| Casualty | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical Drama |
| Created by | Jeremy Brock Paul Unwin |
| Starring | Current and previous cast |
| Theme music composer | Ken Freeman |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of series | 32 |
| No. of episodes | 1093 (as of 4 August 2018) (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Adrian Bate (1996–97) Laura Mackie (1997–98) Ruth Caleb (1998) Mal Young (1998–2004) Mervyn Watson (2002–07) Alison Davis (2007–08) Belinda Campbell (2007–11) Johnathan Young (2011–13) Oliver Kent (2013–2017) Simon Harper (2017–) |
| Camera setup | Single-camera setup |
| Running time | 50 minutes, various other lengths |
| Production companies | BBC Bristol (1986–2011) BBC Cymru Wales (2012–present) |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One (1986–present) BBC Two (episode 350) BBC One HD (2012–present) |
| Release | 6 September 1986 – present |
| Related | |
| Holby City HolbyBlue Casualty 1900s Casualty@Holby City | |
Casualty, stylised as CASUAL+Y, is a British medical drama series that typically airs weekly on BBC One.
It is the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world,[1] and the most enduring medical drama shown on prime time television in the world.[2] The show was created by Paul Unwin and Jeremy Brock,[3] with its original producer being Geraint Morris.[4] Since the show began, there have been eleven executive producers, with the current executive producer as Simon Harper.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). Casualty has been running for over thirty years, and celebrated its thirtieth year in September 2016.[5] Since the show's initial development, it has become a weekly fixture in the schedule. The show has aired over 1000 episodes, typically lasting fifty minutes in duration, however there have been exceptions. Thirty-one full series have aired, with the thirty-second series currently airing.
The programme is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital and follows the lives of medical and ancillary staff at the hospital's Accident and Emergency Department. It began with ten main characters in its first series, with Derek Thompson (Charlie Fairhead) as the only remaining cast member to appear continually since the first episode. New main characters have been both written in and out of the series since, with a core of around eighteen to twenty main actors employed on the serial at any given time. On average, a series of Casualty casts about 336 guest artists, while an average of 1,680 audition each series.[6] Many famous guest stars have appeared in Casualty across its thirty-year span including Honor Blackman, Martin Freeman, Anita Dobson and Kate Winslet.[6]
In 1999, a spin-off show of Casualty began airing, titled Holby City.[7] It is set in the same hospital as Casualty and follows what happens to patients once they are taken away to the hospital's surgical wards.[8] A police procedural spin-off, HolbyBlue, began airing from 8 May 2007, running for two series which after it was cancelled due to poor viewing figures.[9] The show features occasional crossovers of characters and plots with Holby City (which featured dedicated episodes broadcast as Casualty@Holby City) and HolbyBlue. Although the show was not a direct spin-off to Casualty, the BBC has aired one other medical show, titled: Casualty 1900s. The show was branded by The Times as a "high-concept brand-extension at its very best".[10]
Casualty regularly attracts an audience of around 5 to 6 million viewers each week, however the thirteenth and fourteenth series achieved viewers of over eleven million. The show has received criticism with regards to its realism, however there have been contrasting opinions. According to researchers, the number of surviving patients after CPR has been performed was similar to the proportion of real life patients surviving CPR. Casualty has also been nominated for over 50 awards, of which it has won 14, including the 2007 British Academy Television Award for Best Soap and Continuing Drama, beating competition from popular soap operas EastEnders and Coronation Street and the Special Award at the 2016 TRIC Awards in recognition as it approached its thirtieth year.
Production
Casualty was created by writers and directors Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin. The idea for the drama formed when Brock and Unwin were hospitalised, both for different reasons.[11] They found what they witnessed in the hospitals worrying and decided to share stories about the NHS. Unwin stated, "we knew what stories there were to tell and how we wanted to tell them."[12] Brock and Unwin pictched a document for Casualty in 1985 and sent it to the BBC, who commissioned the show in a bid to boost ratings of BBC One in peak viewing times on Friday and Saturday evenings after they began declining in 1984 and 1985.[13] Brock and Unwin visited a hospital in Bristol before scripting the drama and they met Peter Salt, a charge nurse in the hospital's emergency department. Salt was then appointed as series medical advisor.[3][13]
In 2003, Dorothy Hobson confirmed that episodes of Casualty cost approximately £450,000 to produce, which is more than both the BBC soap opera EastEnders (£130,000 per episode) and Casualty's spin-off series Holby City (£370,000 per episode), but less than BBC crime drama Dalziel and Pascoe (£700,000−£800,000 per episode).[14]
The show was originally produced by Geraint Morris.[4] Corinne Hollingworth was introduced as the executive producer of the show in 1994, increasing show viewers to "almost 18 million".[15] She left the show in 1996 and was succeeded by Adrian Bate, who was followed by Laura Mackie in 1997 and Ruth Caleb in 1998. The future creator of Holby City, Mal Young, executively produced the show between 1998 and 2004. He also executively produced Holby City from its inception in 1999 until 2004.[16] Mervyn Watson succeeded Young[citation needed] and was replaced by Belinda Campbell and Alison Davis[citation needed] in 2007. Davis resigned from the post in 2008.[citation needed] Campbell continued her position until 2011, in which she "revamped" the show "both on and off-screen".[17] John Yorke, the head of BBC drama, praised Campbell's work on the show, adding that she left the show "in fine health", with "strong editorial and production teams in place."[17] Johnathan Young took over from Campbell as executive producer of Casualty , having previously worked on the show as a series producer.[17]
