Casualty star escapes sack

An actor from the BBC's flagship medical drama Casualty was told today that he will not lose his job following a court case in which he pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.

Simon MacCorkindale, who plays Harry Harper in the hit BBC1 show, was banned from driving for two years after he collided with a cyclist on a road in rural Somerset in May this year, while driving to a rehearsal in Bristol.

MacCorkindale was ordered to pay £5,000 compensation to the victim John Lilley, at the hearing at Taunton Deane Magistrates Court yesterday.

He was also ordered to pay £550 costs.

Mr Lilley suffered serious head injuries and bruising in the collision near Bishop's Lydeard, near Taunton, on the morning of May 23.

MacCorkindale's character, director of emergency medicine Harry Harper, has been a mainstay of the show for the last three years.

The actor, who has appeared in the films Jaws 3 and Poltergeist, lives on Exmoor with his actress wife Susan George.

The BBC today confirmed that no action would be taken against MacCorkindale following the court case.

BBC spokesman Julian Payne said the case was a "private matter" adding: "I can confirm however that Simon has not been suspended or fired from the show."

Casualty is filmed at specially-designed studios near Bristol city centre.