Ex-Kineton schoolboy up for national TV award

The Fenny Compton-raised actor, who has also starred in Robin Hood, Vital Signs, Northanger Abbey and Red Cap, is one out of six to have been nominated for the Best Newcomer accolade in the National TV Awards.

William, who joined the show as Dr Dylan Keogh in March, said: “I was very fortunate that the part they wrote for me was terrific and gave me the opportunity to be grumpy at work and be paid for it!

“Casualty is officially classified as ‘continuing drama’ – halfway between a soap and drama – which means when you go into it, you are unaware of where the character and story is going. Every now and then you get a surprise, which makes it very interesting.”

Having once been a medical student himself, the role has an even stronger appeal to William.

He said: “We shoot in Bristol and very recently moved to Cardiff. In those places you are kind of isolated as the industry tends to be based in London.

“I suppose, if nothing else, this nomination shows that somebody is watching. I am flattered and thrilled.

“It’s also a vindication that it was the right decision for me to take on the role.

“People love hospital dramas and watching doctors doctoring on the telly – and actors enjoy it too. There’s nothing more empowering than walking around with a stethescope round your neck!”

The National TV Awards, which will be hosted by Dermot O’Leary at the O2 Arena, is to be broadcast on ITV1 on January 25.

To make it to the ceremony, William needs to secure enough votes to take him into the top four in his category. Votes can be cast online until Sunday October 16.