BBC Doctors' most surprising stars as legendary soap is axed after 23 years
Doctors has featured cameos from a whole host of famous faces since the iconic BBC soap opera launched all the way back in 2000.
From Hollywood stars to actresses playing the Queen, here The Mirror takes a look at all of the surprising celebrities to appear in BBC Doctors after the popular programme's axing following 23 years on TV.
Filming finishes in March 2024, with the final episodes to play out in December. Bosses blamed a "super inflation" in drama production for the show's demise, quoting "significant increases" in costs making the show. Despite its imminent end, who are some of the most shocking stars to grace the well-known medical drama?
Tom Ellis
Known for playing Lucifer in the worldwide famous series of the same name, Tom Ellis once briefly starred in BBC Doctors. Making his medical debut, Tom played Ricky Adams in a single soap episode in 2005 before taking on the character of Dr Oliver Cousins in the rival soap EastEnders for 29 episodes in 2006.
However, it was his portrayal as the love of Miranda's life, Gary Preston, in the self-titled BBC comedy by Miranda Hart that truly catapulted his career. Tom also appeared in Merlin before more recent roles in Once Upon a Time and Isn't It Romantic.
Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries
Denise Welch
The Loose Women star had two roles in the soap (BBC)Another surprising star who played a character that some viewers may have even forgotten about is Loose Women's Denise Welch. She actually had two roles, with the first being introduced in 2004 when she starred as Jane Howard in two stories.
It was over a decade later that she returned with a brand-new character, playing the "house guest from hell" Judith Whitney all the way back in January 2015. Denise has been a stalwart of UK telly for years with stints in Coronation Street, Down To Earth and Waterloo Road. She won Celebrity Big Brother 2012 and went on to announce her split from her husband of 24 years, actor Tim Healy, live on Loose Women.
Emilia Clarke
Emilia made her TV debut in Doctors (BBC)Dragon Queen Emilia Clarke, known for her role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones was amongst the Hollywood stars making shock appearances in Doctors. She actually made her TV debut on the soap, starring as a fresh-faced schoolgirl.
She famously joked about her role in Doctors, revealing a member of the show's crew "let one rip" during filming. After they passed wind, Emilia told them to just "smell the smell" after being told she only had one important take.
Lisa Riley
Known as Mandy Dingle from Emmerdale and her brief role in Coronation Street, soap star Lisa Riley also appeared in Doctors. She played two roles, starting as Laura Mowbray in 2003, before returning in 2012 to play Sandra Reynolds.
Lisa became a household name as Mandy in Emmerdale, a role she played for over six years. She took over from Jeremy Beadle as the host of You’ve Been Framed and has also appeared on stage as part of Calendar Girls and The Vagina Monologues. In 2012 she took part in Strictly Come Dancing and came tenth in the show.
Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne as Rob Huntley, in Doctors (BBC/PA)Fantastic Beasts star Eddie Redmayne is yet another surprising famous face to appear in Doctors, joining the show all the way back in 2003 aged just 21. It was one of his first ever acting roles and he played character Rob Huntley.
He later went onto appear in several Hollywood films after launching his career on TV screens, including Les Miserables, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and The Theory of Everything, where he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Sheridan Smith
Known for various roles in both TV and film, including recent success in Channel 5's The Teacher, Sheridan Smith is one the biggest names in the industry. With a miles-long CV, she also, perhaps unsurprisingly, had a role in Doctors.
Not just one, various. She played characters in both The Royal Family and Holby City before breaking into Doctors, playing patient Claire in 2000 and Jackie Leavis in 2004. A year after her Doctors debut, she landed her memorable role as Janet in Two Pints Of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.
Sue Cleaver feels 'more empowered' as she labels her 50s her 'happiest decade'
Kym Marsh
Coronation Street legend Kym Marsh, known for her character Michelle Connor, actually made one of her first acting appearances on Doctors. Before an on-screen drama career, she was known as one fifth of Hear’Say.
Part of the pop band put together on the reality series Popstars, Kym broke into the world of acting in one early episode of Doctors, playing a character called Ruth Parry. She later went on to appear in Hollyoaks in the City, before Corrie.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
