'Casualty' star explains decision to quit

Casualty star Liz Carling decided to quit the show because she felt like a "workhorse" and wanted change in her life.

The actress told producers that she was not renewing her contract last year, after a close friend passed away unexpectedly.

Liz makes her final appearance as Selena Donovan in tonight's episode of the long-running BBC One programme, following a four-year stint at Holby hospital. In her time on the show, the actress has been involved in a number of high-profile storylines; Selena has been kidnapped, stabbed and even battled MRSA.

"I decided last autumn that I didn't want to do another year. A very dear friend of mine died suddenly. He was only 40," Liz told The Mirror. "I am 40 this year. I thought: 'Do you know what? Life is just passing me by'.

"I'm becoming a workhorse and it's difficult to sustain relationships and to see a lot of family and friends when you're working on a show that goes out 48 weeks of the year. It was a big decision, but I just woke up one morning and thought, 'This isn't right for me any more'."