Melanie Hill as Siobhan McKenzie in Casualty. (Image credit: BBC PUBLIC SERVICE)
Melanie Hill’s CV speaks for itself. Since making her onscreen debut in the iconic police procedural Juliet Bravo in 1984, the actor’s 40 year career has encompassed a string of popular UK dramas and hit films as well as starring roles alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood.
This week she joins the cast of Casualty as newly appointed clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie and, as BBC1’s medical drama enters an exhilarating era of change, she fits into the role like a hand into a surgical glove.
“I’m super excited to be able to talk about Siobhan and joining Casualty,” Melanie tells us when she calls for an exclusive chat about this new chapter. “I started filming in July 2023 and it’s been massively hard to keep secret. Basically, I’ve fallen in love with Siobhan, she’s a real gift and I am thrilled I got the part.”
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Her introduction in Haunted spells out exactly why an experienced, firm but fair, no-nonsense medic is needed at Holby ED — the staff are stressed, essential equipment is broken, and morale is flatlining.
“First of all I would say that she’s very close to me – she has two adult kids and is married to a job that she loves. Siobhan cares about people, she’s also been around the block and seen it all, so she doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone!”
How would you describe her management style?
“Siobhan is like an old fashioned ward sister. She’s there to crack the whip but has a strong vested interest in her nurses. She knows that the more she puts into these relationships, the more she’s going to get out of them. At this point she’s finding out their characters, but as you gradually get to know her you’ll see she is very loyal to her staff.”
She’s thrown straight into the action in your first episode when consultant Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) is arrested by PC Harry Sinclair (Rod Hallett) after she suspects him of abusing his wife. What does Siobhan make of this dramatic development?
“It’s a massive shock and, because Siobhan’s new in the job, she feels she can’t march in and start throwing her weight around too much, but she is really suspicious of what Harry’s up to.
“When Siobhan first meets Stevie there’s mutual respect there; she can tell the doctor is a force of nature and a strong part of the ED. It’s obviously a bad time in Stevie’s life, so Siobhan is there in the background like Columbo – but in comfy scrubs instead of a dirty old mac – ready to unravel it all to help Stevie out.”Siobhan’s introduction heralds the end of nurse Charlie Fairhead’s reign and the departure of Derek Thompson, who’s played him since the show began in September 1986. How do you feel about being involved in his exit storyline?
“What can you say about Derek? He is Casualty, isn’t he? When I first walked on the set I was really nervous and I said to him, ‘You probably don’t remember me, but I was on the show 20 odd years ago’ (Melanie guest starred in an episode in 1993). He said, ‘I do remember you actually!’ and it was marvellous, because even if he was lying, God bless him, he put me at my ease. He was just so kind and it’s an honour to be in his final episodes and actual final scenes.”
