In Casualty’s Supply and Demand – Episode 3 paramedic Iain Dean is shaken to the core after receiving a phone call confirming him as next of kin for an unknown person. Later, when talking to his wife Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell) it becomes clear that his mum, Kim Harrison, is receiving end-of-life care at Willow Hill Hospice, but he is uncertain whether he wants to see her or not.
With his little sister Gemma (previously played by Shameless star Rebecca Ryan) now living in Thailand, it looks like Iain is feeling fresh responsibility towards his abusive, alcoholic mother Kim (previously played by Emmerdale star Siân Reeves).
Speaking to What to Watch earlier this month, Michael Stevenson, who plays the conflicted medic, has revealed that this news, “affects Iain going forward.” Full interview available here
But what lies ahead for the medic?
Here, Michael tells us more in this follow-up interview about the emotionally complex storyline…
What effect has this phone call on Iain, Michael?
His impulse to put his life on the line for others – is that tied to his mother, who has spent a lifetime risking her own life in a very different way?
How would you describe Kim, who was originally introduced during Casualty episode Binge Britain back in February 2017?
“She was horrible and not only did Iain have the horribleness of his mum but the aftermath of what she did to him in later episodes sparked off his depression and suicide storyline. There was a moment all those years ago, where all he wanted was for her to tell him she loved him and give him a hug. She didn’t and threw it back in his face, telling him that he was an attention seeker and had always been an attention seeker, sparking off a catalyst of horrible times for him. That ‘if it wasn’t for her’ moment gets revisited, whether you see it physically or as he’s dealing with it mentally.”
