In a devastating new storyline, Casualty star Milo Clarke has confirmed that his character, Teddy Gowan, will soon face one of the darkest moments of his life. Teddy, a much-loved paramedic known for his kind-hearted nature, will be sexually assaulted while at work, and the aftermath will send his life spiraling in unexpected directions.
Since joining the series in 2021, Teddy has quickly become a fan favorite, working alongside his Auntie Jan (Di Botcher), Iain (Mike Stevenson), and Jacob (Charles Venn). Throughout his time on the show, Teddy has been portrayed as a cheerful, compassionate young man who is passionate about his job. He’s built strong relationships with his colleagues and has developed a budding romance with Jodie (Anna Chell). However, everything changes in the upcoming storyline, as Teddy faces a traumatic assault that will alter his life forever.
Discussing the harrowing events that lead to Teddy’s assault, actor Milo Clarke explained how the storyline unfolds. Teddy and Iain respond to a call at a hen party, where they meet Hayley, a member of the group who quickly takes charge. Initially, there are no immediate signs of trouble, but as the night progresses, things take a darker turn. While Teddy is in a buoyant mood after a tender moment with Jodie, Hayley misinterprets his behavior, and the situation escalates.
Teddy’s attack occurs after the paramedics return to the pub to assist the hen party again. What follows is a devastating moment that will leave Teddy in shock. “It gets a bit misconstrued and then things take a darker turn when they have to take the bride back to the ambulance,” Clarke shared. The assault takes place in the ambulance, and Teddy is left to continue with his shift despite the overwhelming emotional trauma he has just experienced.
Milo Clarke delves into the emotional complexity of Teddy’s reaction to the assault. “Having something like this happen is just awful in any circumstance, but at work, having that element added to it, he’s struggling more because he doesn’t know who to turn to,” he explained. As a member of a close-knit team, Teddy feels isolated. Despite having his Auntie Jan within the paramedic group, he’s unsure of how to approach the situation and feels trapped by his own confusion and shame.
Milo added that the reaction to sexual assault against men is often different from that of women, a fact he found deeply important to highlight in the storyline. “I think it’s something that really needs to be highlighted. Even though sexual assault and these things happen the other way round, it does still happen to men, and I think there’s just a very different reaction,” he said. The stigma surrounding male victims of sexual assault often leads to a lack of discussion, making it a challenging issue to address.
For Teddy, his biggest fear after the assault is the pressure to maintain a sense of male bravado and pretend the incident didn’t happen. As he struggles with his emotions, he worries about the reaction from those around him and is reluctant to open up about the trauma. “I was researching and came across something called ‘Lucky Boy Syndrome’ which is the reaction of something along the lines of ‘wow, a group of hens?!’,” Milo explained. Teddy’s fears are further amplified by his need to maintain his image and not lose the respect of his colleagues and friends.
After the assault, Teddy finds himself in a dark and dangerous place. Unable to cope, he joins a fight club as a way to release his pent-up anger and confusion. This decision leads him deeper into toxic masculinity, where he tries to “fight” his pain instead of addressing it emotionally. His behavior grows more erratic as he struggles to process the assault, and the impact of his decision weighs heavily on him.
“I think a lot of men struggle with that as well,” Clarke said, speaking about the pressures men face when dealing with trauma. Teddy feels a lack of control and struggles to regain his sense of stability, but his journey is only just beginning. He doesn’t immediately open up to anyone and continues to bottle up his feelings, which will have lasting consequences on his relationships, especially with Jodie and his coworkers.
Milo emphasized the responsibility he felt in portraying such a sensitive and important topic. “You want to do it justice and for those who have been through it, you’re responsible for making them feel heard,” he said. The producers worked closely with him to ensure the portrayal of the storyline was handled with care and respect, especially for viewers who may have experienced similar trauma.
As the Casualty storyline continues to unfold, viewers will see Teddy try to navigate the overwhelming emotions following the assault. He will struggle to understand how to move forward and whether or not to confide in anyone. The ongoing journey of Teddy’s recovery will be one of the central themes in the upcoming episodes, as he seeks to come to terms with the assault and its impact on his life.
Discussion Question:
How do you think Teddy will cope with the aftermath of this assault? Do you believe he’ll eventually open up to someone, or will his struggle with masculinity and shame prevent him from seeking help?
