This is an accepted version of this page
| Casualty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Medical drama |
| Created by | Jeremy Brock Paul Unwin |
| Starring | Current and former cast |
| Theme music composer | Ken Freeman |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 39 |
| No. of episodes | 1,353(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 40–50 minutes 60–90 minutes (special episodes) |
| Production companies | BBC Bristol (1986–2011) BBC Cymru Wales (2012–present) BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 6 September 1986 (1986-09-06) – present |
| Related | |
Casualty (stylised asCASUAL+Y since 1997) is a Britishmedical drama series broadcast onBBC One.[3] Created byJeremy Brock andPaul Unwin, it first aired in the United Kingdom on 6 September 1986.[4] The show was originally produced byGeraint Morris and has been a staple of British television ever since.Casualty is recognised as the longest-running primetime medical drama series in the world.[5][6]
Initially,Casualty aired during the autumn for its first six series, before increasing to 24 episodes annually by 1992. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the episode count expanded further, and by 2004, the series was running 48 episodes a year, with breaks around Christmas and major events like sporting competitions and theEurovision Song Contest. In 2020, theimpact of the COVID-19 pandemic on television led to a temporary autumn break, but the series resumed its year-round schedule in the following two years. From 2023,Casualty introduced a regular autumn break due to rising production costs, settling on a schedule of 36 episodes per year.[7]
The show is set in the fictionalHolby City Hospital, focusing on the staff and patients in theAccident and Emergency (A&E) Department. It shared a close connection with its former sister programme,Holby City, aspin-off that aired from 1999 until its cancellation in 2022.[8]HolbyBlue, a police drama set in the same universe, also spun off fromCasualty and aired between 2007 and 2008.[9]
In 1984, the controller ofBBC1Michael Grade returned from Hollywood to reinvigorate a faltering Saturday night schedule which was falling behind that ofITV. Head of dramaJonathan Powell was instructed to create a long running drama series to take over fromJuliet Bravo for an 8pm Saturday night slot.[10]
From there, newcomers to television writing, script editorJeremy Brock and theatre directorPaul Unwin came up with the idea for a medical drama after both had spent time hospitalised and were 'deeply concerned by what they saw'.[11]
To research the show, they visited the A&E department atBristol Royal Infirmary where they met charge nurse Peter Salt. Brock and Unwin were shown around and witnessed a typical shift in the department dealing with a myriad of cases. Salt was then appointed the series medical advisor and became the template for the characterCharlie Fairhead.[12] Brock and Unwin then pitched their idea to the BBC in 1985 as a manifesto with the title 'In 1948, a dream was born. In 1985, that dream is in tatters.'[13]
According to writer Susan Wilkins, the show was conceived as a response to the political climate of theMargaret Thatcher era. Unwin, reflecting on its origins, stated that as young socialists, they aimed to create a "television revolution" that would befeminist,anti-racist, pro-NHS, and anti-Conservative.[14]
Thefirst series ofCasualty was met with controversy and discussed in theHouse of Commons for its negative portrayal of theNHS and depicting staff drinking on duty due to the pressures of working in A&E.[13] Despite this, many people leapt to the defence of the series for its accuracy, including nurses at aRoyal College of Nursing conference where Brock and Unwin appeared to in order to discuss the series.[15]
Casualty andHolby City are both set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, located in the fictional county of Wyvern in the southwest of England.[16][17] From the show's inception untilSeries 26,episode 16, exterior shots of the city were filmed inBristol, featuring iconic landmarks such as thefloating harbour andClifton Suspension Bridge.[18][19]
