| Duffy | |
|---|---|
| Casualty character | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Duffy_Casualty.jpg) Cathy Shipton as Duffy | |
| First appearance | "Gas" 6 September 1986 |
| Last appearance | "Episode 1161" 1 February 2020 |
| Created by | Jeremy Brock Paul Unwin |
| Portrayed by | Cathy Shipton |
| Spinoff(s) | Holby City (1999) "Knife Edge" |
| Duration | 1986–1993, 1998–2003, 2006, 2015–2020 |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Lisa Duffin |
| Occupation |
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| Family | Kate Duffin (mother) |
| Spouses |
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| Significant others |
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| Children |
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Lisa "Duffy" Duffin is a character from the BBC medical drama Casualty, played by Cathy Shipton. Duffy was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin as one of the serial's ten original characters. Shipton received her audition just as she was thinking of giving up her acting career. She thought her chances of being cast were slim, as she had on bandages following a fall; however, the producer, Geraint Morris, was fascinated by the incident and asked her about her time in the hospital. Shipton was considered for the role of receptionist Susie Mercier, before being cast as Duffy. She made her debut in the pilot episode of the first series, broadcast on 6 September 1986.
Duffy is characterised as a "tough" and "carefree" nurse. She has a distinct style with her hair pinned up and wears neatly ironed uniforms. Shipton has stated that Duffy became more confident as the years progressed. The character has been used to portray various issue-led stories. First, she became the victim of sexual assault, which caused her to lose her "happy go lucky" persona. Shipton later recalled that it was her most harrowing story. Next, she had an HIV scare following the breakdown of her relationship with Peter Tranter (Eric Deacon).
In her later years on the show, Duffy battled depression and anxiety, and in 2018, producers created a story arc in which she is diagnosed with vascular dementia. Her stories have also been focused on her many relationship woes via her three marriages. The first with Registrar Andrew Bower (William Gaminara; Philip Bretherton), and the second with Ryan Johnson (Russell Boulter), a hospital security guard. Writers created her third marriage with Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson), following a "will they?, won't they?" relationship that spanned thirty years.
Shipton has left and rejoined the cast of Casualty numerous times. The actress first chose to leave the serial in 1993 and Duffy left Holby to start a family with Andrew. She returned in 1998 and remained until 2003 when she departed with Ryan. She also returned in 2006 for two special episodes set in Cambodia. Shipton reprised the role in 2015 for the show's thirtieth anniversary and was soon tempted back on a permanent basis. The actress announced her departure from the series in October 2019, and Duffy made her final appearance on 1 February 2020. The character has been well received by television critics, with a reporter from The Daily Telegraph listing Duffy as one of the top ten best ever Casualty characters. Shipton received a nomination for Best Drama Star at the 2017 Inside Soap Awards.