Casualty confirms harrowing sexual abuse storyline for Barney Walsh’s character

VIEWERS may feel distressed while watching Casualty as nurse Cameron Micklethwaite explores the impact of the sexual abuse he suffered as a teenager.

Nurse Cameron Mickelthwaite, played by Barney Walsh, will be confronted by his past when an old friend accuses new board member Jamie Cleveland (Ryan Hawley) of abusing him as a child.

BBC

BBC

The revelation is triggering for Cam who break down as he confides in Siobhan (Melanie Hill) about the abuse he too suffered at the hands of Jamie.

The Casualty team has worked closely with charities Survivors UK and We are Survivors to ensure the storyline is handled with care and sensitivity.

Barney hopes the storyline will help those affected by abuse and show they are not alone.

He told The Radio Times, “Research shows that one in six men are survivors of sexual abuse, so this is a very important story for us to tell.

“This storyline will see Cam having to confront the demons of his past, something he has desperately tried to avoid for many years, and face up to the realisation that he experienced abuse.

“We want to help anyone who might be affected by abuse, and to highlight that survivors of abuse are not alone, there is always help and support available to them. It’s been a privilege to bring this storyline to screens.”

Liza Mellody, Casualty series producer, said: “Viewers have been aware that Cam’s past has come back to haunt him with the arrival of Bobby and Jamie at Holby, but now the audience will discover just why Cam has been struggling so much. We hope this storyline will help to challenge the perceptions, the stigma, and the shame experienced by male survivors.”

We Are Survivors founder and chief executive officer Duncan Craig OBE worked closely with the storyline team and read through each of the scripts checking to ensure that Cam and Bobby’s voices as victims/survivors were being accurately represented.

Craig added: “I was so pleased to be contacted by the BBC again and this time to be asked by Casualty to support the development of this storyline.

“I am genuinely so proud of Barney, and the team for being brave enough to highlight the silence of male victims and the need for male survivors’ stories to be heard.

“We know that when drama tells stories of male survivors, more people call helplines, contact us for support, and finally find a space to breathe.”

SurvivorsUK Helpline manager Laura Nulty said: “Cam’s storyline reflects the experience of many male survivors of sexual abuse that we speak to every day at SurvivorsUK; men trying to process what has happened to them in the past, whilst navigating the situation within their present life.

“The mixture of emotions Cam feels towards Jamie shows the complex relationships some survivors can have with their abuser.

“It takes an average of over two decades for a male survivor to tell someone else about what happened to them, which is why it’s so important that stories like these, which highlight abuse and its long-lasting insidious impacts are displayed.

Darkest soap storylines

Over the years the likes of EastEnders, Emmerdale and Coronation Street have all tried to try outdo each other with their outlandish plots in a bid to keep us tuning in each week. But here are some of the darkest that had fans in shock…

EastEnders: Tony grooming Whitney (2008-2009) – Tony King first appeared in Albert Square in 2008 as the boyfriend of Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer. But it was quickly revealed he was a paedophile who had been grooming vulnerable Whitney, Bianca’s adopted stepdaughter from a previous relationship, since she was 12. The shocking storyline attracted more than 200 complaints within a week of it beginning. Whitney waited until her 16th birthday to reveal the truth to a horrified Bianca, who called the police.

Emmerdale: Holly’s drug addiction and shock death (2010-2016) – In 2010, Holly Barton (played by Sophie Powles) became Emmerdale’s first teenage drug addict. The shocking storyline saw her taking cocaine on a night out before developing a deadly heroin habit. Parents John and Moira desperately tried to help get their daughter clean but when Holly returned in 2016, following a four-year absence, she quickly relapsed. Fans were left stunned and heartbroken when distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed from a heroin overdose.

Hollyoaks: Luke’s rape (2000) – Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke Morgan become soap’s first male rape victim. Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him. Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Gibbs was sentenced to eight years in prison. Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.

Coronation Street: Evil Richard Hillman (2001-2003) – Just a mere mention of ‘Richard Hillman’ is enough to send a shiver down the spines of soap fans. He is often ranked one of the most evil soap villains and it’s not hard to see why. The smooth-talking financial adviser bashed his ex-wife Patricia over the head with a shovel. In a bid to keep his mother-in-law Audrey quiet, he set fire to her house. And when Maxine caught him trying to murder Emily Bishop, he took a crowbar to her head. He made his exit from the cobbles in 2003 when he drove Gail Platt, played by Helen Worth, and her family into the canal. They survived, but he didn’t.

“The more that male survivors see their own stories portrayed, the more people come forward to services like ours and the closer we come to ensuring survivors can live a better life free from shame and stigma.”

If you or anyone you know has been affected by Cam’s story, details of organisations offering information are available at BBC Action Line.

Casualty airs on BBC One and  is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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