Terror on the tracks for Casualty stalwart Suzanne Packer

Casualty’s second longest-serving cast member Suzanne Packer has seen plenty of stunts.

If you think Casualty’s latest big stunt looks terrifying, star Suzanne Packer says you ought to have been there.

The BBC’s long-running medical drama has specialised in major accidents over the years. And this weekend sees the second of a two-parter about youngsters responsible for a train derailment.

Suzanne’s Clinical Nurse Manager Tess Bateman is on the train which careers off the tracks.

“It was as exciting to do as I hope it is to watch,” Suzanne told The Sunday Post.

“It really was quite scary to be in the middle of it. The train’s at an angle and there are real flames. We had to run through loads of detonated set-ups in the middle of the night. So I’m sure it looks really effective.”

Suzanne’s been part of other big stunt sequences, including a co-production with Holby City when a tanker caused an inferno in a building.

But she’s been used to being one of the heroic medics dashing to the rescue, not a victim in need of saving. And being the one in the gory injury make-up was a bit of a shock.

“We have some amazing experts when it comes to creating the wounds on the show,” says Suzanne.

“They have photographs of real victims in such tragedies and are very good at what they do. It is quite traumatic and there are certain things like that with me involved I wouldn’t want my son to see. It’d be quite alarming.”

Having joined 11 years ago, Suzanne has now clocked up more episodes than anyone except Derek Thompson whose Charlie Fairhead has been with the show since the very start.

“Originally they didn’t have as many episodes per year, only something like 15,” she explains.

“Now there are 48, so certainly in terms of episodes I think I’m the second longest-serving cast member.”

Suzanne has been with the show for so long she knows her character better than anyone on the production team.

“I was asked by a new director how many children I had,” she laughs.

The long years of delivering life-saving medical care has given Suzanne some reassurance about how to cope in a real medical emergency.

“The one thing having worked on this is that I don’t think I’d panic,” adds Suzanne.

“I’m in awe of the medics who come into advise us. And having watched them over the years I’ve seen they are relaxed and that there is actually a bit more time than we’re led to believe in TV dramas.”