Casualty viewers have missed the charismatic consultant Harry Harper since he left Holby General last February. But now he’s back!
Harry Harper is arguably TV’s most debonair doctor. But in the flesh, Casualty actor Simon MacCorkindale (55) is, if possible, even more dashing. Immaculately dressed and speaking in deep tones, which are every bit as reassuring and in control as his on-screen alter ego’s, he surely is every woman’s idea of a dream doctor. Many of the letters Simon receives express the wish that he was a real doctor.
Simon MacCorkindale is perhaps best recognised as Harry Harper, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, in the BBC’s most popular and enduring drama series Casualty.
A childhood love for drama led to a place at Studio ’68 of Theatre Arts in London aged 19. On completing the course, he toured in regional rep before his West End debut in the highly acclaimed Pygmalion. He worked extensively on British TV, and in 1976 appeared in the renowned I, Claudius and in Zeffirelli’s opulent Jesus of Nazareth.
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
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep4 – Heads Together First Aired: 1 October 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Selena and Nathan are back together, but she wants to keep it from her colleagues. Nathan tries to undermine Harry by offering him a position which he would share with Selena. Meanwhile, a new no-smoking policy on hospital premises for staff puts Kelsey in a bad mood. She cheers up when Alice has an idea for a staff game
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep – Waste of Space First Aired: 30 September 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Two new paramedics join the team but Josh is unimpressed by their laid back attitudes. Will he allow Dixie and Cyd to continue to be a team after Dixie criticises his management? Meanwhile Nathan worries about his future when he cuts himself but he does let her give him a blood test. And a practical joke played by Kelsey has unexpected consequences for Alice
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep2 – Different Worlds: Part 2 First Aired: 24 September 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: A difficult birth in Cambodia, makes Comfort realise her life is missing something – motherhood. So when the mother dies, she finds herself offering to raise the baby but will the family agree? Charlie admits to Duffy that he’s in love with Maggie but back in Holby her relationship with Somnag is taking an unexpected turn
Series: Casualty Episode: S21Ep1 – Different Worlds: Part 1 First Aired: 23 September 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Guppy’s surgical skills are put to the test when he, Charlie, Abs and Comfort head out to Cambodia to help Duffy. Meanwhile, in Holby, Maggie and Harry struggle to work with Somnang, a cambodian doctor.
Series: Casualty Episode: S20Ep47 – Get What You Deserve First Aired: 26 August 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: An overweight patient causes problems for Nathan when Harry learns a trust directive is to blame for her not getting treated, and quits his role as clinical director. Meanwhile, Nina defies her suspension to help at a dangerous call-out, and Kelsey gives Alice a makeover after learning of her crush on Guppy
Series: Casualty Episode: S20Ep46 – Last Orders First Aired: 19 August 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Guppy & Kelsey wake up together after the house party, leaving the doctor worried he has lost his virginity, while Nina tells Abs that their relationship is finally over. Back on the wards a seriously ill fisherman is admitted, but soon becomes clear his friend wants to take him back to sea. Also Ellen awaits her test results and Tess gets some devastating news from Mike
Series: Casualty Episode: S20Ep45 – The Truth Game First Aired: 12 August 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Abs and Nina’s relationship seems to be in trouble, as during a questions game she is unable to answer Abs’ question ‘do you love me?’. Meanwhile Tess is shocked to find out that Sam is moving in with Kelsey to avoid living with his dad who’s returning home for the first time since his accident
Series: Casualty Episode: S20Ep44 – Happy Hour First Aired: 5 August 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Nathan manipulates Sam into saying he didn’t dispose of the needle that pricked him correctly. Elsewhere, Nina comes to the rescue when a patient threatens Comfort.
Series: Casualty Episode: S20Ep43 – Perfect Day First Aired: 29 July 2006 Character: Harry Harper
Description: Kelsey assumes that Greg is gay when she notices he’s wearing mascara but is proved wrong when he playfully kisses Nina on the lips. Meanwhile Nathan is furious about his needle stick injury and is determined to find out who is responsible.
Doctor Dashing
