Wyle to leave full-time ER cast

Wyle (centre) is the only original cast member left in the drama

Actor Noah Wyle is to leave his full-time role as Dr John Carter in medical TV drama ER, the programme's network NBC has announced.

The 33-year-old will leave Chicago's fictional County General Hospital at the end of the current series, which finishes in the US on 19 May.

Wyle is due to return for four episodes in each of the next two series.

The only star left in the show from its 1994 debut, he has said he has "an urge to scratch a different kind of itch".

George Clooney was one of Wyle's early ER colleagues

Wyle joined the original cast as an impressionable young medic along with George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle and Julianna Margulies.

As other actors left the show, Dr Carter became a major character in the series.

ER's executive producer John Wells said he was "very sad" at Wyle's decision.

"Noah and I have a lot of history together. He's a wonderful actor and a wonderful man, and it's been great to watch him grow up and get married and have a family," he said.

Wyle hinted last year he was planning to quit the series because his character was coming to the end of its run.

After five Emmy nominations for his role, he said he wanted to do something different in his acting career and concentrate on family life.

"I've got family and friends that said goodbye to me 12 years ago and are wondering when I'm coming back," he said.