Matters of the HEART

GEORGE RAINSFORD on potential new romance for fan favourite Ethan

- ELAINE REILLY

CASUALTY

SATURDAY, 8.40PM & 9.20PM, BBC1 DRAMA

Consultant Ethan Hardy could do with the calming presence of First Dates maître d' Fred Sirieix this week, as he embarks on his first romantic rendezvous since the tragic death of his fiancée, paramedic Fenisha Khatri.

In the second instalment of a Casualty double bill this Saturday, the flustered medic (George Rainsford) has dinner with police officer Amy (Doctor Who star Catrin Stewart) and nervously opens their meeting with the classic clanger, 'Do you come here often?'

As the episode explores whether Ethan is ready to move on, fans of the BBC1 medical drama will be pleased to hear that actor Olivia D'Lima reprises her role as Fenisha in flashback sequences.

Here, in an exclusive interview, George, 39, tells TV Times more about this new chapter for his character...

Thanks for taking time out from your busy filming schedule to chat to us today, George!

My pleasure! I have my family on set today and they've just done a quick tour, which has been fun.

It's the first time in ages that we've been able to have people in the studio, and my kids [George and his wife, actor Jaimi Barbakoff, have two boys] have been looking at the prosthetics and weird stuff!

Until recently, I don't think they quite understood my job, but now they've got a better idea.

This Saturday’s special episode on Ethan has three interwoven time frames – one where Fenisha is still alive, another when Ethan meets Amy, and the present- day date night. How was it filming all of this?