The news we'd been waiting to hear since Lee first mentioned his 'big TV role' in post-show chats at The Pheasantry finally broke today. And it was worth the wait! Click on the thumbnail (right) for the full BBC announcement.Lee is returning as a regular cast member to Casualty, the long-running BBC drama on which he first appeared in a guest role in 2011. He will play Lofty, "a likeable and popular nurse with a less-than-ordinary background" and will begin filming at BBC Cymru Wales' Roath Lock Studios later this year, with audiences able to catch him on screen for the first time in early 2014.
A tweet from @BBCCasualty later confirmed it would be March before Lee graces our TV screens.
Commenting on his role, Lee says: "I'm thrilled to be joining Casualty. I really enjoyed my guest appearance in 2011, but this will be a completely different challenge. When I first read about the character Lofty I didn't imagine I would be in the frame to play him. I am hoping he will charm audiences and they will get behind him. I can't wait to get started and to learn all of the medical jargon!"
Oliver Kent, Casualty Executive Producer, adds: "As the character Lofty was being developed, we couldn't think of anyone else better to play him. We can't wait to start filming and are thrilled to have Lee join the team. With a very different background to most of the other nurses, his clumsy charm is sure to win everyone over."
He clearly made a good impression on the team back in 2011!
Lee later made a welcome, though brief, return to Twitter to say:
The only downside to this fabulous news, is that the new album and UK tour Lee had been planning for next Spring will now be put on hold, but his Official Facebook page adds a more reassuring note: "Lee is keen to keep his singing voice in good order and there will hopefully be occasions when we can slip in a concert here and there when he has time off from Casualty".Thank you to everyone for the Casualty tweets today. Really excited to meet the cast and crew and start filming soon! Xx
— Lee Mead (@leemeadofficial) September 19, 2013
First published: 19 September 2013