Martin Hancock joins BBC's Casualty after Coronation Street

Martin Hancock, best known for his role as Spider Nugent on Coronation Street, is returning to television in a new role on the BBC soap Casualty. The 56-year-old actor left Coronation Street in 2023, where he had played Spider for over two decades. In Casualty, Martin will portray Samuel Jankowski, who is related to the character Indie Jankowski, a student paramedic facing tough times after the death of her grandmother. This role is not new for Martin, as he has previously appeared in Casualty twice, first in 1994 and then in 2015. Spider Nugent, introduced to Coronation Street in 1997, had a complex story involving his relationship with Toyah Battersby. Their romance faced challenges, especially after Toyah was kidnapped due to Spider's job as an undercover police officer. Faced with this danger, Spider chose to leave Toyah to keep her safe, resulting in their breakup. Martin reflected on this emotional exit, expressing sadness over their situation. He has left the door open for a possible return to Coronation Street, saying it might not be the end of Spider and Toyah’s story. Martin shared how personal connections and memories motivated him to return to the soap in 2022 after years away.