It was announced on 15 February 2013 that show bosses were searching for a replacement for Young, with the possibility that Young may reapply.[18] It was later announced that Young would not return to his position, with Oliver Kent, Casualty's series producer and Holby City's senior producer, replacing him in March 2011.[19] Kent said he was "truly delighted" to be replacing Young that he was "really excited at the prospect of working with the brilliant teams in Elstree and Roath Lock".[19] He looked forward to beginning his role.[19] Kate Harwood, head of BBC Drama Production England, said that Kent would be "a great new leader" for the shows and she could not "wait to work with him."[19] Kent was promoted to the Head Of Continuing Drama Series for BBC Scripted Studios in 2017, which oversees Casualty, Holby City, EastEnders, Doctors and River City.[20] Simon Harper, the series producer of Holby City, was made the acting executive producer of Casualty and Holby City,[21] and his appointment was made permanent in June 2017.[22] Kent praised Harper's appointment and commented, "He has an exemplary record in developing creative talent in all areas of production and is a proud champion of diversity."[22] Harper expressed his delight at suceeding Kent and compared executively producing both shows to "heading up one big talented family."[22]
Location
Casualty was originally filmed in the city of Bristol,[23] and many exterior scenes were filmed within the city, including Bristol Harbour and Clifton Suspension Bridge.[24] The show used City of Bristol College as a filming location from its inception until 2002, when afterwards a set was built in Lawrence Hill Industrial Park.[25]
It was confirmed on 26 March 2009 that the filming of the show would be moved to a purpose-built studio and backlot set at the Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff, South Wales in 2011.[26][27] The move was criticised by the show's longest-serving actor Derek Thompson, who portrays Charlie Fairhead. He expressed his sadness in a statement, "I'm still sad [that Casualty is] leaving Bristol, not just because it's convenient for me but because it's meant a lot to Bristol over the years."[28] He compared moving Casualty to Cardiff like "moving Taggart to Birmingham",[28] whilst city Labour MP Kerry McCarthy said the movement is "akin to moving EastEnders from Albert Square to Trafalgar Square".[29] It was believed that when Casualty filmed in Bristol, it brought in an estimated £10 million to the economy yearly.[30] The final episode to be filmed in Bristol aired on 10 December 2011, the sixteenth episode of series twenty-six. The episode saw the emergency department destroyed by a fire, which created a set up for the new Cardiff set.[citation needed] The first episode to be filmed in Cardiff aired on 7 January 2016, the seventeenth episode of series twenty-seven. This eighty-minute episode was also the first episode to be broadcast in high-definition.[citation needed]
Casualty films on-location regularly. On 17 April 2015, it was announced that the show had filmed in Bucharest, Romania for one episode. The episode, "Exile", first broadcast in May 2015 and features Charlie Fairhead (Thompson) and Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing) as they search for Charlie's drug-addicted son, Louis Fairhead (Gregory Forsyth-Foreman), after he is attacked.[31]
Broadcasting
The show premiered on 6 September 1986 on BBC One.[citation needed] The drama has since aired for thirty-one series and a thirty-second series began broadcasting on 19 August 2017.[32] The first series ran for fifteen episodes, which decreased to ten episodes for the third series.[citation needed] Since then, the total episodes in a series has continued to rise, peaking at 48 episodes between series 19 and series 24, and again in series 28.[citation needed] The show celebrated its 500th episode on 8 October 2005 in the twentieth series.[citation needed] Casualty celebrated its 1,000th episode on 25 June 2016 in the thirteith series. Cathy Shipton reprises her role as Lisa "Duffy" Duffin in the episode.[33]
Each episode of Casualty are normally between 50 and 60 minutes long.[citation needed] However, the show's feature-length thirteith anniversary episode, "Too Old for This Shift", is 99-minutes long.[citation needed] The drama was originally broadcast on Saturday nights, before being moved to Friday nights for the third series.[13][34] The show moved back to Saturday nights for its seventh series, where it has since remained.[34] The show broadcasts on the BBC's primary channel, BBC One, and since 2012, it also has broadcast on BBC One HD.[citation needed] Despite this, episode 350 was originally broadcast on BBC Two, following the death of The Queen Mother.[35] Since August 2017, Casualty repeats have broadcast on the Drama.[citation needed]
Music
Casualty has used several variations of their theme tune, with the original theme music composed by Ken Freeman.[36] On 4 February 2014, it was announced that alongside a new opening sequence, an alternative theme tune would be introduced in the same month.[37] In 2015, an alternative closing tune was introduced. It is considered more emotional and is normally used when a character departs.[citation needed] The show's original theme tune is included in an album titled 100 Greatest TV Themes, with Casualty's theme tune placing at number 20 in the rankings.[38] In 1999, Oxide and Neutrino transformed the show's theme tune into a drum and bass single.[39] Titled "Bound 4 Da Reload (Casualty)", the single reached the top of the UK Singles Chart in April 2000.[40][41] Tom Eames of entertainment website Digital Spy ranked the Casualty theme tune as their third all-time favourite TV soap opera theme tune.[39] He stated that the theme was "more electro goodness for the BBC's long-running medical drama turned soap".[39]
Writing
Many writers have scripted episodes for Casualty since its inception. Medical advisor Salt reads every script after it is written so that he can advise the writer on the medical accuracy.[42] Each episode of Casualty takes nine months to produce, from the first draft of its script to being broadcast.[43]
"We are always looking at new ways to add value for our loyal fans and this innovative mini-episode will open a window on a hitherto unseen world and give viewers access to a character they wouldn't have in a normal episode."[44]
—Executive producer Belinda Campbell on "The Parting of Ways" webisode.
