Say it ain’t so! Casualty just killed off popular paramedic Sam Nicholls as she succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the earlier explosion.
The show aired one of its most dramatic episodes in a long time tonight (August 11), when the ambulance crew became involved in a devastating motorway pile-up.
Although Iain managed to walk away from the tragedy unscathed, it was a very different story for Sam – who later suffered a fatal bleed back at the ambulance station. The closing moments of the episode saw Iain desperately try and resuscitate a lifeless Sam, but we can reveal that it is sadly the end for her.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Charlotte Salt – who returned as Sam last year – to get the scoop on her shock exit and future plans.
How are you feeling now that your time on the show is over?
“Well it’s been quite a few weeks now since we filmed it, but it’s all been quite emotional. It was such an adrenaline-filled episode and we were filming at night, so it was quite intense. And then I had to say goodbye to everyone, and all those friendships – which obviously I’ve already done once before already. So I’m feeling a little strange. Even things like lying in bed beyond 5am is a whole new concept to me!”
What was your main reason for leaving?
“They just felt, for Sam, it was the right thing to do. They wanted to create a really lovely, dramatic exit for me to leave on and the opportunity arose when they planned this huge motorway pile-up. Iain was the guy on call, and given his relationship with Sam, it seemed like the perfect moment to throw a real spanner in the works.”
When you returned last year, did you always know you wouldn’t be staying long-term?
“Pretty much. I knew I didn’t want to come back long-term as I’ve got a small child and we are based up in London. It was nice to come back for a bit and then go on to do individual programmes, rather than continuous drama.”
How did you feel about being killed off? Would you have preferred the door to have been left open like it was last time?
“Yeah, it was a bit of a shock. It was the producer’s idea as she was pretty intent that if you are going to go, then you’ve got to go properly – you don’t want a situation where you just keep coming back. I was never going to going to come back again as I’ve already done that once, so we wanted her to go out on a bang.”
Does it feel different leaving this time round knowing you can’t return again?
“Yes definitely, it’s quite sad. There is a real finality to it rather than ‘Oh well, I can always come back one day’. For me, personally and professionally, this way I can leave on a real high and move forward.”
Is there a part of you that’s disappointed that this has ruined the happy ending that Sam got previously?
“Yes, it’s all really tragic. But at the same time, it was great to do something different – you can’t just be repetitive. It would have been boring for viewers to see her leave again if there was no dramatic reason for it.”
Are you glad Sam’s exit has been kept such a top secret?
“Yes, definitely. I think it will have a big impact and I think viewers will be shocked. There is so little we are shocked with these days because of spoilers and all of that, but hopefully they won’t have seen this coming. I know that people are alluding to a death, but hopefully they won’t have guessed it was Sam.”
What was it like to be involved in such an action-packed episode?
“It was exhausting! As you can see, the whole thing was shot at night. It was long hours and I am not very good when I should be asleep! It was pretty intense, obviously I have a small child at home too, so it was certainly interesting. None of us got much sleep and poor Michael Stevenson [Iain] had to listen to me moaning.
“Saying all that, there is such a camaraderie that you all find at 2am when you’re worrying that the sun is going to come up soon and you’ve got to get the last shot in. We were working with Steve Brett, who is an amazing Casualty director. I was so happy to have him shoot my final episode as I just knew he’d smash it.”
What was it like filming Sam’s death scene?
“It was really sad. Weirdly, it was the first scene we shot of the whole episode, so it was very strange to do that before everything else. But then we had to some pick-up shots on that scene which came to be the very last thing I shot. It was really sad to be there and doing the death scene, as that really is the end of the character.
“I feel so connected with Sam – she has been such a huge part of my life. I met my husband on the show and went back there having had a baby. But then they decided to kill her off! It’s sad.”
How do you think this is going to impact Iain in the aftermath? Is there going to be a lot of guilt there?
“Yes. Our producer Lucy very much wanted this to be the year of the paramedics and one of the reasons for all this is that we will see Iain spiral into a demise afterwards. We will see a dark side to him that we haven’t really seen before. They needed something to kick start that and for something to be that reason. As you saw, it was such an emotional moment at the end there with Sam and it spirals Iain into a very dark place.”
Have you enjoyed being back?
“I’ve absolutely loved it. I went back with a three-month-old baby so I was very nervous and apprehensive. Having taken time out during pregnancy, you feel so out of the loop, but I was welcomed back with such open arms by essentially a family – and one I know so well. It was just a really wonderful experience.”
Was it difficult juggling the long hours at Casualty with a baby?
“Yes, it’s very difficult and that was one of the reasons why I decided that my time was up on Casualty. It’s hard for any working mum but what added to the difficulty was the location – the two and a half hour commute and having to spend nights away. The positive is that you get back on your feet straight away and you get to feel like yourself – you’re not just somebody’s mum. It was a wonderful feeling getting back to my old self so quickly, but it was also quite emotional.”
Has it felt different playing a paramedic as opposed to a doctor?
“Very different, but also more exhausting. Michael said to me when I first arrived, ‘I hope you are prepared to actually do some work!’ and I remember thinking ‘How cheeky, I used to do lots of work as a doctor!’. And yes, you do lots of work playing a doctor and have lots of long words, but you are also in the comfort of the hospital.
“So to be out as a paramedic in the rain, snow, boiling heat – it definitely takes its toll. You are also filming on location everyday, which is exhausting but equally exciting as it never gets repetitive and it never gets old. Every day is very much a new experience, and in a way, you could be filming any show – like an action film or something. It definitely kept it fresh.”
Some fans seem disappointed that we never found out what happened between Sam and Tom. Would you have liked that to have been explored more?
“Yes, again, it’s quite sad. When I went back as Sam, I was hoping they’d explore more of what happened with Tom, what happened with Iain, and more of her original backstory. That was the original plan I think but it just took a different direction. Ultimately, the show has to be progressive and I know our diehard fans really hang in there and know all the history, but there are also a lot of fans who are new to Casualty and I think in the end they wanted to look to the future and form new relationships on the screen in front of you.”
Who are you going to miss the most?
“I think Michael Stevenson. We spent everyday together and shared the highs and the lows. He was just such a rock, especially with my emotional vulnerability at the beginning being a new mum. He has three children of his own and was just brilliantly supportive. He is also used to working those long hours so we helped each other get through it. We became very, very close and I think we’ll always be great friends.”
What’s next for you now?
“I am taking a bit of time of time out. I am spending the next month in Portugal with my little one, which will be nice – just catching up on a bit of lost time really. Then come September, I’ve got a new agent and I am just going to kick start things. So we’ll see.”
Casualty continues on Saturday, August 18 on BBC One.
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