The interior A&E set for the first series was atBBC Television Centre in London, where the set had to be “struck” once filming had finished each night. By Series 2, a permanent interior set was built in a warehouse on Kingsland trading estate in the St. Philip's area of Bristol, close to where the exterior shots of the A&E and hospital were filmed.[20]The set remained at the warehouse for 24 years, until production moved to Cardiff during Series 26 in 2011.[21]
Allen House, part of the Ashley Down Centre campus atCity of Bristol College, served as the location for most exterior shots of the hospital's A&E entrance from 1986 until 2002.[20] In 2002, a new exterior set was constructed at Lawrence Hill Industrial Park, Bristol.[22][23]
Episode 16 of Series 26, which depicted a fire destroying the hospital department, was the last episode filmed in Bristol, and the first episode filmed in Cardiff aired on 7 January 2012 as an 80-minute special.[24][25]
Since 2011,Casualty has been produced atRoath Lock Studios inCardiff with a permanent base housing interior and exterior sets as well as production offices.[26][27]Additionally, railway scenes are filmed at various preserved railways, including theWest Somerset Railway,Avon Valley Railway, andBarry Tourist Railway. For the premiere ofSeries 33, filming took place in Bristol andYate in May 2018.[28]
There have been multiple episodes ofCasualty taking place partially or entirely abroad, filmed in the following countries:
AlthoughSeries 32 Episodes 1 & 2 are set in NorthernFrance, filming for these episodes took place in Cardiff &Fishguard.[33]
Casualty has predominantly been broadcast on Saturday nights since its inception, although it briefly aired on Fridays from 1988 to 1991.[34][35][36][37]The first two series featured 15 episodes each, whileSeries 3 had 10 episodes—one of which was postponed following the death of guest starRoy Kinnear.[38] Series4,5, and6 consisted of 12, 13, and 15 episodes, respectively.[39] TheSeries 6 finale episode, which centered around a plane crash, was postponed due to its proximity to the anniversary of theLockerbie disaster.[40]
In September 1992,Casualty returned to Saturday nights with a series length extended to 24 episodes per year and aired in a pre-watershed slot around 8 pm.[41] The move sparked controversy due to the graphic and controversial storylines, in particular theSeries 7 finale 'Boiling Point' which aired at the later time of 9:30 pm instead of 7:50 pm.[42]
In 1997, the episode count increased to 26 forSeries 12, including two 75-minute specials.[43] Subsequent series saw further increases: 28 episodes forSeries 13, 30 forSeries 14, 36 forSeries 15, 40 forSeries 16 and17, and 46 forSeries 18. By 2004,Casualty had transitioned to an almost year-round format, with 48 episodes per series fromSeries 19 through25.[39] This number dropped to 42 forSeries 26, attributed to the show's production move fromBristol toCardiff.[44]Series 27 saw an increase to 44 episodes, withSeries 28 returning to 48 episodes.[45][46] From August 2014, episode counts vary, withSeries 29 having 46 episodes and 43 episodes forSeries 30. WhilstSeries 31 andSeries 32 returned to 44 episodes.[47]
The 1,000th episode aired on 25 June 2016, followed by a feature-length 30th anniversary episode on 27 August 2016 as theSeries 31 premiere.[48] For theSeries 31 finale, co-creator Paul Unwin wrote a special episode filmed entirely in one take using a single camera, five boom operators, and 40 microphones.[49]
The episode count increased to 46 forSeries 33 before dropping down to 43 episodes forSeries 34.[47] Production was temporarily halted during Series 34 on 17 March 2020 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, with filming resuming in September 2020. When the show returned asSeries 35 in January 2021, the episode count reduced to 30 and shortened to 40 minutes instead of the usual 50.[47][50][51]Series 36 saw a return to 44 episodes, with a reduction to 43 episodes inSeries 37 and 36 episodes inSeries 38.[47] Future series will be formed of 36 episodes.[7]
