Characterisation When Duffy was introduced into
Casualty she was played as a "carefree" character with a "tough" and "determined" side. Writers gave her hobbies including dieting, astrology and gossiping. Duffy has a distinct appearance and style - her hair is tightly pinned up and she wears a neatly crisp ironed uniform. Shipton often carries her with a serious facial expression that "inspires confidence". In the first series the character was shown not taking her job seriously. She would gossip with Susie about her colleagues personal lives. She filled her time practicing for her driving test and trying out diets. She also protested against a local cinema showing adult films about nurses and succeeded at having them removed. By 2006, Shipton viewed Duffy differently because of her life choices. She told Kris Green from
Digital Spy that Duffy had moved on and made different choices. She appears a "lot lighter of spirit" which Shipton enjoyed playing. She added that "there's something quite vital and buzzy about her that you don't often see or haven't seen much of in the past."
Sexual assault One of Duffy's earliest storylines saw her attacked and raped. The storyline began playing out on-screen when Duffy, who lived alone in a flat, ventures out on her way to work on a dark night. When she travels down a back street she is set upon and raped. Duffy decides not to report the incident to the police and later regrets her decision. Duffy is later faced with her attacker when he is admitted to the ward, but he dies shortly after. The effects of the assault changed the normally "chirpy, cheery" Duffy, and the viewers shared her pain as the story progressed over four years. In 2003, Shipton named Duffy's rape as her most harrowing storyline. In 1992, following Duffy's cancer scare Andrew is reintroduced into the show. Duffy fears that Peter will need Andrew should she die and contacts him. She is shocked to learn that Andrew was already returning to Holby City hospital, taking a job as a locum Consultant. Writers made changes to Andrew's personality and he behaved more mature. They later planned to marry and opted for a "quiet wedding". Duffy collapses after they argue, but Andrew eventually accepts that he is going to be a father again. The actress had already been pondering a departure because she wanted to play different roles. Duffy made a "low key" departure from the show. After her husband is given a new job away from Holby, she decides to leave and start a family with him. Duffy returns to the hospital because "she loved it" and "knows she's good at it", she also has "enormous enthusiasm" to resume her career. Unlike the other returnees Duffy's return becomes permanent and she takes a job at the hospital as an F Grade nurse. She then finds it difficult to see Eve Montgomery (
Barbara Marten) doing her old job. In 2000, writers planned for Duffy to fall pregnant with Charlie's baby, before suffering a miscarriage. However, Shipton became pregnant in real life and the storyline had to be changed for one with a happier outcome. Duffy then fell pregnant with her husband Andrew's baby. Boulter told Steve Hendry of the
Sunday Mail, "Ryan's wife died of cancer, too, so they started off comforting each other and it all goes from there. And it goes very nicely, I have to say. I think the writers decided Duffy had had a bit of a rough ride and deserved a bit of fun – so that's my job." with Ryan's return forming Duffy's departure storyline from the series. Shipton believed it was a good time to leave because "Duffy had great storylines" and it was "satisfying" that she leaves on "a high note".
Return (2006) In 2006, Shipton agreed to reprise the role of Duffy for two episodes. Duffy's return was centric to two special episodes set in Cambodia, which were created to commemorate ''Casualty's
twentieth anniversary. Producers needed a quick decision from Shipton because the episodes were centric to Duffy. She told she told a Daily Mirror'' journalist that "the pressure was on because they needed to write the script around my character and I had to make a decision." Shipton revealed that the crew needed to cram in as much filming during daylight hours as possible. This meant 4.30 am starts and long days on set. Shipton told Green that the extreme heat "you feel like you were going to explode." Shipton later signed up to return to the role on a permanent basis and Duffy returned during the 1000th episode. Duffy forms a friendship with Consultant
Elle Gardner (
Jaye Griffiths). Shipton described it as "really interesting", as Elle is higher up the hierarchy than Duffy. However, when Elle struggles with treating a pregnant patient, Duffy is comfortable in her role as a midwife and feels she can "speak her mind assertively. She's grown up and now on terra firma." In 1992, Duffy neglects her health in favour of her career. She stops going for regular smear tests and Charlie becomes critical of her behaviour. Following the character reintroduction in 2016, writers finally had Duffy and Charlie acknowledge their feelings for one another with a kiss. Shipton quipped "Duffy and Charlie are behaving like teenagers, and they're actually really enjoying that." Shipton has some initial concerns about the development, saying "When something is unrequited, then you sort of keep it on the back-burner – it's that whole, 'will-they-won't-they?' thing. That's the perennial tease! But as time has gone on, it's got to the point where it just feels right, and it feels really positive."
Depression and dementia In late September 2018, Sophie Dainty of Digital Spy reported that the character would be the focus of a new mental health storyline that would also affect her marriage to Charlie. Duffy attends an appointment with her GP, who diagnoses her with
clinical depression and anxiety, and prescribes her some anti-depressants. Shipton commented that Duffy is not sure about the GP's diagnosis and because of her stoic nature, she thinks she might be able to get herself through it. ''What's on TV'''s Elaine Reilly observed that Duffy had been "a lonely figure", and Shipton replied that Charlie's recent promotion has left him with more work, so he is spending less time with her and their family. Shipton struggled to film the affair scenes and the aftermath, in which Duffy lies and keeps the truth from Charlie, calling it "grim, old stuff." Shipton also said she had a "dual response" to the storyline, as she knew it would be good for her as an actor, but felt that it was a case of building the characters up "just to break them down". Duffy is heartbroken when she realises that Bill has spoken to Charlie, as she has just made a decision to forget about it and work on her marriage. She is not sure how Charlie is going to react to the news. The production worked with the charity
Dementia UK to ensure the illness was handled accurately and that they were sensitive to people affected by it. Producer Simon Harper said that stories like Duffy's need to be told "authentically and sensitively, which is why we are always so grateful to fantastic charities like Dementia UK who do incredible work and give us invaluable advice." She plays down her symptoms and searches the internet for a self-diagnosis. She is shocked when her symptoms, including her depression, indicate that she is experiencing the early on-set of dementia. Duffy eventually decides to tell her colleagues about her diagnosis and she asks Charlie to let her resume her regular duties. During a shift, the father of Duffy's patient learns of her dementia and Charlie comes to her defence, which Duffy does not appreciate. However, it does lead to the couple reconciling and vowing to support each other. Duffy tells Charlie that she wants to be his wife again and face their problems together. Shipton commented that they "make their peace with each other". Shipton filmed her final scenes that month. Executive producer Simon Harper thanked Shipton for her contribution to the show and "the British Television Drama landscape", and credited her with creating "a comforting Saturday night icon, the caring, ideal NHS nurse millions grew up with". Duffy's final episode was broadcast on 1 February 2020. A "disorientated" Duffy leaves her home in the middle of the night and tries to help an unconscious woman, however, recent snowfall and cold weather leaves her with hypothermia. ==Reception==