Casualty viewers have expressed strong reactions to the latest storyline involving Faith Cadogan, played by Kirsty Mitchell, who falsely claimed to have cancer after being caught stealing diazepam from the hospital. The episode aired on Saturday, 12th August 2023.
In the episode, Stevie Nash, portrayed by Elinor Lawless, discovered the stolen medication in Faith's locker and confronted her. Faith then lied about having cancer to justify her actions. Fans took to social media to share their frustration, with one writing, 'This storyline with Faith is stressing me out.' Another commented, 'Faith genuinely deserves comeuppance for what she’s doing to Stevie now.'
Some viewers criticised the use of cancer in the plot, with one stating, 'I don’t like storylines that use cancer when a character doesn’t actually have it.' Others praised the performances, noting, 'Kirsty and Elinor in that scene was amazing.'
Kirsty Mitchell addressed the backlash on Twitter, saying, 'I understand that last night's episode might have touched upon a delicate subject... It's important to remember that the show's creative team aims to spark conversations.' She added, 'Your support of Faith means the world to me.'
Fans responded with understanding, with one replying, 'You don't need to explain anything to us... she's in a downward spiral because of emotional trauma.' Casualty continues to air on BBC One on Saturdays, with episodes available on BBC iPlayer.
