Doctors’ most epic celebrity cameos as medical soap bags primetime slot – from Eddie Redmayne to Tom Ellis

DOCTORS has long been weekday afternoon staple on BBC1, with the medical drama keeping viewers regularly entertained. Now the popular series has bagged a primetime slot over on BBC2, with the episode repeated each weekday at 7pm. Many a familiar face has walked through the medical centre doors – from soap icons to Hollywood stars. […]

DOCTORS has long been weekday afternoon staple on BBC1, with the medical drama keeping viewers regularly entertained.

Now the popular series has bagged a primetime slot over on BBC2, with the episode repeated each weekday at 7pm.

BBC

Even Hollywood star Eddie Redmayne had a cameo in Doctors[/caption]

Many a familiar face has walked through the medical centre doors – from soap icons to Hollywood stars.

So let’s take a look back at some the most epic celebrity cameos to grace the show.

EDDIE REDMAYNE

Eddie Redmayne, 40, is probably best known for his long-list of A-list roles in Hollywood films, from the Fantastic Beasts series to The Theory of Everything where he won a Best Actor Academy Award.

But back when the British star in the making was a young 21-years-old, he appeared on the small screen in Doctors.

One of his first acting roles was to play troubled student Rob Huntley for one episode of the show in 2003.

After that, his film career came calling and a long list of credits in movies including The Other Boleyn Girl, My Week With Marilyn and The Danish Girl.

LISA RILEY

BBC

Lisa Riley appeared on the soap as two different characters[/caption]

Lisa, 45, is no stranger to our TV screens having played Emmerdale’s Mandy Dingle between 1995 and 2001, and again from 2019.

She made her small screen debut as a supermarket worker in Coronation Street in 1994.

Not to mention roles in Fat Friends, Waterloo Road and sitting on the Loose Women panel over the years.

In between all of this the actress appeared on Doctors, not once, but two times.

In 2003 she took on the role of Laura Mowbray, before returning as Sandra Reynolds in 2012.

TOM ELLIS

Getty - Contributor

Tom Ellis may now be known as Netflix’s Lucifer, but he also had a bit part in Doctors[/caption]

Tom, 43, is a recognisable face across the world thanks to his lead role in the popular Netflix series Lucifer.

His part as Ricky Adams on Doctors back in 2005, saw him on the daytime soap for just one episode.

But luckily, that wasn’t the end of his TV career, as the next year Tom went on to star on rival soap EastEnders as Dr Oliver Cousins for 29 episodes.

Another long-running role was as Miranda’s love interest in the BBC comedy of the same name.

Tom played Gary Preston from 2009 until 2015.

His many other credits include, Merlin, Holby City, The Flash and Doctor Who.

SHERIDAN SMITH

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A superstar across stage and screen, Sheridan Smith had several roles in the soap[/caption]

Sheridan is a star of both stage and screen – both big and small.

She recently appeared in Channel 5’s The Teacher and can be seen sitting in the judging chair on ITV Starstruck.

Over the years her TV appearances have included The Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps, Gavin & Stacey, Benidorm and Cilla.

Film-wise, she’s starred in Tower Block (2012) and The Huntsman: Winter’s War (2016).

But before the majority of her most memorable roles, she made her Doctors debut.

She’s been on the soap multiple times as different characters and in 2000 she was a patient called Claire and in 2004 she took on the role of Jackie Leavis.

RICHARD ARMITAGE

BBC

Richard Armitage starred as Dr Tom Steele[/caption]

Richard starred as the handsome Dr Tom Steele in Doctors, playing the role for two episodes in 2001.

Then there was no stopping the star who went on to feature in Cold Feet, the BBC Robin Hood and The Vicar of Dibley.

While his big screen outings are even more impressive with credits in blockbuster films including The Hobbit series, Captain America and Ocean’s 8.

He recently starred in the Netflix miniseries Stay Close alongside Cush Jumbo and James Nesbitt.

DAVOOD GHADAMI

BBC

Before EastEnders, Davood Ghadami was in Doctors[/caption]

Who can forget Davood as Kush Kazemi in EastEnders?

But before that he played Tariq Kalbalsi in Doctors for two episodes in 2009.

Then in what seems to be a Doctors tradition, returned to the soap in 2012 to play Aran Chandler in a reoccurring role.

He left in 2013 and then a year later made his debut in Albert Square.

Following his dramatic exit from EastEnders last year, he has since joined Holby City as Eli Ebrahimi.