DOCTOR'S orders

WILLIAM BECK on his dedicated medic leading the charge to protect Holby ED

- HANNAH DAVIES, ELAINE REILLY

CASUALTY SATURDAY, 8.30PM, BBC1 DRAMA 

It may usually be considered one of the unluckiest numbers, but when William Beck joins TV Times for an exclusive interview, he’s clearly relishing his 13th year of portraying Casualty fan favourite Dr Dylan Keogh.

‘Sometimes I think, “Wow, I’m still playing him after this amount of time,” which was never something that was envisaged,’ smiles the actor, who first appeared in the BBC1 medical drama on 12 March 2011, making him the show’s longest-serving current cast member following the departure of Derek Thompson as nurse Charlie Fairhead earlier this year.

‘The fascinating thing about Dylan is that he just gets more and more complex, and that’s why I’m still here. I’m extremely lucky!’

This week’s episode sees the ever-endearing medic embroiled in a bitter battle with Patrick Onley (played by Jamie Glover) for the heart of Holby ED, which is reeling following a television documentary exposing the department’s failings.

Having joined forces to expose the calculating clinical lead’s negligence, Dylan and fellow consultant Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) decide to intervene whenever Patrick is with a patient, all while digging for hard evidence against him.

Here, William chats about what lies ahead for his character, his favourite storylines and how he nearly ended up following a very different career path…

How do you feel about Dylan playing a key role in this storyline?

I always want to be at the centre of things. You have to share it out, but I really like it when it’s my turn! It’s a strange thing, but I genuinely don’t know who Dylan is yet, and that’s why I’m invested in him.