The BBC's long-running medical drama Casualty is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, a milestone that cast members describe as both historic and rare. To mark the occasion, the show will air a special two-part episode back-to-back on September 5, featuring some of the most explosive situations yet for the staff and residents of Holby.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, several key cast members reflected on the show's place in television history and what it means to them personally.
A milestone in the streaming era
Casualty has survived four decades on air, an extraordinary achievement for any television show, particularly in an era when series can be cancelled after a single season. Its Saturday-night slot has frequently been disrupted by football, Eurovision and other major events, with episodes postponed or moved to make way for live programming. Yet millions of viewers continue to tune in, drawn by its mix of NHS drama, compelling characters and personal stories.
Olly Rix, 41, who plays clinical lead Flynn Byron, has a significant part in the anniversary story. In a meta moment, his character is also turning 40 in the episodes and will have a birthday to remember.
“It's been an honour to be part of such a huge moment for the show. A show lasting for 40 years is quite extraordinary and quite rare. It means it's gone through many moments of evolution and change, and this is another one. It embraces and celebrates what's come before, but it's also a statement about what's coming next,” he said.
Cast reflect on personal connections
Irish actress Elinor Lawless, who plays Stevie Nash, agreed. “It feels like you're part of something historic and important, it really does feel like a privilege. We're so lucky that we get to do this job and to do it on this show, which has had, from its inception to now, such a following. And it's kind of gone on the whole journey of the NHS throughout this country.”
Neet Mohan, 40, who plays consultant Rash Masum, recalled the show featuring in his formative years. “I remember the theme tune and not being allowed to watch it at my house. And I remember staying with my aunt - my two aunts and two sisters lived next to each other - and they would talk about the show. When I stayed at theirs, they would have it on. They were both immigrant nurses at a hospital just outside of Slough, and I remember them talking about how their experiences of shifts were like that.”
William Beck, 48, who has played consultant Dylan Keogh since March 2011, remembers the first series. “I genuinely remember the first series because I had to be given special dispensation by my parents to watch it. I seem to remember that I was wearing my pyjamas, but there was a sense of anticipation in those first two or three minutes where you're guessing how somebody's going to come to a degree of injury. There was often impalement involved in those episodes, which I think satisfied the bloodlust of an eight-year-old or whatever I was. It’s surreal to be part of that same show, but it’s a privilege.”
Long-time connections and returns
Melanie Hill, who became a full-time cast member playing Clinical Nurse Manager Siobhan McKenzie in 2024, first appeared in Casualty in 1993 as Janice Hutchins in the episode Wild Card, playing the mother of a child admitted to the ED. “I had a sick son in it, and he didn't like me, and so it made filming it extremely difficult. He didn't want me to look at him, or even touch him, or go near him, which was really tough because we had to navigate me trying to play ‘Mummy's here’, and he was like, ‘No!’”
The incident became so memorable that when she officially joined the cast years later, show stalwart Derek Thompson, who will return for the anniversary specials and who played Charlie Fairhead from the very first episode on September 6, 1986 until his departure on March 16, 2024, remembered her. “When I joined again, he might have been kidding me, but he said he remembered me, which is pretty good going considering the amount of actors that have come through Casualty as guest artists. But he did remember, so that's nice,” she smiled.