Casualty typically airs for 50 minutes between 20:00–22:00 onBBC One, with the schedule sometimes shifting due to special events like theEurovision Song Contest or sporting events. Unusually, episode 31 ofSeries 38 aired onBBC Two due to aEuro 2024 group stage match.[52] Occasionally, if an episode is split into two parts, part one airs on the Saturday and part two on the Sunday, as seen with the first 2 episodes ofSeries 13 andSeries 14 among others.[53][54]
TheU&Drama channel shows repeat episodes ofClassic Casualty and started from the very beginning in May 2023. Former series and episodes are also available on demand after broadcast.[55]
In February 2024, BBC Studios launched two new training schemes for aspiring writers and directors—The Casualty Directors' Scheme andThe Writers' Studio: Casualty—based within theCasualty production team. These initiatives will give eight successful candidates the opportunity to direct or write an episode of the long-running drama.[56] Executive producer Roxanne Harvey expressed enthusiasm for the launch, highlighting the importance of these training programmes to "sustain the high quality of our iconic drama."[57]
Casualty follows the professional and personal lives of the medical and ancillary staff at Holby City Hospital'semergency department. The show features anensemble cast, which originally included 10 main characters inSeries 1. These characters wereconsultantEwart Plimmer (Bernard Gallagher),senior house officerBaz Samuels (Julia Watson),charge nurseCharlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson),staff nurseClive King (George Harris),state enrolled nurseMegan Roach (Brenda Fricker), student nurseLisa "Duffy" Duffin (Cathy Shipton),paramedicsSandra Mute andAndrew Ponting (Lisa Bowerman andRobert Pugh), receptionistSusie Mercier (Debbie Roza) and porterKuba Trzcinski (Christopher Rozycki).[58]
The current regular cast includes clinical lead, Flynn Byron (Olly Rix)[59] clinical nurse manager & senior sisterSiobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill); consultantsDylan Keogh (William Beck) and Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless); clinical fellowRash Masum (Neet Mohan); trainee doctorsTariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu) andNicole Piper (Sammy T. Dobson); advanced clinical practitionerFaith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell); psychiatric liaison nurseSophia Peters (Kellie Shirley); nurse and midwifeJodie Whyte (Anna Chell);nursesRida Amaan (Sarah Seggari),Cameron Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh), andNgozi Okoye (Adesuwa Oni); operational duty managerJan Jenning (Di Botcher);paramedicsIain Dean (Michael Stevenson),Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) andJacob Masters (Charles Venn) and trainee paramedicIndie Jankowski (Naomi Wakszlak) also feature prominently.[60]
A survey byRadio Times in March 2004 found thatCasualty has launched the careers of more future stars than any other UK soap or drama series.[61] Actors such asKate Winslet,Orlando Bloom,Jodie Comer,Minnie Driver,Alfred Molina,Christopher Eccleston,Tom Hiddleston, Ashley Artus,[62]Parminder Nagra, Caryn Edwards,Sadie Frost,Ray Winstone,David Walliams,Jonny Lee Miller,Martin Freeman,Helen Baxendale,Robson Green, andBrenda Fricker[61] made appearances before achieving wider success. Winslet, reflecting on her 1993 appearance, stated that appearing onCasualty was almost a rite of passage for British actors and taught her valuable lessons in acting naturally in front of the camera.[61] The series has also included guest roles by more established stars such asMarina Sirtis,Norman Wisdom,Amanda Redman,Anita Dobson,Jenny Seagrove,Rula Lenska,Prunella Scales,[63]Celia Imrie,[64]Toyah Willcox,Maureen Lipman,[65]Frances Barber,Andrew Sachs,[66]Russ Abbot,Stephanie Beacham,[67]Honor Blackman, andMichelle Collins.
The first three series ofCasualty were released on DVD (Region 2, UK) by2 Entertain/Cinema Club, with the third series being released to coincide with the show's 20th anniversary celebrations. In Australia, the first series was made available by Umbrella Entertainment. Currently, there are no plans for future DVD releases in either the UK or Australia.
