This is the interview we managed to arrange for the site’s first birthday in April 2007 , though the interview was recorded late February. All answers are pretty much word for word what he replied. The interview was carried out at the Grand Theater in Wolverhampton. This is quite a long interview and the questions are out of order from when they were originally asked to make more sense.
Question 000 – From shelliwood: How did you get the scar under your right eye?
How did I get the scar under my right eye? That happened when I was about 13 and I was playing cricket and I got hit by a cricket ball.
I hit a ball and it caught the edge of the bat and flew back up into my face, and hit me right under the eye, split it wide open. But it’s been there and I’ve used it, on a couple of jobs I did I actually highlighted it slightly and made it a feature of the character.
Did I use it in Manimal? Did I or not, do you know I can’t remember. I mean it was more noticeable, it become progressively less noticeable, I don’t even notice it anymore actually. I haven’t ever had anything done about it but as one’s face changes so does it. It also stated a little higher it was nearer my eye so it gets a bit lower, force of gravity (chuckle) or something like that.
Question 003 – From Kerri: Do you find it weird that there are fan sites about you?
I suppose I don’t find it weird because I did when it first happened and therefore having accepted it, I know it’s there.
When Lonna Poland approached my manager in California, which was probably 1982, she would know better than I, but I’m sure it was 1982, it seem to me to a very strange thing, seemed to be rather an American thing because I hadn’t really experienced it much in the UK. We discussed it, my manger said, ‘No this is really fairly normal and it’s not a bad things at all it’s good for PR, it a good way of communicating with fans and we can control a lot of thing so forth to a degree.’ So anyway I said to Lonna that we’d do it and we did. So having made that judgment, from then on I knew about fan sites and therefore I knew what it could be like and Lonna was exceptionally good at running it.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep25 – The Miracle on Harry’s Last Shift First Aired: 17 February 2007 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Alice has made a big sign for reception, announcing the saving of the department. Jeff and Dixie cope with a difficult drunk in a fight on the street, and Jeff proves his prowess as a paramedic. Meanwhile, Harry and Selena deal with a pensioner brought in by Jeff, but they fail to save his life and Harry is distraught. Later, Nathan decides he needs to apologise to Harry. He goes up to his office and, through the blinds, sees Selena and Harry in a passionate embrace
Harry is elected Holby’s new MP – but we haven’t seen the last of actor Simon MacCorkindale on the hospital wards. . .
Ever since we heard that Simon MacCorkindale was planning to quit his role as Casualty’s Harry Harper, the Inside Soap team has be distraught. How on earth would the emergency department ever be able to cope without him? And who else could offer the patients such a charming bedside manner? Luckily, when we put these questions to the man himself, it didn’t take him long to quell our worries. . .
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep23 – The Silence of Friends First Aired: 3 February 2007 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Kelsey agonises over whether to tell Selena the truth about Nathan as their wedding approaches. Harry’s had enough when news of Alice’s harassment claim is leaked to the papers. Dixie makes an enemy of Tess.
IT was typical of a doctor to keep you waiting. When have they ever kept their appointment times?
But as my consultation was with one of Holby City’s finest medics, the stoical Harry Harper, I was prepared to wait.
In the four years that actor Simon MacCorkindale has worn the lead stethoscope and a furrowed brow in the BBC’s flagship Saturday night soap he has set more than a few hearts fluttering on and off set.
But can the 54-year-old actor cut the mustard while temporarily back in civvie street on stage at Milton Keynes Theatre this week in Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest?
There’s bad news for fans of hospital drama Casualty – it looks like Simon MacCorkindale, who plays Harry Harper, could soon be leaving the show. The star recently admitted that he’s considering quitting his role to pursue his cherished dream of big-screen success.
“There comes a point when you feel you’ve done enough,” reveals the 54-year-old. “And I’ve always felt that the best part of my career would be at the latter end. I want to go on as an actor and move up to the next level.”
