Casualty actress Cathy Shipton has revealed her character Duffy’s dementia storyline is her toughest plot to date

Casualty actress Cathy Shipton, who plays Duffy on the BBC drama, has revealed her character’s dementia storyline is her “toughest” plot to date.

The star has been on the show for over 30 years, and recent scenes saw the character learn she could be in the early stages of vascular dementia.

Viewers were devastated for the character, who finally confided in her ex Charlie Fairhead about her health woes.

Speaking on This Morning on Thursday, Cathy revealed all about the storyline, and said it was “bittersweet”.

Duffy actress Cathy Shipton revealed all about her new storyline (Image: ITV)

She explained to hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: “How it’s structured on the show, Charlie is so busy. She’s working the night shifts, he’s the day shifts.

“They’re living parallel lives, she’s not leaning on him. She does find herself increasingly isolated with no one to share this with.”

Cathy also talked of Duffy being in “denial”, as her and Charlie continue to keep her diagnosis a secret.

Casualty fans were devastated as Duffy announced her dementia diagnosis (Image: BBC)
With Duffy in a high position at work, and already having made near mistakes, Charlie’s left worried about whether she’s okay to continue her role in the hospital.

Actress Cathy went on to discuss how “tough” the storyline has been, while a lot of “care” has been put into it.

She said: “It’s undoubtedly the toughest [storyline] and one of the things, it’s a bittersweet storyline as a performer as obviously the show has a responsibility.

Cathy discussed the ‘tough’ scenes (Image: ITV)

“Everything is based on fact that we put on the screen, for a guest character or a regular, and people are going trough a lot of the issues we show in their lives.

“They’ve taken a lot of care and are working with Dementia UK. They’ve played it out very slowly, and the writing has been so careful and so thoughtful.”