Paul Nicholls to bow out in the Spring.

Actor Paul Nicholls has quit his role as Sam Casey in hit ITV legal drama, Law & Order: UK.

Nicholls who joined at the beginning of series 6, replacing Jamie Bamber‘s DS Matt Devlin, will have appeared in 13 episodes in total pulling in an average of 5 Million viewers. The Sun reports he will be departing later in the new series, which is due to air in the Spring in a dramatic exit storyline in episode six.

A spokeswoman for Law & Order: UK confirmed the news saying: “Due to other work commitments, Paul Nicholls was only ever available to film the first six episodes of Law & Order: UK series seven.”

Stating: “There are no plans for him to return.”

Writer Emilia di Girolamo who wrote the opening two parter of S7 and created the character of Sam Casey also confirmed the news tweeting:

“I’m sad to say today’s news story is true and #PaulNicholls has left #LawandOrderUK – Paul has been brilliant in the show & will be missed.”

Adding: “I loved creating & writing for #SamCasey but Paul has other work commitments that clashed with L&O.”

Nicholls is best known for his role as Joe Wicks in long-running soap ‘EastEnders’. He was also due to join the cast of long-running BBC One drama ‘Waterloo Road’ in 2011 before being replaced with former The Bill star, Alex Walkinshaw after three days after allegedly refusing to take a drugs test.

‘Law & Order: UK’ returns to ITV in the Spring.