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Casualty (TV series)

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This is the latest accepted revision, reviewed on 11 November 2024.
For the forthcoming season, see Casualty series 40.

Casualty (stylised as CASUAL+Y since 1997) is a British medical drama series broadcast on BBC One.[3] Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it first aired in the United Kingdom on 6 September 1986. The show was originally produced by Geraint 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.[4][5]

Casualty
Black text that reads: "Casualty", with the T stylised as an addition sign
GenreMedical drama
Created byJeremy Brock
Paul Unwin
StarringCurrent and former cast
Theme music composerKen Freeman
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series39
No. of episodes1,341 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Running time40–50 minutes
60–90 minutes (special episodes)
Production companiesBBC Bristol (1986–2011)
BBC Cymru Wales (2012–present)
BBC Studios Continuing Drama Productions
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release6 September 1986 (1986-09-06) –
present
Related

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 the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2020, the impact 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.[6]

The show is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, focusing on the staff and patients in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department. It shared a close connection with its former sister programme, Holby City, a spin-off that aired from 1999 until its cancellation in 2022.[7] HolbyBlue, a police drama set in the same universe, also spun off from Casualty and aired between 2007 and 2008.

Creation

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The series Casualty was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin.[8] According to writer Susan Wilkins, the show was conceived as a response to the political climate of the Margaret Thatcher era. Unwin, reflecting on its origins, stated that as young socialists, they aimed to create a "television revolution" that would be feminist, anti-racist, pro-NHS, and anti-Conservative.[9]

Production

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Location

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Casualty and Holby City are both set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, located in the fictional county of Wyvern in the southwest of England.[10][11] From the show's inception until Series 26, episode 16, exterior shots of the city were filmed in Bristol, featuring iconic landmarks such as the floating harbour and Clifton Suspension Bridge.[12][13] Allen House, part of the Ashley Down Centre campus at City of Bristol College, served as the location for most exterior shots of the hospital's A&E entrance from 1986 until 2002. In 2002, a new exterior set was constructed at Lawrence Hill Industrial Park, Bristol.[14][15]

Casualty's exterior shots were mainly filmed outside Brunel House and Allen House on College Road in Bristol until production moved in 2011 to Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff.[16][17] 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.[18][19] Most exterior scenes of Holby City are now filmed in Cardiff and the surrounding South Wales area. Additionally, railway scenes are filmed at various preserved railways, including the West Somerset Railway, Avon Valley Railway, and Barry Tourist Railway. For the premiere of Series 33, filming took place in Bristol and Yate in May 2018.[20]

Broadcast

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Main articles: Lists of Casualty episodes and List of Casualty specials

Casualty has predominantly been broadcast on Saturday nights since its inception, although it briefly aired on Fridays during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The first two series featured 15 episodes each, while Series 3 had 10 episodes—one of which was postponed following the death of guest star Roy Kinnear. Series 4, 5, and 6 consisted of 12, 13, and 15 episodes, respectively. The Series 6 finale episode, which centered around a plane crash, was postponed due to its proximity to the anniversary of the Lockerbie disaster.

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. The move sparked controversy due to the graphic and controversial storylines.[21] In 1997-98, the episode count increased to 26 for Series 12, including two 75-minute specials. Subsequent series saw further increases: 28 episodes for Series 13, 30 for Series 14, 36 for Series 15, 40 for Series 16 and 17, and 46 for Series 18. By 2004, Casualty had transitioned to an almost year-round format, with 48 episodes per series from Series 19 through 25. This number dropped to 42 for Series 26, attributed to the show's production move from Bristol to Cardiff.[22] Series 27 saw an increase to 44 episodes, with Series 28 returning to 48 episodes.[23][24]

The 1,000th episode aired on 25 June 2016, followed by a feature-length 30th anniversary episode on 27 August 2016 as the Series 31 premiere.[25] For the Series 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.[26]

Production was temporarily halted on 17 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with filming resuming in September 2020. When the show returned in January 2021, episodes were shortened to 40 minutes instead of the usual 50.[27][28] Casualty typically airs for 50 minutes between 20:00–22:00 on BBC One, with the schedule sometimes shifting due to special events like the Eurovision Song Contest or sporting events. Occasionally, if an episode is split into two parts, part one airs on Saturday and part two on Sunday. The show is also broadcast across Europe via BBC Entertainment.

