Valerie Pitman is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Sarah Moyle.

Her backstory involves growing up as an only child with no friends who dresses differently to other people, so since she feels like an outsider, she is desperate to be part of a unit of loved ones.

Moyle was originally contracted on the soap as a recurring character, but after a positive reaction from viewers, she was promoted to a regular cast member.

Valerie has had numerous love interests in her time on the soap, but after she concludes that she is the most important person in her life, she marries herself in a sologamy storyline.

Her final appearance aired in December 2022 after Valerie is sacked from the Mill after forging a prescription in Al Haskey's (Ian Midlane) name.

[5] In her backstory, spent years as an office coordinator, was popular with her colleagues, was eager to hear others' troubles and always made time for them.

[6] Valerie's BBC profile noted that "her desperation is too palpable", which is shown in scenes when she "invades people's personal space" and "lives vicariously through others".

[6] Her BBC profile also stated that Valerie often shows "a prurient interest in patients' problems" and creates drama and scandals due to her life feeling empty.

On her character's "roller coaster battle with cancer", Moyle felt honoured to be given an important issue-led storyline.

Producer Peter Eryl Lloyd confirmed that Valerie would be set to have a relationship in upcoming scenes, and Moyle expressed her joy at the news, having not known about the romantic development prior to the livestream.

[9] Her love interest is later to be revealed as Aashiq Sawney (Raj Ghatak), who eventually gets with Emma Reid (Dido Miles) instead.

Despite being told she does not have cancer, Valerie begins completing a bucket list, which includes training to become a healthcare assistant and emptying the local rivers of pollution.

[16] The sologamy storyline sees Valerie realise that after her numerous failed relationships, she has become "super-independent" and wants to honour the most important person in her life, herself.

She confronts him with an ornament as a weapon, but he attacks her, later tying her up and demanding her credit card details and phone password, before leaving.

[8] Metro's Chris Hallam confirmed that the storyline would have a long-term effect on Valerie and that the aftermath of the attack would see her suffer from trauma.

[21] When asked how Valerie will be able to move on from the incident, Moyle hinted that her coping mechanism is unusual and is connected to the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

[22] On 6 August 2022, Moyle announced that she was departing from Doctors to experience new career opportunities and that her final appearance would air in 2022.

Moyle noted that she would miss all of her cast members who she felt had become family, but especially Miles, who plays Emma, since the pair had shared a flat together during their time on the series.

[24] In November 2022, Valerie's exit storyline began, when herself and Scarlett Kiernan (Kia Pegg) meet Hailey Dodds (Caoimhe Farren) and her young daughter, Grace (Lacey Leigh Payne).

[27] Al learns what she has done and is furious; Princess Buchanan (Laura White) overhears the pair and wanting revenge for being isolated by the staff, she ruins the Mill's Christmas party by exposing Valerie publicly.

[5] Due to the positive response to Valerie's cancer storyline and her popularity amongst fans, the character became a regular from early 2016.

A viewer wrote to Inside Soap to say that it was an "uplifting" episode, since they felt that Valerie is "such a kind and pleasant character".

They stated: "Just when we think we have seen all sides to Valerie, this happens to her" and added that Moyle's acting abilities in the scenes proved that she is an "asset to the cast" of Doctors.