Casualty is not on TV tonight (Saturday, September 26) after the medical drama returned to screens for one week only to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The BBC One show will now go on hiatus during Strictly Come Dancing's run, as it does every autumn, and is set to return sometime next year with a brand new series.
40th anniversary special aired earlier this month
The much-loved drama returned earlier this month, six weeks after the conclusion of its latest boxset, to mark four decades of the emergency department. The anniversary double-bill featured dramatic scenes as an explosion in the city put lives in peril and left doctors facing one of their biggest challenges to date.
Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) and Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) were left fighting for their lives after their ambulance plunged from a cliffside into icy quarry waters. Familiar faces including Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) and Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) made returns, while Dylan Keogh (William Beck) endured a devastating tragedy with the loss of ex Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), who died in the wake of the blast.
Return confirmed for next year
Confirmation of the show's return next year came during the end credits of the 40th anniversary, with the BBC One announcer stating that the 'best is yet to come'. The tag line for the milestone was 'Life begins at 40', with future episodes thought to signify the beginning of a refreshed era for the drama.
While little is known about what's in store upon its comeback, star Olly Rix spoke to Metro about what's next for Flynn and Stevie. 'Part of the fun of Flynn and Stevie's dynamic is that everybody sees it but them,' he said. 'They are the last to realise it'.
'In this moment in the 40th – in a life or death situation where they realise that one half of this equation might not make it – perhaps that reorientates them going forward and makes them fully understand the depth of what is there.'
'I'm not going to give too much away, but that's the beginning of their story, not the end of their story,' he added.
In the meantime, viewers can spend their Saturday nights in the ballroom, with the latest series of Strictly now underway. The 40th anniversary episodes, plus the whole of 2023-2025, are now streaming on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