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep21 – The Personal Touch First Aired: 20 January 2007 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Harry is suspended by Nathan, after he persuades Alice to make a formal complaint. Abs has an emotional day. Kelsey is forced into taking desperate measures, leading to a nasty surprise.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep20 – Stormy Weather First Aired: 13 January 2007 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Kelsey is forced to consider taking drastic action when her debt problems escalate and she is threatened with eviction. Elsewhere, Cyd’s loyalties are torn when Greg and Dixie reveal they are both applying for Josh’s job. Harry acts on Maggie’s advice that he needs to be more personable if he wants to succeed in his election campaign when he comforts a distressed Alice – but Nathan sees an opportunity he can’t resist. Meanwhile, he waits impatiently for Selena’s answer to his proposal.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep19 – Fish Out of Water First Aired: 6 January 2007 Character: Harry Harper
Description: The gang decide to get away from all the recent tragedy, but their seaside trip goes horribly wrong. Nathan’s mother causes havoc for her son, with unexpected results for Selena.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep18 – The Sunny Side of the Street: Part 2 First Aired: 31 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Prostitutes and punters make a desperate bid to escape as fire rages at the brothel. While staff at the hospital are alerted to the incident, Guppy provides back-up at the scene and treats an injured man inside the burning building following Maggie’s instructions over the phone. Meanwhile, Charlie finds Harry crying in his office – disillusioned with life and devastated by Ellen’s departure – and a suicidal Nessa climbs on to the hospital roof, unable to come to terms with her baby’s condition.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep17 – The Sunny Side of the Street: Part 1 First Aired: 30 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: When Kelsey is forced to borrow money from Guppy to make ends meet, a patient offers her advice on raising cash. As the staff try to come to terms with the aftermath of Josh’s actions, an accident involving a vanload of prisoners and a crowd of residents protesting against a brothel ensures the staff have their hands full
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep16 – Silent Night First Aired: 24 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Josh is found badly injured in the back of an ambulance. The outcome looks bleak and, although the team battle to save him, his life is left hanging in the balance. Laura, meanwhile, has taken off with her daughter, Rosie, leaving her husband, Matthew, at the hospital. Ellen desperately tries to find Rosie before it’s too late.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep15 – Killing Me Softly First Aired: 23 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Ellen is terrified that her cancer has returned. She goes for a scan and is on tenterhooks while she waits for the result. Elsewhere, Laura brings in her daughter, Rosie, who is suffering with stomach pains. Her condition worsens and the staff realise that all is not what it seems. Meanwhile, Josh’s world is crumbling around him and, feeling that he has nothing to lose, he puts his life, and that of his colleagues, in danger.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep14 – In Good Faith First Aired: 16 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Holby MP Steven attends the opening of the new leisure centre where he becomes involved in a tussle with an angry constituent and accidentally falls down the stairs. Steven is rushed to A&E, where he is treated by Harry, but his condition worsens and he dies. Meanwhile, Josh continues to isolate himself from the rest of the staff by being short-tempered with everyone. Later, Louis visits Charlie at the hospital and runs into Josh. The two men argue because Josh refuses to apologise for hitting Louis. Harsh words are exchanged and Charlie throws Josh out of his office. Elsewhere, devious Nathan hires an undercover journalist to help him bring about the downfall of Holby Hospital. However, his plans are foiled when Charlie becomes suspicious. Kelsey is still in financial difficulty and receives a final demand statement from her bank. She turns to Abs for the £200 she needs, but he can’t help her out, luckily, Maggie comes to her rescue.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep13 – The Edge of Fear First Aired: 9 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Selena is due to appear on television to speak to the Holby MP. Nathan tells her to ask the MP why the current Emergency Department should remain open when they could have a bigger, better ED at St James’s. However, his plan is foiled when Selena is quarantined when a patient called Martin is admitted to the hospital with radiation burns and Harry takes her place on the show. Meanwhile, Josh falls out with Dixie over the treatment of a patient and things get worse for him when another patient’s mother makes a complaint about him. Josh turns to Charlie for support but Charlie ignores him – he’s still angry because he believes that Josh hit Louis. Elsewhere, Kelsey is still broke and avoiding her landlord’s phone calls. She tells Ben that she can set him up with Alice – but he’ll have to pay her £20 for the privilege. However, Sam intervenes when he finds out what’s going on
