25 Mind-Blowing Facts About The West Wing

13. Mrs Landingham Was Killed Off Because Kathryn Joosten Who Played Her Told Aaron Sorkin She Was Up For Another Pilot

Mrs Landingham, who was President Bartlet's executive secretary in the first two series of The West Wing, would almost certainly have continued in the show if Kathryn Joosten who played her had not casually mentioned that she was being piloted for another programme because she was not a regular-enough character in the show.

Immediately Sorkin said "we're going to kill Mrs Landingham" - but not in an angry way, he just decided that if Joosten was to exit then it could add something to the storyline. Although many were sad to see Mrs Landingham go, her exit did help to create the final episode of series two entitled "Two Cathedrals" - undoubtedly one of the finest 40minutes of television in history.