Training schemes

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In February 2024, BBC Studios launched two new training schemes for aspiring writers and directors—The Casualty Directors' Scheme and The Writers' Studio: Casualty—based within the Casualty production team. These initiatives will give eight successful candidates the opportunity to direct or write an episode of the long-running drama. 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."[29]

Cast and characters

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Main articles: List of Casualty characters and Characters of Casualty

Casualty follows the professional and personal lives of the medical and ancillary staff at Holby City Hospital's emergency department. The show features an ensemble cast, which originally included 10 main characters in Series 1. These characters were consultant Ewart Plimmer (Bernard Gallagher), senior house officer Baz Samuels (Julia Watson), charge nurse Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson), staff nurse Clive King (George Harris), state enrolled nurse Megan Roach (Brenda Fricker), student nurse Lisa "Duffy" Duffin (Cathy Shipton), paramedics Sandra Mute and Andrew Ponting (Lisa Bowerman and Robert Pugh), receptionist Susie Mercier (Debbie Roza) and porter Kuba Trzcinski (Christopher Rozycki).

The current regular cast includes clinical lead Siobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill), consultants Dylan Keogh (William Beck) and Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless); clinical fellow Rash Masum (Neet Mohan); trainee doctors Tariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu) and Nicole Piper (Sammy T. Dobson), advanced clinical practitioner Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell); psychiatric liaison nurse Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), nurses Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari), Cameron Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh), Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell), and Ngozi Okoye (Adesuwa Oni). Operational duty manager Jan Jenning (Di Botcher), paramedics Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson), Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) and Jacob Masters (Charles Venn) also feature prominently.

A survey by Radio Times in March 2004 found that Casualty has launched the careers of more future stars than any other UK soap or drama series.[30] Actors such as Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Jodie Comer, Minnie Driver, Alfred Molina, Christopher Eccleston, Tom Hiddleston, Ashley Artus,[31] Parminder Nagra, Caryn Edwards, Sadie Frost, Ray Winstone, David Walliams, Jonny Lee Miller, Martin Freeman, Helen Baxendale, Robson Green, and Brenda Fricker.[30] made appearances before achieving wider success. Winslet, reflecting on her 1993 appearance, stated that appearing on Casualty was almost a rite of passage for British actors and taught her valuable lessons in acting naturally in front of the camera.[30] The series has also included guest roles by more established stars such as Marina Sirtis, Norman Wisdom, Amanda Redman, Anita Dobson, Jenny Seagrove, Rula Lenska, Prunella Scales,[32] Celia Imrie,[33] Toyah Willcox, Maureen Lipman,[34] Frances Barber, Andrew Sachs,[35] Russ Abbot, Stephanie Beacham,[36] Honor Blackman, and Michelle Collins.

Home releases

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The first three series of Casualty were released on DVD (Region 2, UK) by 2 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[37] 8 December 2008[38]
Casualty Series 2 4 1987 15 10 July 2006[39] —
Casualty Series 3 3 1988 10 11 September 2006[40] —

International broadcast

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Irish viewers can stream Casualty on the free RTÉ Player service.[41] In the United States, the series is available on Britbox, a subscription-based streaming service that specializes in British television content.[42][43]

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Holby City

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Main article: Holby City

Holby City premiered on 12 January 1999 as a spin-off from Casualty 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. Like Casualty, 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 included Eric Sykes, Phill Jupitus, Michael Jayston, Michele Dotrice, Ronni Ancona, Emma Samms, Lee Ryan, Nikki Sanderson, and Johnny Briggs.[44]

The series was created by Mal Young and Tony McHale, with McHale later becoming the executive producer from 2007 to 2010. He was succeeded by Casualty's executive producer, Belinda Campbell.