| DVD title | No. of discs | Year(s) | No. of episodes | DVD release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 | Region 4 | Notes | |||||
| Casualty Series 1 | 4 | 1986 | 15 | 10 April 2006[68] | 8 December 2008[69] | ||
| Casualty Series 2 | 4 | 1987 | 15 | 10 July 2006[70] | — | ||
| Casualty Series 3 | 3 | 1988 | 10 | 11 September 2006[71] | — | ||
Irish viewers can streamCasualty on the freeRTÉ Player service.[72] In the United States, the series is available onBritbox, a subscription-based streaming service that specializes in British television content.[73][74]
In New Zealand, the current series ofCasualty is available to watch onSky New Zealand channel 207BBC First and on demand viaSky Go.[75][76]
Holby City premiered on 12 January 1999 as aspin-off fromCasualty and is set in the same fictional Holby City Hospital. The series focuses on the lives and careers of the medical staff and patients on the hospital's surgical wards, addressing various clinical and ethical dilemmas. LikeCasualty, the show features an ensemble cast of regular characters, including surgeons, nurses, and ancillary staff, while guest actors play the patients. Over the years, notable guest stars have includedEric Sykes,Phill Jupitus,Michael Jayston,Michele Dotrice,Ronni Ancona,Emma Samms,Lee Ryan,Nikki Sanderson, andJohnny Briggs.[77]
The series was created byMal Young andTony McHale, with McHale later becoming theexecutive producer from 2007 to 2010. He was succeeded byCasualty's executive producer, Belinda Campbell.
ReflectingHolby City's origins as a spin-off fromCasualty and the interconnected premises of the two series, the BBC has occasionally aired crossover mini-dramas titledCasualty@Holby City, featuring characters from both shows.[78] Mervyn Watson, formerexecutive producer ofCasualty, explained that the idea for the crossovers stemmed from a casual suggestion made within the BBC's comedy department. The concept was embraced by the Controller of Drama, who then commissioned the crossovers with input from both shows' executive producers.[79]
Filming forCasualty@Holby City episodes is typically split betweenCasualty's Bristol set andHolby City's Elstree studios. Notably, a significant portion of theChristmas 2005 crossover was filmed on location in a road tunnel inCaernarfon,Wales.[80] The theme tune for the crossover episodes combines shortened versions of theCasualty andHolby City themes, a choice criticized byTheDaily Mirror as "basically both theme tunes played at once."[81]
Before the broadcast of the 2005 Christmas crossover, Watson commented on the future of the crossover episodes, stating that while they couldn't guarantee more, they would be willing to continue them as long as there was audience interest.[82] In 2007,Holby City producer Diana Kyle noted the logistical challenges of producing crossovers, given the demanding year-round filming schedules for both series.[83] Despite this, the production teams remained enthusiastic about creating further crossovers, withCasualty producer Oliver Kent reiterating in 2010 that logistical challenges, rather than a lack of interest, were the primary obstacle to producing these special episodes.[84]
In April 2006, the BBC announced the production of a new spin-off drama fromCasualty, titledHolbyBlue.[85] The series centered on the police service in Holby South and aired onBBC One, with its first series occupying a Tuesday night slot, whileHolby City returned to its previous Thursday 8:00 pm timeslot. The crossover between the two shows was significant, with long-runningCasualty characterCharlie Fairhead appearing in the first episode ofHolbyBlue, and a full two-part crossover episode withHolby City airing at the start of the show's second series.[86] However, on 6 August 2008, the BBC confirmed thatHolbyBlue had been cancelled after two series.[87]
In December 2006, the BBC airedCasualty 1906, a historical medical drama reflecting life in the 'Receiving Room' of theRoyal London Hospital 100 years prior, before the development of modernA&E departments. Based on historical hospital records and news reports, the drama depicted the medical practices and societal conditions of the time. Following its success, a three-episode miniseries titledCasualty 1907 was broadcast in 2008.[88] While not a direct spin-off nor set in the same fictional location asCasualty,The Times suggested that the BBC leveraged the popularity ofCasualty to introduce the historical drama, a sentiment echoed byThe Guardian.[89] A third series,Casualty 1908, featuringCherie Lunghi, was also commissioned. On 25 March 2009, it was announced that the BBC would produceCasualty 1909, a six-part series that aired in June and July 2009.[90]
| Award | Wins | Nominations |
|---|---|---|
| British Academy Television Awards | 6 | 18 |
| Digital Spy Reader Awards | 0 | 10 |
| Inside Soap Awards | 7 | 34 |
| National Television Awards | 1 | 45 |
| Royal Television Society Awards | 6 | 11 |
| TV Quick andTV Choice Awards | 1 | 10 |
| Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards | 1 | 4 |
| Other awards | 5 | 7 |
| Total | 37 | 149 |
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