TESTING times

MICHAEL STEVENSON on the challenges ahead for his popular paramedic

- ELAINE REILLY

CASUALTY SATURDAY, 9.10PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Hero paramedic lain Dean is no stranger to being at the forefront of Casualty's most action-packed storylines.

But in this week's instalment, the fan favourite character (played by Michael Stevenson) finds himself centre stage of a complex situation of a different kind when infatuated teenager Natalia Malinovsky (Zoe Brough) - the daughter of his nurse ex Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell) - tries to kiss him.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Michael, 43, gives TV Times his take on this latest challenging chapter for lain...

This episode sees lain tested to the limit, doesn't it?

Yes, it is one of the biggest roller coasters lain's ever been on. From the first scene, it's the shift from hell, with one of the most brutal and gripping patient stories I've ever filmed. Then, just when he thinks things can't get any worse, Natalia throws another curveball at him!