Casualty is not on TV tonight (Saturday, October 24) because the BBC One medical drama returned to screens for one week only to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The show is now on a hiatus, as it does every autumn during Strictly Come Dancing's run, and will return to television sometime next year with a brand new series.
The 40th anniversary double-bill aired last month, featuring dramatic scenes as an explosion in the city put lives in peril. Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) and Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) were left fighting for their lives after their ambulance plunged from a cliffside into a quarry. Familiar faces including Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) and Ethan Hardy (George Rainsford) returned, while Dylan Keogh (William Beck) suffered a devastating tragedy with the loss of ex Sophia Peters (Kellie Shirley), who died in the wake of the blast.
When will Casualty return?
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 40th marked the end of one era, with the tag line 'Life begins at 40', and future episodes are thought to signify the beginning of a refreshed era for the drama.
While little is known about what's in store upon its comeback, stars Melanie Hill and Neet Mohan previously dropped 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. And I think it flings the doors open to a whole new era, which is really exciting.'
Stevie and Flynn storyline to continue
Olly Rix told Metro that the Stevie and Flynn storyline will continue upon the show's return. '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.'
In the meantime, viewers can watch the latest series of Strictly, which is now underway. Casualty will return to BBC One next year. The 40th anniversary episodes, plus the whole of 2023-2025, are now streaming on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
