Tess Bateman is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Casualty, played by Suzanne Packer.

On one occasion, she was drugged and held at knifepoint by Sam's girlfriend, Fleur Butler (Laura Donnelly), and on another, she became impaled on a metal girder after clashing with a teenage patient.

Packer quit the show in 2015 and Tess departs in the series twenty-nine episode "Forsaking All Others – Part One", originally broadcast on 22 August 2015.

The actress reprised her role for a cameo appearance in the show's thirtieth anniversary episode "Too Old for This Shift", first broadcast on 27 August 2016.

[2] Packer began filming in April 2003 and for the role, she relocated from New York City to her hometown Cardiff, where her family are based.

[1] Having recently given birth, Packer suffered from "nappy brain", stemming from sleep deprivation and causing her to struggle with learning lines.

[6] Whilst Packer did not always agree with Tess' opinions and worried that she was too "harsh" on her staff, she believed she was realistic, which she had been told by real life nurses.

[3] Tess first appears in the first part of the series eighteen double episode "End of the Line", originally broadcast on 13 September 2003.

[9] In her first episode, Tess takes control of dealing with patients in the ED following news of a major incident, where a train has derailed and a tunnel has collapsed.

[3] The actress hoped the character would be used to explore topical issues facing nurses in the National Health Service (NHS).

[3] The pair previously portrayed a married couple on Brookside,[12] and also worked together in the play Playboy of the West Indies in 1985, which was Packer's second acting role.

[14] Tess secures him a minimum wage position as a hospital cleaner, while she becomes the department's acting clinical nurse manager, which Packer called "a pretty demanding and stressful job".

[17] Tess is "shocked" when Mike later files for divorce from her,[10] and returns to work tipsy after a lunch break, prompting Abs to cover for her.

[18] At the beginning of the twentieth series, in September 2005, Fleur Butler (Laura Donnelly) is introduced as a love interest for Sam.

[19] Packer explained that Tess dislikes Fleur and feels "very suspicious" of her and her intentions towards Sam, mainly because she is a "naturally overprotective" mother.

Packer told Brand (Inside Soap) that Fleur has a "possessive attitude" and acts like she is "the mum and its her home".

[22] When teenager Sammy Malone (Finn Atkins) is admitted to the ED, she clashes with Tess and wrecks her office, before fleeing.

[29] As the team celebrates Christmas, Tess and Fletch spend time together, but discover Tyron, a homeless man who needs emergency treatment when he goes into a hypoglycaemic coma.

[32] Series producer Erika Hossington explained that this was a conscious choice to include a regular character in the stunt as the audience enjoy this.

Hossington told Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy that Tess becomes "starchy and all about the work", which would have a negative impact on her team.

[39] Packer reprised the role for another cameo appearance in the show's thirtieth anniversary episode "Too Old for This Shift", first broadcast on 27 August 2016.

[42] In 2021, the show's producers invited Packer to reprise her role as Tess for a two episode Christmas special, airing as part of series 36.

[43] The character's return was officially confirmed by the show on 23 November 2021,[43] although the news had been leaked through the actress' Spotlight CV prior to the announcement.

[43] Packer felt "delighted and very flattered" to be invited back to the show and revisit Tess, who she called "a legacy character" who means a lot to her personally.

"[45] Tess' return is set on Christmas Day 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when the ED is suffering a nursing shortage; she signs up for an agency shift at the hospital to assist.

Packer commented, "Their deep respect and love for each other helps them to realise that no amount of resentment or misunderstandings can destroy their friendship.

[48] A Daily Post reporter dubbed Tess "sensible",[4] while Christine Klabacher from the Warrington Guardian labelled her a "po-faced nurse".

"[49] The story garnered a mixed response and Walkinshaw told Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap that "It's like Marmite - people either love it or hate it.

[52] Tess' impalement story received criticism for its portrayal of council estates by Jules Birch of Inside Housing.

[56] In March 2019, Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy expressed a wish for Tess to return to the show,[57] which was echoed by series producer Loretta Preece in September 2019.