Casualty actor Robert Bathurst has revealed his character will face “complications” amidst his ongoing abuse. In recent weeks, viewers have seen Robert’s character, Mr Russell Whitelaw, abuse his power as Director of Clinical Services throughout the hospital.

Most notably, he sexually assaulted nurse Rida Amaan while in surgery, standing behind her while in theatre, before moving in closer towards her and leaning up against her back while rubbing his arm on the top of her back. While operating, Mr Whitelaw also placed his head next to Rida’s, leaving her cornered.

However, despite her fear, Rida became aware of a group chat made by female colleagues across the country, exposing the wrongdoing of consultants in various hospitals. Despite Nicole (Sammy Dobson) pleading with Rida not to release the group, she went ahead and made it public, exposing Russell’s behaviour.

‌

In a dramatic twist, Rida’s boyfriend, Sean, who works alongside Russell as a registrar, became aware that the nurse had leaked the group to the general public. In a bid to record a confession from Russell, Rida asks for a career chat, but he declined the offer given the mood in the Holby City hospital.

Casualty star Robert Bathurst has hinted at ‘complications’ for Mr Russell Whitelaw(Image: BBC)

After working alongside one another to save councillor Anna Mills’ life in surgery, Russell reveals to Rida that he knows that she leaked the messages. While Rida attempted to record his behaviour, he tries to snatch her phone, but in the process, rips her headscarf off. Rida, who is a Muslim, wears her headscarf throughout her day at work.

Article continues below

Unbeknownst to Russell, his son-in-law, Flynn Byron, clinical lead of the Emergency Department, has witnessed the whole ordeal. Speaking about the upcoming episodes and the group chat, Robert told the Mirror: “What we don’t know is the insinuations and the accusations that are flying around in the form of rumour and how substantial those accusations are.

“In terms of Rida’s reaction to him, there is an interesting dynamic in people who work closely with each other, who are dependent on the preferment of their boss. It’s a big tension as to how far you support someone whose good word you’re dependent on for your professional survival.

Russell left Rida terrified after he moved in and found himself up against her(Image: BBC)

“It’s something that is abusable by the boss; it’s also a very real dilemma for people working under the boss and dependent on their say so, as to whether you get on. I think the drama has very cleverly drawn is this tension.” Reflecting on the operating scene, Robert said, “He got too close, and that may be indicative of how he treats other people.”

But how will Russell react to the news of the group chat being leaked? “He’s used to getting his own way, he has that sort of alpha male quality – deny, deny, deny,” he said. Robert continued: “You see a lot of politicians doing this when they get cornered. In his own mind, I don’t know how honest he is with himself.

“He’s prepared to deny anything and regards any complaints about him as incidents if there’s no evidence, other than someone’s word, and he would say what he did was getting too close to her, but beyond that, he would say there was nothing. He would deny any wrongdoing, I think.”

Article continues below

Russell would explain that “nothing is black and white” in “truth and falsehood”, but couldn’t be condemned on grey falsehoods. This, however, isn’t the only twist for Russell. Given that Flynn saw the incident with Rida unfold, the pair both have information on one another.

Russell discovers that Rida is the nurse who leaked the infamous group chat, and while confronting her, he rips her headscarf off (Image: BBC)

In Flynn’s first episode earlier this year, viewers quickly became aware he was having an affair behind his wife, Claire’s, back, which Russell later discovered when he was admitted to the hospital following a car crash. At the time, Russell never told his daughter about the affair.

Article continues below

“I think Russell is somebody who likes to be in control,” Robert said before explaining: “When he has the juice on someone, which he has with his son-in-law, in the protection of his daughter, he’s prepared to employ it and make sure he is prepared to use the information on his son-in-law in protecting his daughter.

“He thinks she’s being treated very badly, and he’s prepared to put the squeeze on his son-in-law; he has the right to protect his daughter and is prepared to use the power he has over Flynn.” Despite the abuse from Russell, both Flynn and his father-in-law have similar personality traits and are both determined to carry out their jobs the best they can.

“There are human frailties involved, the degree of venal behaviour is something that’s up for debate,” Robert said, adding: “Whether the person should lose their job is up for debate, it’s not wholly clear. But what is true, you’re not dealing with very particular, good people, and people aren’t necessarily all good or bad, there is that measure of grey.”

Could there be tension between Russell and his son-in-law Flynn?(Image: BBC)

“He is the author of his own misfortune,” said Robert of Russell, explaining: “When people are cornered, they behave robustly. He would say his behaviour isn’t as gross as it’s painted.” The development of his abusive storyline “develops sharply,” and fans will see a strong argument of denial from Whitelaw.

“His denial in the face of accusation is really interesting, I think he audience will take sides in this,” he said, adding: “I think hopefully, there’s a sort of human complication in there which doesn’t make the reaction of the audience taken for granted, there’s no obvious line to take with him.”

When Whitelaw initially appeared in the Emergency Department, despite his bold and often rude persona, Rida would stand up to him and assert her own power, despite being less senior than him. But was this a plan for him to get people on his side? Robert argues it wasn’t adding that Russell was an experienced surgeon and wanted the best team around him.

But he says that his character is “somebody who likes to manipulate a situation,” going on to add: “His priority is to get the job done and get it done successfully. He’s had a very good record at that hospital simply in terms of his medical interventions.

“So this is something that he wants to preserve for getting people on side. He wants to get people who he thinks can do the job. Of course, things develop.”