Casualty fans will have to wait for new episodes as the BBC One medical drama is not airing tonight (Saturday, October 3). The show returned to screens last month for one week only to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and is now on another hiatus amid the run of Strictly Come Dancing.
Why is Casualty not on tonight?
Casualty is not on tonight because it returned to screens for one week only simply to celebrate its 40th anniversary. Much like it does every autumn, it is now on a hiatus during Strictly Come Dancing's run. It will return to TV sometime next year with a brand new series.
Confirmation of its 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'.
What happened in the 40th anniversary episodes?
The 40th 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 the icy depths of a quarry.
Familiar faces including Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) and Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) staged a return, 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.
What to expect when Casualty returns
While little is known about what's in store upon its comeback to TV, stars Melanie Hill and Neet Mohan previously dropped a few teasers. Mel explained: 'The first episodes of the next series that we've shot, not giving anything away, but these 40th celebration episodes were massive, and you think, we cannot ever top that, but these scripts came through the door and I was like, I cannot believe the ambition of the show has just notched up because we're shooting less.'
Neet noted: 'Like Mel and Will said, the 40th is these amazing two episodes, and then we kick off the next series, with amazing episodes as well. The show has always changed and evolved, and I think that's testament to its success.' He added: 'And I think it flings the doors open to a whole new era, which is really exciting.'
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.
