EXCLUSIVE: Anna Chell joined Casualty in April 2023 as Jodie Whyte and was joined by her on-screen father Max Cristie, played by Nigel Harman, less than a year later.

Casualty star Anna Chell, who plays Jodie Whyte in the long-running BBC medical drama, has opened up about the departure of her on-screen father Max Cristie, played by Nigel Harman. Anna joined the show in April 2023 and Nigel was added to the cast in February 2024 as her estranged dad so the pair have worked quite closely together for a year.

“I’ve absolutely loved working with Nigel I had such a great time with him and I definitely miss him,” she exclusively told Express.co.uk. “It’s really strange because our relationship, Anna and Nigel, kind of played in a similar way that Jodie and Max’s did because I’d never met Nige before.

“So it was like, I’m getting to know Nigel, as Anna and Jodie were getting to know Max. So it really worked in a similar kind of timeframe.

“But obviously, we got on straight away and it was lovely to work with him. I learned a lot so yeah I do miss him,” she confessed.

Strictly Come Dancing star Nigel’s departure from the show has been well-publicised and his final episode airs tonight (March 2). It comes after Max came close to death with kidney failure until Jodie stepped in and offered him one of hers.

Anna Chell who plays Jodie Whyte in Casualty will miss co-star Nigel Harman (Image: BBC)

Anna admits that this will have repercussions for her character, who had only recently rebuilt her relationship with her dad.

“This is absolutely huge for Jodie. I mean, she’s given him a part for her body,” she says.

“Given that he’s not exactly been the best and not really been there throughout her life she she still wants him there now.

“That’s why she’s doing this, in the hope that he will be with her. She finally found someone and had someone after losing her mum,” she opines.

“But there’s a lot of emotion and it’s very high, high emotion. When it’s family it’s a lot isn’t it – it’s way more than you feel [usually].

Nigel Harman is leaving the role of Max Cristie in Casualty (Image: BBC)

Interestingly the first person Jodie confides in about her father leaving is paramedic Teddy Gower (Milo Clarke) with whom she had a one-night stand in the past. Since she is now all alone, it begs the question could he possibly fill the void in her life?

“You have seen two characters that have been through similar things in terms of grief. With Teddy losing his uncle Gethin and Jodie losing her mum.

“That’s how they first kind of connected. Yeah, there might be a future for them,” she ruminates.

“Especially I think as Teddy kind of gives Jodie a bit of a backbone of support in a way. Yeah, you’ll have to stay tuned to watch that play out,” she teases.