From Yorkshire to stardom: Where are the cast of The Royal now?

The Royal, a Yorkshire-based drama, held the attention of Sunday evening TV viewers for nearly ten years. The medical drama, a spin-off from the well-loved show Heartbeat, centred around the happenings at St Aidan’s Royal Free Hospital.

The series ran from 2003 to 2011, delivering 87 unforgettable episodes.

The drama was filled with moments ranging from laughter-inducing to deeply emotional scenes that captivated us and left us yearning for more when the much-loved show finally concluded.

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Filming took place across Yorkshire, with locations including Whitby (the main hospital), Scarborough, and Bradford. We’ve taken a look at what the actors who portrayed some of The Royal’s most cherished characters are doing now.

Many cast members have secured various acting roles in soap operas, Midsummer Murders, and even Shakespeare productions, reports Yorkshire Live.

Robert Daws – Dr Gordon

Post-The Royal, actor Robert Dawn went on to play Dr Watson in The Secret of Sherlock Holmes.

He has featured in TV shows such as Roger Roger and Coronation Street. He also portrayed Dr Choake in Poldark and has had roles in Midsomer Murders, Holby City, Casualty, and New Tricks.

In the same year The Royal started, he married his wife Amy Robbins, who played his co-star Dr Jill Weatherill. The couple have two daughters together, in addition to Robert’s son from his first marriage.

Linda Armstrong – Sister Brigid

Linda is recognised for her portrayal of Sister Brigid. Post-The Royal, she has been active in the TV soap circuit with roles in EastEnders, Coronation Street and Casualty.

While on The Royal, Linda simultaneously starred in the competing medical drama Doctors. She made numerous appearances on the medical soap from 2004 to 2019.

Emmerdale viewers may have spotted her recurring role as DI Dent in the popular ITV show.

She has a full suite of soap dramas under her belt, including albeit minor roles, in Casualty, Emmerdale, The Bill, EastEnders, Doctors. Linda played Sister Brigid in Heartbeat before reprising her role in The Royal.

Denis Lill – Mr Rose

Denis has had a diverse career on both small and big screens. Prior to his role in The Royal, he featured in Tim Burton’s Batman alongside Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton.

He also had a part in the sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf and portrayed Cassandra’s father in the iconic comedy Only Fools and Horses. He has also ventured into radio theatre, playing the brother in Ron Blair’s play The Christian Brothers.

Wendy Craig – Matron

Wendy Craig boasts an impressive acting career, even earning a CBE for her accomplishments. After The Royal, she appeared on Emmerdale, playing the character Maisie.

She has also featured in Death in Paradise, Waterloo Road, Marple, and Not in Front of the Children. Wendy has starred in the popular drama Unforgotten, and the CBBC programme The Worst Witch.

However, the drama didn’t end for her after the cameras stopped rolling. The accomplished actress was married to scriptwriter and journalist Jack Bentley, who sadly passed away in 1994.

Michelle Hardwick – Lizzie Hopkirk

Another familiar face, Michelle portrayed hospital receptionist Lizzie Hopkirk in The Royal. Following her stint on the medical drama, she has appeared in The Walking Dead and Hollyoaks, and is well-known to millions as Vanessa Woodfield in Emmerdale.

In 2018, Hardwick publicly announced her relationship with Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks on Instagram.

The pair tied the knot in 2019 in Tennessee, and Hardwick gave birth to their first son, Edward Peter (Teddy) Brooks, in October of the following year. She is an active supporter of cancer awareness initiatives, often participating in events for Cancer Research UK, following her brother’s skin cancer diagnosis.

Andy Wear – Alun Morris

Andy portrayed Alun Morris in The Royal, another character who made the transition to Heartbeat.

Earlier in his career, the Lancashire-born actor had a role in Coronation Street, and he further expanded his soap opera resume when he joined Emmerdale in 2011.

Andy’s character, Rev Jude Watson, was a regular in the village until 2014. Since his time on The Royal, he has performed in theatres worldwide, including in Brazil, New York, and Germany.

Natalie Anderson, known to fans of The Royal as nurse Stella Davenport, made a name for herself in Emmerdale as Alicia Metcalfe from 2010 to 2015. After leaving the soap, she featured in the 2010 crime drama Freight and has been keeping her Instagram followers fit during lockdown with live workouts.