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The West End star makes a one-off appearance in the BBC medical drama this Saturday, playing a teaching assistant who accompanies a pupil to the Emergency Department.
Speaking to TV Times about how the role came about, Mead explained: "I auditioned about a year ago for a regular part playing Jordan's would-be son Kieron. Then recently they asked if I'd like to read for a guest part. I was so chuffed to hear that I'd got the role. I couldn't believe it!"
Pictured: Lee Mead in this week's Casualty.
"I've done 10 years of theatre but this was my first TV job and my first time working with cameras," he continued. "When I did my first take I was taken by surprise - suddenly 18 crew members walked in and watched. In the theatre, the audience are in their seats but you haven't got crew members walking on mid-show and staring at you!"
Mead added that he has wanted to take on television work for some time.
"When I was 18, I wanted to study acting but couldn't afford the fees," he said. "I've intended to go back to it since 2007 but I got the role of Joseph, made albums and had my daughter Betsy too. The decision to study again was hard, but I took a year and a half off and went to New York for three months to do a film course."
Casualty airs on Saturday at 8.55pm on BBC One.
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