In addition to regular episodes, Casualty broadcasts special episodes, which are shorter in length. On 7 October 2009, it was announced that Casualty would film an eight-minute webisode, a first for BBC continuing dramas.[44] The webisode, "The Parting of Ways", focuses on Polly Emmerson (Sophia Di Martino) being stalked by homeless man Alistair (Joe McFadden), as Polly reports him to the police.[44] Campbell, the executive producer, praised di Martino, McFadden and David Roden, the writer of the webisode.[44] McFadden liked the alternative method of filming and enjoyed exploring his character in more detail.[44]
It was announced on 28 March 2012 that Casualty would air a BBC Red Button special, "Under Fire", to explore the backstory of Sam Nicholls (Charlotte Salt).[45] Set in Camp Bastion in Afghanistan, the special focuses on Sam and her boyfriend Corporal Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) as they begin treating soldiers hurt in a suicide bombing. Sam becomes concerned when a patient becomes "agitated" and reaches for a device in their pocket.[45] A show spokesperson stated that the special would "help to explain Sam's brusque bedside manner and brave but impulsive decision-making".[45] Executive producer Young wanted to explore Sam's backstory and felt that the episode would be beneficial in doing so.[45]
Another BBC Red Button special, "The Kids Aren't Alright", was announced on 21 July 2012. The special explores the relationship between married paramedics Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon (Jane Hazlegrove) and Jeff Collier (Matt Bardock), and Jeff's estrangement with his children.[46] Young looked forward to exploring the couple's marriage and commented, "We're always looking for new ways to add value for our loyal fans and this special episode gives us a chance to show a different side to two of our most popular characters."[46] On 12 December 2012, it was announced that Casualty cast member Sunetra Sarker has directed a BBC Red Button special. The special, "Mistletoe and Rum", features the ED's nurses celebrating at a pub and focuses on the secret relationship between Tess Bateman (Suzanne Packer) and Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw). While spending a moment together, Tess and Fletch discover Tyron, a injured homeless man, and fight to save his life.[47] Young described the special as "an ideal opportunity" to focus on the relationship between Tess and Fletch, and looked forward to seeing the reaction to the special.[47] Sarker found directing the special challenging, although liked working with each department of the show. On the special, she commented, "It's a treat for all the fans that follow the show. I was thrilled to be able to make it."[47]
Producers created a webisode, "Nurse Factor", to introduce the four student nurses, Robyn Miller (Amanda Henderson), Jamie Collier (Daniel Anthony), Aoife O'Reilly (Gemma-Leah Devereux and Ally Hunter (Rebecca Newman), to the series in January 2013. The webisode features the student nurses on the night before their first shift at the hospital.[48] Along with the webisode, Twitter accounts were created for each character to provide a "dramatic insight into the characters' thoughts and feelings".[48] Young decided to create the webisode as he believed it would suit the theme of the Twitter accounts. He also felt the webisode would be "a great opportunity" for the audience to understand the characters.[48] A BBC Red Button special, "Gone in Sixty Seconds", was announced alongside the webisode. The special focuses on Dixie and Jeff arriving at the site of a coach crash.[48]
On 1 November 2013, it was announced that Casualty would air a special episode, "Scars and Nightmares", to mark Remembrance Day. The special explores Iain Dean's (Stevenson) experience in Afghanistan as he and Sam visits former colleague Kenny in a PTSD rehabilitation centre. Iain and Sam's relationship is also revisited in the special.[49] Executive producer Kent wanted to revisited Sam and Iain's history and found the special "a great opportunity" to explore their relationship while providing the audience with "something extra".[49] On 9 December 2013, a Christmas-themed BBC Red Button special was announced. The special, "The Morning After", features Big Mac (Charles Dale) and Noel Garcia (Tony Marshall) as they solve a fesitive mystery after a night of drinking.[50] On the episode, Kent said, "This exclusive Red Button episode gives an insight into just what happens the morning after the night before, but with a festive twist."[50]
"Casualty has some fantastic talent working behind the scenes as well as on screen. [...] Everyone who worked on the webisodes stepped up a level, and with their passion, enthusiasm and dedication totally focussed on making the best finished product, the end result is a real treat for our website visitors and fans."[44]
—Series producer Erika Hossington on the writing team for "Radio Holby".