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep12 – No Place Like… First Aired: 2 December 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: A homeless woman called Jackie is admitted to the ED. However, she walks out, despite being told that she has gangrene in her foot and will lose it if she leaves. Jackie returns to the streets and goes to an internet café when, suddenly, a car crashes into it at high speed. Jackie and a young man are trapped in the rubble and Maggie, Charlie and Josh are faced with an agonising decision – whether to amputate Jackie’s leg at the scene or risk both patients dying. Meanwhile, Maggie agrees to go out on a date with Charlie and Josh looks after Louis. Louis, is a handful, falls over and cuts his face. Josh tries to help him but spiteful Louis lies to Charlie, saying that Josh hit him. Elsewhere, Nathan goes on the radio to gain public attention for the plight of the ED. He is surprised when the rest of the staff are not impressed with his interview and he feels isolated. He decides to put his needs first, and makes a decision about the future.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep11 – All Through the Night First Aired: 25 November 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Ellen has a brainwave to draw the public’s attention to the closure of Holby ED, as the hospital drama continues. She ropes in Kelsey and Alice and they all jump into the City’s water fountain in white t-shirts, causing a media frenzy. They are interviewed by a local reporter. However, the stunt results in an unexpected consequence for Ellen… Meanwhile, Harry decides to express an interest in the position at St James. With the Trust insisting that if he accepts the job he mustn’t resist the closure of Holby ED, he has to decide where his loyalties lie. Elsewhere, Josh is hard on himself when he makes a mistake with a patient
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep10 – It’s Now or Never First Aired: 18 November 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Sean calls an ambulance when he discovers a lorry full of illegal immigrants. Comfort and Josh respond to the call. When Sean hurts his hand whilst helping and needs to go to hospital, Josh sees this as a perfect opportunity for Sean and Comfort to patch things up. Comfort realises she has made a huge mistake and rushes to catch him before he leaves. Harry, meanwhile, is stunned when the NHS Trust offers him the job of running the new, ‘super ED’ which he has previously been against. With Holby ED closing, and more money and power on offer, Harry reconsiders all his options
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep9 – To Be a Parent First Aired: 11 November 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Selena decides to carry out a major accident exercise in a bid to prove that Holby is better than St James’s ED, thus preventing the department’s closure. But when she rubs people up the wrong way, her plan results in chaos. However, Nathan announces that he has just received a call from the trust. Meanwhile, Sean finally admits to Comfort that he loves her and begs her to go to Australia with him. But Comfort is torn about whether or not to go. Elsewhere, Alice pretends to have a boyfriend in a bid to make Guppy jealous
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep8 – Born to Be Wild First Aired: 4 November 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Josh is due to attend an awards ceremony to mark his 20 years of service. But when a string of events makes him question society’s values, his decision whether or not to collect his much-deserved award hangs in the balance. Meanwhile, Comfort is blissfully happy after spending the night with Sean but her joy is short-lived when she overhears a private phone call. Elsewhere, Guppy attempts to impress Cyd but ends up pretending that it is his birthday as an excuse to ask her to the pub, and Kelsey suggests that Alice should try to make Guppy jealous to get his attention
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep7 – What You See Is What You Get First Aired: 28 October 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Two men from the Health Authority are visiting the hospital today and Nathan is feeling the pressure. It is a chaotic day and the team is keen to impress. Maggie walks in on Selena and Nathan kissing. Selena tries to explain but Maggie is angry and thinks that Nathan is favouring Selena because of their relationship. The atmosphere between the pair is tense and when they treat a patient together it doesn’t help the situation. Meanwhile, Comfort gets dressed up for her date with Sean, but doesn’t realise that he is taking her on a picnic. Things get off to an awkward start but the pair soon share a passionate kiss.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep6 – Angels and Demons First Aired: 21 October 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Comfort becomes emotionally involved in a case concerning a girl she feels is being abused, and fears for the girl’s safety. To make matters worse, Sean is certain that she is drunk on the job. Harry and Tess find themselves dealing with a boy whose symptoms have been ignored by his parents – is there a link to the girl that Comfort is worried about? Kelsey and Alice, meanwhile, continue to play their alphabet game, but Tess finds out and is less than impressed. Elsewhere, Nathan grows worried when he is called to an emergency board meeting but things are far worse than expected, and not just for him.
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep5 – Sons and Lovers First Aired: 14 October 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: When a woman and her baby are brought into the emergency department, the subject of child abuse is raised, leading to a tragic revelation involving the baby’s older brother. There is another surprise in store for the staff of Holby as Sean Maddox returns to work. While Charlie is pleased to see an old friend, Comfort is less than thrilled with his approach to the case. Elsewhere, Selena’s attempts to prove herself in her new position alongside Harry are causing more harm than good, and both Tess and Harry soon decide they have had enough. Meanwhile, Alice and Kelsey continue the alphabet game, while Cyd reveals an insightful talent for reading people
