Oscar winner Brenda Fricker returns to Casualty

Brenda Fricker is to return to Casualty next year after a gap of more than 20 years.

The Oscar-winning Irish actress will return as Megan Roach for just four episodes of the BBC medical drama that shot her to fame - and it will be a short stay for Brenda as Megan is killed off.

Brenda played Megan in Casualty from 1986 until 1988 before quitting to pursue other acting roles.

Brenda told Herald.ie: "I loved Casualty, it was great. I'm back next year for four episodes. I die. I don't know if I should be telling you that, but yes, I die."

Brenda explained she had already made the decision to leave the drama before she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Christy Brown's mother in My Left Foot.

She said: "People thought I left because I won the Oscar, but I had already decided to go by then. Oscar or no Oscar, Megan didn't develop in the way she was meant to.

"She started off with a wonderful sense of humour. But she lost it all and all she ever seemed to do was push a trolley and offer tea and sympathy."

Brenda recently had a guest role in six-part BBC comedy series Beautiful People.