Cast regular to leave 'Holby City'

Actress Patricia Potter is to leave Holby City in the summer after five years with the programme, it has been confirmed.

Patricia - who plays Surgical Registrar Diane Lloyd in the BBC medical drama - returns to the wards on Tuesday, October 24 for the start of the new series. Earlier this year, her character took a brief break from the show after being involved in the death of a patient in which she covered for fellow colleague Nick Jordan's (Michael French) operational mistake.

Of her decision to quit, Patricia said: "I have really enjoyed - and am still enjoying - my time on Holby. I've had some fantastic storylines, but after five years on the show I felt it was time to move on to other projects."

A spokeswoman for the programme added: "Diane will be on screen until the end of June. She is a great character and will continue to be involved in dramatic storylines until her departure."

Patricia recently appeared in an episode of Ricky Gervais' Extras playing an ex-girlfriend of Andy Millman.