In 2014, team researcher Ross Southard pitched the webisodes "Radio Holby" to producers, who accepted his idea. Since pitching the idea, Southard has won the "Team Member of the Year" award at the BBC Production Awards.[51] "Radio Holby" is directed by Kodjo Tsakpo, while Simon Walton acts as the director of photography. Part one of the webisodes is written by script editor Simon Norman, and part two is written by Southard. The two-part special were first published online in October 2014.[51] The webisodes follow Noel as becomes the DJ of the hospital's radio station in a bid to improve team spirits following the death of Jeff Collier (Bardock).[51] Southard enjoyed writing the webisode and felt grateful to be offered the chance to publish his idea.[51] Series producer Erika Hossington expressed her delight at the webisode being commissioned and praised the team's "passion, enthusiasm and dedication".[51] She added, "the end result is a real treat for our website visitors and fans."[51]
A BBC Red Button special was commissioned to coincide with the finale of the twenty-ninth series in August 2015. The special, "Mrs Walker-To-Be", is directed by John Quarrell and written by Sarah Beeson, and focuses on Zoe Hanna (Sarker) and Max Walker (Jamie Davis) on the night before their wedding.[52] Two months later, another BBC Red Button special was released. The special, "On Call", focuses on Caleb Knight (Richard Winsor) being introduced to his baby daughter by Taylor Ashbie (Sarah Jayne Dunn).[53]
On 2 July 2014, Ben Dowell of the Radio Times reported that Casualty would air three standalone episodes in the twenty-ninth series, which would be independent from the main series storylines and had no connection to ongoing plotlines.[54] A show spokesperson commented on the episodes, "It will be really stylish – we're thinking Casualty Noir."[54] Producers invited former show writers back to write an episode for the specials.[55] On the standalone episodes, Hossington commented, "Fundamentally they're all grounded in character and brilliant medicine, but they're very different and will feel like a unique experience."[55] The first episode, "Deadfall", first broadcast on 1 November 2014.[56] "Deadfall" is a murder mystery written by Jeff Povey, focusing on Lily Chao (Crystal Yu), and starring actor Gary Lucy as Valentine Kildare.[55] Valentine is billed as a conman and "a loveable rogue [and] born charmer".[54] After characters die under unexplained circumstances, regular character Lily Chao (Crystal Yu) begins investigating the deaths, suspecting Valentine of murder.[56] Hossington liked the alternative style of episodes and the episode's plot.[56] Yu enjoyed the chance to be a centric character in the episode, and Lucy expressed his delight to be involved in the standalone episode, describing it as "a well-written and directed piece with a strong set of regular characters."[57]
The second episode, "The Road Not Taken", first broadcast on 28 March 2015. The episode is written by Barbara Machin, and focuses on Zoe Hanna (Sarker) as she experiences different outcomes based on the decisions that she makes in her shift at the ED.[58] Zoe encounters a grieving relative, colleagues and a job offer in her various outcomes.[59] In the episode, Ben Hull guest stars as his Holby City character Derwood Thompson, former cast member Susan Cookson reprises her role as Maggie Coldwell, and actress Cat Simmons guest stars.[58] Sarker liked working with Cookson again and said that Maggie's return reminds Zoe that there is "life outside Holby".[59] She compared the episode's format to the format used in the films Groundhog Day and Sliding Doors, commenting, "This one-off episode takes the concept of an average day as a doctor and spins it on its head by giving you alternatives to the day."[59] Sarker hoped the audience would like the standalone episode, and felt it tackled an exciting, "new style of television".[58]
The final episode, "Holby Sin City", first broadcast on 11 July 2015 and focuses on Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) solving a murder mystery. Rainsford described the episode as "very film noir" and "Casualty but with a twist".[60] When a patient, Clyde (Stuart Manning), is admitted with a gunshot wound, Ethan remembers that he treated his partner, Bonnie (Renee Castle), after suspecting her of being a victim of domestic abuse. Ethan discovers something "a little more sinister" is happening between Bonnie and Clyde, and tries solving the case.[60] Several critics disliked the standalone episode, with Jack Seale of The Guardian calling it "terminally underwhelming" and Katie Ballis of the Metro finding it confusing.[61][62] Seale questioned whether the decision to air the standalone episodes and "shake things up" meant that Casualty could be "fading".[61] Rainsford and scriptwriter Mark Catley understood that "Holby Sin City" was not successful, with Catley tweeting, "Tried something - didn't work."[63]
Medical accuracy
To ensure accuracy in scriptwriting, the serial employs a team of researchers to advise writers on nursing issues and health service politics.[64] The show's medical advisor, Peter Salt, who has worked on the show since its inception, reads every single script and advises show writers on what is and isn't possible medically.[42] Furthermore, there will typically be two or three nurses on set at all times, while scripts will go through five drafts to ensure they are completely accurate.[43] Cast members often research in real-life hospitals before beginning the role. Ben Turner, who portrayed nurse Jay Faldren, visited a real hospital for research. Turner gained an understanding of how real-life medical staff worked.[65] Consultant Elle Gardner actress Jaye Griffiths was granted permission to visit a hospital and watch surgery.[66]
DVD Releases
The first three series of Casualty have been released as DVD box sets. Only Series One was released in Australia as well as the UK, while Series Two and Three were only released in the UK.
