Cold Feet favourite Robert Bathurst is to join BBC hospital drama Casualty as a brilliant but deeply flawed surgeon who is mired in controversy from the moment he steps foot in the hospital.

The actor, best known for his role as downtrodden David Marsden in the long-running ITV comedy drama, and distinguished Sir Anthony Strallan in Downton Abbey, will make his debut as Russell Whitelaw in the spring.

The ultimate alpha male, Russell has unmatched skill when it comes to saving lives, but also displays a highly questionable attitude towards his colleagues – especially the women – and is often patronising, bullying and deeply inappropriate.

When the new series starts on BBC1 in March, Russell finds himself grappling with his moral compass when his daughter’s husband, an army medic, is seriously injured and needs treatment – but it becomes clear that he has been cheating on her.

A show source said: “This discovery sets off a chain of events that forces Russell to confront his own sense of control—and whether his grip on power is truly as unshakable as he believes.

He will make his debut as Russell Whitelaw in the spring (Image:

Alistair Heap)

“He must face the consequences of his actions along with personal loss and family dynamics. The truth is he’s pretty ghastly – but he must have been great fun to play.”

Bathurst’s portrayal of the go-getting surgeon promises is set to be gripping as he captures the character’s ruthless nature, plus his occasional moments of vulnerability.

Bathurst, 67, will appear on screen in the new series from March until June. He told told the Mirror that joining the Bafta-winning drama had been “very enjoyable”, adding: “It’s so well run, well written and well directed. They built an operating theatre especially for this block of stories so all of us, actors and crew, were on a voyage of discovery. As always with Casualty there were brilliantly qualified advisers on hand top make it seem as real as possible. The Emergency Department film set was just like being in a hospital – I kept getting lost.”

In Cold Feet, management consultant David was divorced from his wife Karen, played by Hermione Norris, and struggled with life after being made redundant from his high-flying job.

In Downton, Sir Anthony – who had suffered serious injuries in WWI – was due to marry Lady Edith (Laura Carmichael) in the third series but ended up leaving her at the altar after declaring that she deserved someone younger. Now, as Russell, David is likely to play his least likeable character yet, a man who is a hero in the operating theatre but a tyrant outside of it.