The West Wing star teases ‘very special’ announcement

Mary McCormack, who played Kate Harper on the political drama, says there’s ‘something exciting in the works’

The West Wing star Mary McCormack has teased that a “very special” announcement related to the show will be made next Wednesday, 24 January.

McCormack, 54, played Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper on the much-loved Emmy-winning political drama, which ran on NBC from 1999 to 2006.

On her personal Instagram, McCormack wrote: “Calling all #Wingnuts! West Wing fans - we have something very special in the works that we’ll be sharing with you next week, so stay tuned here for our big reveal on Jan. 24th. Any guesses for what it is? #westwing.”

She also posted an Instagram Story, with a caption saying: “We have something exciting in the works! Stay tuned for the big reveal next week.”

On that post, McCormack tagged fellow West Wing cast members including Janel Moloney, Kristin Chenoweth, Allison Janney, Richard Schiff and Bradley Whitford.

Last year another cast member, Rob Lowe, revealed that The West Wing represented a “super unhealthy relationship” for him.

The actor played the role of deputy White House Communications Director Sam Seaborn on the show, but left partway through its fourth season.

It was reported at the time that Lowe’s departure was related to a salary dispute, as well as a creative disagreement over the amount of focus given to his character. Lowe would subsequently go on to star in the sitcom Parks and Recreation, as well as procedural dramas Code Black and 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Lowe spoke about his decision to leave The West Wing during a new interview with the podcast Podcrushed.

Describing quitting the series as “the best thing I ever did”, Lowe characterised his relationship with The West Wing as “super unhealthy”.

“I felt very undervalued” he said, adding: “I did not have a good experience.”

“I walked away from the most popular girl at school, but I also knew that it was a super unhealthy relationship, and it was the best thing I ever did.”

Lowe would, however, later return to the series for a couple of episodes at the end of its run, including the series finale.

At the time of his departure, his character was replaced on the show by Will Bailey, a character played by Joshua Malina.

In a statement initially announcing Lowe’s exit from The West Wing, he told fans: “As much as it hurts to admit it, it has been increasingly clear, for quite a while, that there was no longer a place for Sam Seaborn on The West Wing.

“Warners had allowed me an opportunity to leave the show as I arrived – grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it. We were a part of television history and I will never forget it.”

The West Wing was set in the White House, and followed the day-to-day operations of a political administration led by fictional Democrat president Jed Bartlett (Martin Sheen).