| DVD title | No. of discs | Year(s) | No. of episodes | DVD release | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 | Region 4 | ||||||
| Casualty Series 1 | 4 | 1986 | 15 | 10 April 2006[67] | 8 December 2008[68] | ||
| Casualty Series 2 | 4 | 1987 | 15 | 10 July 2006[69] | — | ||
| Casualty Series 3 | 3 | 1988 | 10 | 11 September 2006[70] | — | ||
Characters and cast
Characters
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 of regular, recurring and guest characters. New main characters have been written in and out since the series regularly since it started. The show began with a core of 10 main characters and now contains a core of 18 to 20 main characters on the show at any given time. The only character to have continued in the series since its first episode is Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson).[71][72] Original character Lisa "Duffy" Duffin (Cathy Shipton) also currently appears in the show, having appeared across three stints regularly and in several guest appearances.[73]
The original ten main characters were consultant Ewart Plimmer (Bernard Gallagher), senior house officer Baz Samuels (Julia Watson), charge nurse Charlie Fairhead, staff nurse Clive King (George Harris), state enrolled nurse Megan Roach (Brenda Fricker), student nurse Lisa "Duffy" Duffin, paramedics Sandra Mute and Andrew Ponting (Lisa Bowerman and Robert Pugh), receptionist Susie Mercier (Debbie Roza) and porter Kuba Trzcinski (Christopher Rozycki).[74] Watson and Harris both left during the first series, with Watson returning from the ninth series, until the twelfth series and again for two episodes in series 18.[74] Bowerman, Pugh and Roza left in the second series, whilst Gallagher and Rozycki left in the third series.[74] Fricker left in the fifth series, but returned for guest appearances in series twelve, twenty-one and twenty-four.[74]
The show's current, thirty-second series, main cast consists of: senior charge nurse and emergency nurse practitioner Charlie, and Duffy, now a sister and midwife; clinical lead and consultant Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing); acting clinical lead and consultant Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford); consultants Elle Gardner (Jaye Griffiths) and Dylan Keogh (William Beck); specialty registrars Alicia Munroe (Chelsea Halfpenny); foundation doctors Rash Masum (Neet Mohan) and Bea Kinsella (Michelle Fox); clinical nurse manager Jacob Masters (Charles Venn); staff nurses Robyn Miller (Amanda Henderson), Louise Tyler (Azuka Oforka) and David Hide (Jason Durr); paramedics Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) and Sam Nicholls (Charlotte Salt); and receptionist Noel Garcia (Tony Marshall).[75]
Guest stars
A survey published by Radio Times magazine in March 2004 revealed that Casualty has featured more future stars than any other UK soap or drama series.[76] Actors who appeared in the show prior to becoming famous include Orlando Bloom, Kate Winslet, Julia Sawalha, David Walliams, Minnie Driver, Kathy Burke, Jerome Flynn, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Helen Baxendale, Christopher Eccleston, Ray Winstone, Robson Green, Letitia Dean, Jane Danson, Clive Mantle and Russell Boulter.[6][77][78] Discussing her 1993 appearance in Casualty, Winslet told the Radio Times: "In England, it almost seems to be part of a jobbing actor's training [to appear in Casualty]. As far as I was concerned it was a great episode, a great part. Appearing in Casualty taught me a big lesson in how to be natural in front of the camera."[76] In addition, the series has featured a variety of more established stars, including Joe McGann, Jonny Lee Miller, Patsy Kensit, McFly,[79] Honor Blackman,[80][81] Michelle Collins,[82][83] Stephanie Beacham,[84] Russ Abbot,[85] Charlie Brooks,[6] Pam St. Clement,[86] Scott Mills[6][87] and Gillian Taylforth[6] in cameo roles.
