[6] After nearly four years in the role, during which time Heather had become one of the show's most popular residents of Brookside Close, she began to lose sympathy with her character and decided to leave.

[6] Following her departure her television work consisted mainly of guest appearances, with parts in a number of peak-time drama series including Minder,[6] Inspector Morse,[6] Boon,[6] Medics, Van Der Valk, Stay Lucky and Lovejoy.

Though her decision to portray Ryan as a reflective personality – sometimes staring into space – was satirised by the comedienne Jennifer Saunders, she helped lay the groundwork for what was to become one of the most popular BBC series, continuing to run, albeit without her, until her return in 2021.

[6] After Silent Witness, she took on the title role of Prosecutor Helen West in a series based on Frances Fyfield's novels.

[6] In 2010, Burton appeared in the sixth series of BBC drama Waterloo Road as new headteacher Karen Fisher,[7] and departed the show in 2011.