney from daughter Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell). The medic had been seriously ill for several months and desperately needed a transplant. Jodie stepped up to offer him her organ despite the fact that they had been estranged for years.

As the latest episode opened, both were back on their feet after the serious operation. However, Max soon revealed that he was leaving for South Sudan after getting an appointment from Medics Of The World – a Doctors Without Borders style operation.

A confused Jodie pointed out that she had just given him part of her body. However, he was adamant he had applied ages ago and it was an ambition of his and she had to let him live his life.

An obviously upset Jodie later confided in paramedic Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke). He was quite taken aback that Max would up and leave after getting his daughter’s kidney but she assured him she was fine although her voice was cracking as she spoke.

Viewers were horrified by his actions and they took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts.

Jodie Whyte was devastated when her father Max Cristie told her he was leaving Holby (Image: BBC)

@griannedoherty lamented: “Farewell Max Christie aka Nigel Harman. At least he wasn’t actually killed off after everything, just a shame him & Jodie actually left it on such bad terms sadly especially given she essentially just saved his life #Casualty,” followed by a broken heart emoji. (sic)

Laura wrote: “Max’s exit story. 3 minutes screen time? Character behaviour completely against what has been building up. Lazy writing. Very disappointed.” (sic)

Shirley fumed: “So we don’t see the transplant and now Max is fine and leaving! Talk about rushed ending for lovely Nigel.” (sic)

“Shame we didn’t get to see more of the Max/Dylan backstory, such a great dynamic #Casualty,” wrote Kelly.

“Max getting the kidney and now just casually doing a runner,” Evann penned incredulously.

Jodie Whyte confides her upset in Teddy Gowan in Casualty (Image: BBC)

Nigel’s time in the ED came to a rather underwhelming end as he wasn’t seen back on screens after that scene in what was a jam-packed episode.

Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) had locked herself away from the world and was struggling following her arrest last week. However Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) finally uncovered the truth about PC Harry’s (Rod Hallet) violence towards his wife and he was arrested, which appears to indicate Stevie.

Elsewhere Ian Dean (Michael Stevenson) got a call from an obviously wasted Natalia Malinovsky (Zoe Brough) and was forced to go and collect her from a party. When the teen made yet another pass at him he was forced to tell her mother Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell) what had been going on leading her to warn him to stay away from her family.