Adaptations and related media
Holby City
Holby City began airing on 12 January 1999 as a spin-off of Casualty.[88][89] Unlike Casualty, Holby City is not set in an emergency department, and instead focuses on what happens to patients once they are taken away to the hospital's surgical wards.[8] The spin-off show still follows the same storyline structure, as episodes and series see regular characters embark on their own emotional and intense storylines. As well as this, the show airs around two or three patient storylines per episode. Eighteen series of Holby City have aired, and the nineteenth began airing from 11 October 2016. The show has run for over 800 hour-long episodes.[90]
Characters from either show will occasionally crossover to the other respective show for guest appearances. Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) has made four appearances in Holby City since the show's conception, whilst Holby City's Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry), as the hospital's chief executive officer, has made recurring appearances in Casualty from 2011 onwards. Few characters from each respective show have transferred to the other show on a regular basis. Holby City original character, Nick Jordan (Michael French), originally appeared in two episodes of Casualty prior the start of the programme. Nick then returned to Casualty in a regular role in 2008, two years since his latest departure from Holby City.[91] In March 2014, Amanda Mealing (who played Connie Beauchamp in Holby City from 2004 until 2010) reprised the role of Connie on a regular basis, but in Casualty.[92] Alex Walkinshaw quit his role of Adrian Fletcher in 2014 to appear as the same character in Holby City, which he has done since 2014.[93]
Casualty@Holby City
Reflecting Holby City's origins as a spin-off from Casualty and the closely related premises of the two programmes, the BBC has screened occasional crossover mini-dramas entitled Casualty@Holby City, featuring a number of characters from each of the two casts.[94] Mervyn Watson, executive producer of Casualty at the time of the crossover, explained how the crossover idea came together, saying: 'I think the idea came from somebody in the comedy department, who casually said to the Controller of Drama "Wouldn't it be a good idea if...." The Controller did think it was a good idea, spoke to myself and Holby's Executive Producer, got it commissioned by the Head of BBC ONE and the rest is history.'[95] Watson then elaborated on the difficulties the crew faced while filming the crossover event for the first time, stating the biggest difficulty was having to interrupt the scheduling of both shows (which ran for 52 weeks a year) for a time period of two weeks in order to release a number of characters to appear in the special episode.[95] As well as this, logistical difficulties occurred in the form of the two programmes being filmed 120 miles apart from each other.[95]
Nine episodes have been produced under the title Casualty@Holby City. In August 2005, a crossover was commissioned as part of the BBC's DoNation season, with the purpose of the crossover being to raise awareness of organ donation as well as helping viewers make an informed decision as to whether to sign up to the Organ Donor Register or not. The interactive episode enabled viewers to vote by phone call to determine the outcome of a fictional organ donation storyline.[96] The next crossover between the two shows aired in October 2005. This crossover saw a four-part storyline air which tackled the issue of youth violence.[97] Filming between the two shows was usually divided Casualty's Bristol set and Holby City's Elstree studio. This was not the case in December 2005, however, when the spin-off drama aired a dramatic stunt which involved a car chase resulting in a pile-up inside the tunnel and consequently the tunnel collapsing. The stunt and a large majority of the episode itself was filmed at the location of the tunnel stunt in Caernarfon, Wales.[98]
HolbyBlue
It was announced on 27 April 2006 that a spin-off of Holby City would air, titled HolbyBlue.[94] The show was centred around Holby South police station and focused on the lives and love-lives of police officers.[99] HolbyBlue aired its first episode on 8 May 2007.[100] The first ever episode saw a brief appearance from Casualty character Charlie Fairhead. He then appeared again in a two-part crossover with Holby City, which aired at the beginning of the show's second series.[101] Although HolbyBlue proved popular at first, attracting a large consolidated audience of 5.6 million in the first episode of the second series,[102] the show concluded its second series with only 2.5 million viewers — a loss of 3.1 million throughout the duration of its second series. It was then announced on 6 August 2008, after just two series, that HolbyBlue was to be cancelled.[103][104]
Casualty 1900s
In December 2006, BBC aired a new back-in-time drama, which reportedly stemmed from Casualty. The drama was titled Casualty 1906. The pilot episode proved popular as it drew in 5.02 viewers for its first episode,[105] before being commissioned for a series.[106] The series was titled Casualty 1907 and ran for a three episode mini-series, commencing on 6 April 2008.[107] Although not a direct spin-off, nor set in the same fictional location, The Times has suggested "that this is BBC high-concept brand-extension at its very best,"[10] with the BBC using the popularity of and viewer familiarity with Casualty to launch a new historical drama — a conclusion The Guardian also asserted.[108] A third series, Casualty 1908, featuring Cherie Lunghi, was then commissioned.[109] Afterwards, on 25 March 2009, it was announced that the BBC would be airing Casualty 1909, a six-part series which aired in June and July 2009.[110]
Other appearances
In June 2002, cast members from Casualty and Holby City competed against the EastEnders cast for the first Sport Relief fundraiser, in a segment dubbed "Sport in the Square". The teams competed in events such as taxi pulling, melon tossing and a beer keg relay.[111] On 28 June 2008, Casualty stars competed against their Holby City counterparts in a special charity edition of BBC Two game-show The Weakest Link.[112] Casualty has also appeared in Children in Need. On 20 November 2009, the show made an appearance.[113] Casualty and Holby City cast members united on 20 February 2010, performing a dance rendition of "Jai Ho" for Let's Dance for Sport Relief.[114]
