Caleb Knight

Caleb Knight
Casualty character
Richard Winsor as Caleb Knight
First appearance"Brothers at Arms"
18 January 2014
Last appearance"Same Old Same Old"
21 August 2021
Portrayed byRichard Winsor
Spinoff(s)"On Call" (2015)
In-universe information
OccupationSpecialist registrar, emergency medicine
Significant otherTaylor Ashbie
Alicia Munroe
Relatives
  • Emilie Groome (mother)
  • Matilda Hardy (adoptive mother)
  • Ethan Hardy (brother)
  • Bodhi Khatri (nephew)

Caleb "Cal" Knight is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Casualty, played by actor Richard Winsor. He first appeared in the series twenty-eight episode "Brothers at Arms", broadcast on 18 January 2014. Winsor had previously auditioned for a role in Casualty's spin-off show Holby City. Producers were impressed and recalled him to read for the part of Cal. Winsor's casting was announced alongside George Rainsford who was hired to play Cal's brother Ethan Hardy. The pair had to pass a screen test together as producers were looking for a strong sibling chemistry. Cal's role in the show is a Specialist registrar in emergency medicine. He was originally introduced as a locum. The medic is played as a lothario and womaniser type character. He can manipulate those around him with charm to better his career. Writers gave Cal a backstory detailing the difficult relationship with his father and brother. Despite having the same parents Cal and Ethan had different upbringings, which sets up a sibling rivalry. Their relationship has been important in the development of both characters. Executive producer Oliver Kent has called the character consistent because when faced with trauma, Cal gets drunk, sleeps with women and makes a fool of himself.

The character has been subject to stories including a relationship with Taylor Ashbie (Sarah Jayne Dunn). She is later exposed as a con artist and steals Ethan's inheritance money. In 2015, the show explored a story focusing on Cal and Ethan's family history. The storyline was pitched by Casualty's co-creator Paul Unwin. It features Cal becoming a father to Matilda and making an effort to change his life. He learns that she is not his biological daughter and gives her up. He then discovers that he was adopted and locates his biological mother Emilie Groome (Carol Royle). She suffers from Huntington's disease and fears he has inherited the disease. He then has to cope with Emilie's eventual death. Winsor made his final appearance as Cal, following his on-screen death, in the series thirty-one episode "Reap the Whirlwind − Part Two", broadcast on 29 April 2017. He reprised the role for a guest stint in 2021. The character was well received by television drama critics, and Winsor received a nomination for a Best Drama Star award for his portrayal of Cal.