Characters of Casualty - Sam Nicholls

Samantha 'Sam' Nicholls (married name Keogh) played by Charlotte Salt, is a Specialty Registrar in Emergency Medicine and a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps. The character first appeared on 15 October 2011. It was later revealed that she is the wife of Dylan Keogh. She has, however, served divorce papers on her estranged husband despite the fact that he was hoping for a reconciliation.

On 30 September 2011, it was announced that Charlotte Salt was joining Casualty as Sam Nicholls, a new medic. Salt's casting was announced the same time as Tom Kent (Oliver Coleman). The BBC said, "Seen on TV screens earlier this year in Sky's supernatural series Bedlam, Charlotte (26) joins the Casualty cast as ambitious army medic, Sam Nicholls. Fast-living, fearless and fiery, Sam has a surprising link with another member of the ED team." Series producer Nikki Wilson said of her casting: "Charlotte and Oliver are incredibly talented, much sought-after actors and we're delighted to welcome them to the new Casualty set in Cardiff. Both new characters are set to inject a shot of excitement into the emergency department and, as ever, both will have an air of intrigue about them." In a 2012 interview with Inside Soap, producer Nikki Harris teased Sam's next storyline saying, "Last week Sam restrained a patient, and it's something that will bubble under for the rest of the series. Whether or not she used excessive force on him becomes the subject of an investigation, and she ends up having to go to a hearing. It puts a huge amount of pressure on the ED because Sam's colleagues feel they must support her, but also have to remain truthful to themselves. Sam moved me to tears when I watched this week episodes."

This has now been resolved and Sam was cleared of any wrongdoing after new evidence was brought before the GMC by Zoe Hanna. In episode 39, Sam tries to get Dylan to sign divorce papers after he hoped for them to get back together after the GMC trial. After Tom talks to Dylan, he agrees that everyone should have a chance to live their lives, and signs the papers. Sam becomes romantically involved with Tom.