Reception
Realism
Just weeks after the show began, senior Conservatives accused the programmes of 'ridiculing the government's record on the NHS.'[115] It was reported Casualty portrayed a 'cash-strapped NHS, pitifully paid ancillary and the contracting-out of hospital services.'[115] The article then went on to quote a Conservative party member telling London Times in November 1986 that Casualty was 'upsetting a lot of people'.[115]
Then, in 1998, medical researchers underwent a survey to gain a better understanding of just how realistic British medical dramas were. Researchers studied more than sixty episodes of the long-running medical drama, and found that only a quarter of the patients who suffered a cardiac arrest were revived after undergoing CPR. The number of surviving patients after the performance of CPR was similar to the proportion of patients surviving in real life.[116] Researchers then compared this to American medical dramas ER and Chicago Hope, and found that those medical dramas saw three quarters of their patients surviving CPR.[116] When Jonathan Young, series producer of Casualty at the time was interviewed, he said: "We know very well that the audience wants to see our characters as doctors and nurses, and we also believe very strongly that it is the realism of it which makes the show sustainable. If we didn't make it real, it would become melodrama very quickly."[116]
November 2009 saw Casualty and Holby City receive negative criticism for its lack of realism again, when Antony Sumara, then chief executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, stated the medical dramas 'misrepresented the NHS', as well as medical staff 'acting unprofessionally'.[117][118] Sumara said: 'In Holby City and Casualty, nurses, doctors and other staff gossip, flirt and argue with each other, usually while treating a patient at the same time.'[117] He stated there was also an awful lot of breaching patient confidentiality within the shows.[117][118]
Controvesy
The show has seen controversy over their written episodes. In 2007, the show was at the centre of a controversial storyline when it planned to air a terror attack storyline – which would see a Muslim suicide bomber detonate a bomb at a bus station. The storyline was overruled by editorial guideline staff, who claimed that the storyline was cut because of 'concerns that the story would perpetuate stereotypes of young Muslims in Britain.'[119] The editorial guidelines department ordered that the episode was altered so Muslim characters were replaced with animal right extremists.[119] The alternative storyline aired on 8 September 2007, and was titled: "My First Day".[120]
In July 2015, the show aired a special 'standalone' episode which saw Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) turn detective after a mysterious suicide case.[121] Mark Catley, who wrote the episode, recieved huge backlash for the episode. Sinister tweets were sent to Catley by fans of the show, expressing their displeasure at the episode.[122] Less than a month later, Casualty was criticised over a patient storyline, in which Dylan Keogh's (William Beck) father, Brian Carroll (Matthew Marsh) crashed his lorry after blacking out at the wheel. Carroll was diagnosed with narcolepsy, but refused to tell the DVLA about his diagnosis. This was branded "deeply unfortunate" and "too similar" to the real-life 2014 Glasgow bin lorry crash. The Mirror picked out four similarities in which the fictional lorry crash was parallel to the real-life incident.[123][124]
In August 2016, as part of the thirtieth anniversary celebrations, Casualty aired a helicopter crash storyline, in which an air ambulance crashed into the emergency department after colliding with a drone. On the night of the stunt airing, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity posted on Facebook that they were approached by the producers of Casualty to assist in the helicopter crash storyline.[125] The Air Ambulance Charity wrote they "politely declined" an opportunity to assist with the episode as they felt it was "insensitive".[125][126]
Awards and nominations
Across its lifespan, Casualty has been nominated for 54 awards, of which it has won 15. The most notable win for the long-running drama was back in 2007, when it won the award for 'Best Continuing Drama'. The show beat off competition from popular soaps' Coronation Street and EastEnders.[127] Ian Bleasdale dedicated the win to the medical staff, saying: "To the doctors, nurses and ambulance crews, thank you for doing the job you do. I hope we go some way to showing exactly what it is." He then went on to also dedicate the award to original show producer Geraint Morris.[127] The show also won the award for 'Best Soap and Continuing Drama' at the Royal Television Society Awards in 2015.[128] At the TRIC Awards in 2016, Casualty received special recognition as it reaches its thirtieth anniversary year this Autumn.[129]
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Sound Supervisor | Rod Lewis | Nominated | [130] |
| 1990 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Video Lighting | Chris Watts | Nominated | [131] |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best VTR Editor | Nigel Cattle | Nominated | [132] | |
| 1991 | British Academy Television Awards | Best VTR Editor | Malcolm Banthorpe | Won | [133] |
| 1992 | British Academy Television Awards | Best TV Make Up & Hair Design | Sue Kneebone | Won | [134] |
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Drama Series | Casualty | Won | [135] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Drama Series | Geraint Morris | Nominated | [136] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Video Lighting | Cedric Rich | Nominated | [137] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Film or Video Director | Alan Dixon | Nominated | [138] | |
| 1993 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Drama Series | Geraint Morris | Nominated | [139] |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Video Lighting | Nick Hollingbury | Nominated | [140] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Make Up | Jan Nethercot | Nominated | [141] | |