Casualty@Holby City

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Main article: Casualty@Holby City

Reflecting Holby City's origins as a spin-off from Casualty and the interconnected premises of the two series, the BBC has occasionally aired crossover mini-dramas titled Casualty@Holby City, featuring characters from both shows.[45] Mervyn Watson, former executive producer of Casualty, 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.[46]

Filming for Casualty@Holby City episodes is typically split between Casualty's Bristol set and Holby City's Elstree studios. Notably, a significant portion of the Christmas 2005 crossover was filmed on location in a road tunnel in Caernarfon, Wales.[47] The theme tune for the crossover episodes combines shortened versions of the Casualty and Holby City themes, a choice criticized by The Daily Mirror as "basically both theme tunes played at once."[48]

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.[49] In 2007, Holby City producer Diana Kyle noted the logistical challenges of producing crossovers, given the demanding year-round filming schedules for both series.[50] Despite this, the production teams remained enthusiastic about creating further crossovers, with Casualty producer Oliver Kent reiterating in 2010 that logistical challenges, rather than a lack of interest, were the primary obstacle to producing these special episodes.[51]

HolbyBlue

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Main article: HolbyBlue

In April 2006, the BBC announced the production of a new spin-off drama from Casualty, titled HolbyBlue.[52] The series centered on the police service in Holby South and aired on BBC One, with its first series occupying a Tuesday night slot, while Holby City returned to its previous Thursday 8:00 pm timeslot. The crossover between the two shows was significant, with long-running Casualty character Charlie Fairhead appearing in the first episode of HolbyBlue, and a full two-part crossover episode with Holby City airing at the start of the show's second series.[53] However, on 6 August 2008, the BBC confirmed that HolbyBlue had been cancelled after two series.[54]

Casualty 1900s

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Main article: Casualty 1900s

In December 2006, the BBC aired Casualty 1906, a historical medical drama reflecting life in the 'Receiving Room' of the Royal London Hospital 100 years prior, before the development of modern A&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 titled Casualty 1907 was broadcast in 2008.[55] While not a direct spin-off nor set in the same fictional location as Casualty, The Times suggested that the BBC leveraged the popularity of Casualty to introduce the historical drama, a sentiment echoed by The Guardian.[56] A third series, Casualty 1908, featuring Cherie Lunghi, was also commissioned. On 25 March 2009, it was announced that the BBC would produce Casualty 1909, a six-part series that aired in June and July 2009.[57]

Awards and nominations

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Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Casualty
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 and TV Choice Awards 1 10
Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards 1 4
Other awards 5 7
Total 37 149

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Patterson, Stephen (14 November 2023). "Casualty appoints new boss ahead of TV return". Metro. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ "BBC Studios appoints Chris Clenshaw as EastEnders Executive Producer". BBC. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
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  5. ^ "Longest-running TV medical drama". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Casualty confirms reduction in number of episodes per year". Digital Spy. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  7. ^ Gibbs, Nicholas. Writing Television Drama: Get Your Scripts Commissioned, Teach Yourself.
  8. ^ Unwin, Paul; Brock, Jeremy (7 September 2011). "25 years strong: the idea that defined Casualty". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  9. ^ From EastEnders to Hollywood: Antonia Bird Archived 2 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, BBC Four, 26 May 2016.
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  54. ^ "BBC axes police drama Holby Blue". BBC. 6 August 2008. Archived from the original on 6 July 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
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  56. ^ Ben Dowell (19 February 2007). "Casualty 1906 to become series". London: Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 December 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  57. ^ "Television — News — BBC One to screen 'Casualty 1909'". Digital Spy. 25 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 March 2009. Retrieved 25 March 2009.
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