Olly Rix, best known to audiences from Call the Midwife, is stepping into a dramatic new chapter of his career as he takes on the role of former Special Forces medic Flynn Byron in the BBC’s long-running medical drama, Casualty. In an exclusive interview with HELLO!, Olly admitted that the role has been nothing short of “all-consuming,” not only because of the heavy workload but also due to the sheer intensity of the set itself. “It’s been overwhelmingly busy. I honestly feel like I’ve spent the last year actually being a doctor – working long shifts, finishing with sore feet and an aching back. But behind that exhaustion is a journey I truly value,” he revealed. The actor also praised the series for tackling difficult subjects head-on: “We don’t shy away from asking uncomfortable questions, and that makes the work feel important.”
What makes the experience even more poignant for Olly is that he relocated from London back to Cardiff, the city of his birth, in order to commit to the role. “There’s something poetic about coming full circle,” he explained. “I left when I was only a year old, so I don’t have memories of Cardiff, but my dad once worked at Debenhams in the St David’s Shopping Centre. It’s gone now, but walking those same streets feels meaningful. I’m literally retracing my parents’ steps, and that’s pretty special.” For Olly, Flynn Byron isn’t just a character on screen – it’s a personal connection to his own roots, a blending of art and life that makes his performance resonate on a deeper level.
Within the drama itself, Flynn Byron is navigating a minefield of moral and personal dilemmas. The character recently uncovered dark truths about his powerful father-in-law Russell Whitelaw (played by Robert Bathurst), after witnessing him assault colleague Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari). This has left Flynn facing an impossible choice. “That’s the big question the series has been building toward – whether Flynn will do the right thing,” Olly teased. “Does someone in Russell’s position ever truly face justice, or are they always protected by the system they belong to?” The storyline doesn’t just test Flynn’s sense of duty; it throws him into a dangerous tangle of family loyalty, corruption, and moral reckoning. For viewers, it’s a tension-filled storm of secrets, betrayals, and power struggles that demands answers.
Behind the scenes, Olly had to endure just as much intensity in preparing for the role. Determined to portray Flynn authentically, he trained with ex-Special Forces operators from Andarta and Dark Prism. The sessions involved grueling physical training, weapons handling, and combat drills designed to immerse him in the world Flynn once inhabited. “It was extraordinary. They showed me the discipline, the toughness, and the mindset that defines someone like Flynn,” Olly explained. That military background will not simply remain in the shadows – it’s set to become central to Flynn’s future storylines. “We’re about to dive into a big military arc where Flynn’s past and his skills suddenly become crucial. The stakes will be higher than ever.”
As for his long-term future with Casualty, Olly reassured fans that Flynn “isn’t going anywhere.” After a year of filming, only ten episodes have aired, but more than forty are already complete and waiting. That means Flynn’s journey is only just beginning, with plenty of explosive drama yet to unfold. Between the heavy moral questions, the raw military backstory, and the relentless intensity of the hospital setting, Flynn Byron is shaping up to be one of the show’s most complex and compelling characters in years. With Olly Rix bringing a unique blend of physical authenticity and emotional depth to the role, Casualty is entering a new era of high-stakes storytelling – one that will keep fans hooked and hungry for more.
