When Melanie Hill joined Casualty in early 2024 as Siobhan McKenzie, the casting was welcomed by fans who knew her from previous work. Since then, she’s shared several insights into what drew her to the role, how she sees Siobhan, and what she hopes viewers will take away. Here’s a breakdown of what she’s said — and what it means for Holby’s ED.

---

Why Siobhan appealed to her

• Hill described Siobhan as someone she could relate to: “She has two adult kids and is married to a job that she loves.”

• She emphasized that Siobhan is “very close to me” in the sense of being grounded, experienced, caring, and someone who has “been around the block and seen it all, so she doesn’t take any nonsense.”

• Siobhan’s professionalism, her no-nonsense manner but also her loyalty to her team were features Hill says she liked.

---

Stepping into clinical leadership

• Hill was aware of the responsibility: Siobhan arrives as the ED’s clinical nurse manager (temporary in some instances).

• Her management style, as portrayed by Hill, is a mix of firmness and fairness. She sets high standards, expects the best, but cares deeply about her nurses. She is described as “like an old-fashioned ward sister… there to crack the whip but … very loyal to her staff.”

• Beyond just managing staff, Siobhan is drawn into complex personal and professional crises from early on: supporting the staff, dealing with leadership, confronting betrayal, dealing with her own marriage problems. Hill has spoken about her character going through very emotional stories.

---

On joining the show & Charlie Fairhead’s exit

• Hill expressed excitement about joining Casualty, particularly in a time of change. She was keen for Siobhan to bring strength to the ED when staff are overstretched and morale is low.

• She also mentioned how significant it was for her to be part of the episodes involving Charlie Fairhead’s exit — a legendary character in Casualty. She was honoured to be involved in those storylines.

---

What’s ahead for Siobhan

• Melanie Hill has teased that Siobhan’s personal life will become more of a storyline: her marriage to Rich is in serious trouble, betrayal and “being blindsided” are themes she will face.

• She’s also said there’s more coming in her professional life: challenging staff, balancing leadership, navigating loyalty vs professionalism vs personal crisis.

• Hill hopes Siobhan will come out “stronger” after what she goes through, especially in terms of picking up the pieces from her personal life.

---

Why fans might care

• Siobhan is not just another character: she represents leadership, compassion, and the tension between duty and personal life. She’s relatable to many viewers.

• Her role interacts with many current storylines: Faith, Stevie, Iain, and others. Because of that, what Hill says about Siobhan’s loyalty, strength, and vulnerability matters — her arcs may reshape several character relationships.

• The behind-scenes comments also suggest Siobhan may be a stabilizing force in the ED when others are falling, but also one who has flaws and personal stakes — very human.