| 1994 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Drama Series | Geraint Morris and Michael Ferguson | Nominated | [142] |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Video Lighting | Cedric Rich | Nominated | [143] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Sound – Fiction/Entertainment | Team | Nominated | [144] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Make Up | Jo Bailey | Nominated | [145] | |
| 1996 | Writers' Guild of Great Britain | TV—Original Drama Series | David Joss Buckley | Nominated | [146] |
| 1997 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Jonathan Kerrigan | Nominated | [147] |
| 1998 | Royal Television Society Awards | Best Sound – Drama | Colin Solloway and Nigel Abbott For episode: "The Golden Hour" | Won | [148] [149] |
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Claire Goose | Nominated | [150] | |
| 1999 | TV Quick Awards | Best Loved Drama | Casualty | Won | [151] |
| 2002 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [152] |
| 2004 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Mal Young and Mervyn Watson | Nominated | [153] |
| 2005 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Elyes Gabel | Nominated | [154] |
| 2006 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [155] |
| 2007 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Production Team | Won | [156] |
| 2008 | National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Georgia Taylor | Nominated | [157] |
| 2009 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [158] |
| 2010 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [159] |
| National Television Awards | Best Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [160] | |
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [161] | |
| 2011 | Writers' Guild of Great Britain Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Dana Fainaru For episode: "Place of Safety" | Won | [162] |
| MIND Media Awards | Best Drama | Dana Fainaru For episode: "Place of Safety" | Won | [163] | |
| Stonewall Awards | Entertainer of the Year | Jane Hazlegrove | Won | [164] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [165] | |
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [166] | |
| TV Choice Awards | Best Family Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [167] | |
| 2012 | Creative Diversity Network Awards | The Radio Times Soap Award | Casualty | Nominated | [168] |
| Writers' Guild of Great Britain | Best Continuing Drama Series | Sasha Hails For episode: "Saturday Night Fever" | Nominated | [169] | |
| 2014 | UK Sexual Health Awards | Sexual Health Media Campaign Storyline of the Year | Sasha Hails For episode: "Unsilenced" | Won | [170] |
| Albert+ Sustainable Production | Sustainability rating | Casualty |  [A] | [171] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [172] | |
| Royal Television Society Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [173] | |
| 2015 | Royal Television Society Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Casualty | Won | [174] |
| Inside Soap Awards | Best Drama | Casualty | Won | [175] | |
| British Academy Television Awards | Best Soap and Continuing Drama | Production Team | Nominated | [176] | |
| National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Lee Mead | Nominated | [177] | |
| 2016 | TRIC Awards | Special Award | Casualty | Won | [178] |
| TV Soap of the Year | Casualty | Nominated | [178] | ||
| Screen Nation Awards | Favourite Male TV Personality | Chucky Venn | Won | [179] | |
| Female Performance in TV | Azuka Oforka | Nominated | [179] | ||
| National Television Awards | Best Drama | Casualty | Nominated | [180] | |
| Best Newcomer | Chucky Venn | Nominated | [180] | ||
| International Achievement Recognition Awards | Best TV/Drama Actor | Chucky Venn | Won | [181] | |
| 2017 | National Television Awards | Drama | Casualty | Won | [182] |
| Newcomer | Lloyd Everitt | Nominated | [182] |
Ratings
Ratings for Casualty are currently unknown before Series 13. Despite there not being ratings reported by the Broadcasters' Audience Research Board, news articles have claimed that previous series have seen audiences of up to 18 million viewers tune in weekly.[183] The highest ever figure recorded for Casualty was 18.05 million viewers, which was achieved on 24 February 1996.[184] The show now regularly draws around 5 to 6 million viewers.
The table below shows each series' average number of viewers.
| Series | Episodes | Premiere | Finale | Viewers (in millions) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 28 | 12 May 1998 | 13 March 1999 | 11.76[185] | |
| 14 | 30 | 18 September 1999 | 25 March 2000 | 11.06[186] | |
| 15 | 36 | 16 September 2000 | 28 April 2001 | 9.14[187] | |
| 16 | 40 | 16 September 2001 | 29 June 2002 | 8.36[188] | |
| 17 | 40 | 14 September 2002 | 21 June 2003 | 8.99[189] | |
| 18 | 46 | 14 September 2003 | 28 August 2004 | 8.56[190] | |
| 19 | 48 | 12 September 2004 | 20 August 2005 | 8.03[191] | |
| 20 | 47 | 11 September 2005 | 26 August 2006 | 7.41[192] | |
| 21 | 48 | 23 September 2006 | 4 August 2007 | 6.76[193] | |
| 22 | 48 | 8 September 2007 | 9 August 2008 | 6.72[194] | |
| 23 | 48 | 13 September 2008 | 1 August 2009 | 6.19[195] | |
| 24 | 48 | 12 September 2009 | 21 August 2010 | 5.99[196] | |
| 25 | 47 | 4 September 2010 | 6 August 2011 | 5.83[197] | |
| 26 | 42 | 13 August 2011 | 22 July 2012 | 5.57[198] | |
| 27 | 44 | 18 August 2012 | 20 July 2013 | 5.37[199] | |
| 28 | 48 | 3 August 2013 | 23 August 2014 | 5.32[200] | |
| 29 | 46 | 30 August 2014 | 23 August 2015 | 5.38[201] | |
| 30 | 43 | 29 August 2015 | 30 July 2016 | 5.55[202] | [B] |
| 31 | 45 | 27 August 2016 | 29 July 2017 | 5.61[203] | [B] |
| 32 | 44 | 19 August 2017 | 4 August 2018 | 5.15[204] | [B] |
| 33 | 47 | 11 August 2018 | TBA | TBA | [B] |
Notes
A. ^ The Albert+ Sustainability Production grade shows by a star rating out of three. The BBC state that the star ratings are determined by "the range and complexity of green initiatives implemented by each production team."[171]
B. ^ All figures since 15 December 2014 are based on 28-day data.