Netflix is set to add classic episodes of the axed medical drama Holby City, raising hopes among fans that the show could one day be revived. The streaming service will also carry episodes of its sister show Casualty, with both titles listed on the platform and episodes arriving on November 23.
Holby City ran for 23 years, delivering life-or-death emergencies, complicated love stories and hospital politics. Viewers followed the lives of countless doctors and nurses as they balanced the pressures of the job with their own personal dramas, and the hospital became a familiar setting for millions of viewers.
The show was axed after more than two decades on screen, with its final episode airing in March 2022. That announcement came as a huge disappointment to fans, who were forced to say goodbye to a programme that had been part of their lives for so long.
What is coming to Netflix
Both Holby City and Casualty are now listed on Netflix, with episodes dropping on November 23. At the moment, it is not known which episodes from each show will be added.
While no episodes of Holby are currently available on BBC iPlayer, classic instalments of the medical drama can be watched on U. For Casualty fans, every episode since 2023 is available on iPlayer, with classic episodes available on Channel 4 and U.
Could a revival follow
The Netflix news has raised a big question: could the show's arrival on the streaming platform eventually lead to a revival? It is not completely out of the question. During the Coronavirus pandemic, Waterloo Road enjoyed a huge resurgence when viewers flocked to watch old episodes on BBC iPlayer, and the renewed interest prompted the school drama's return in 2023.
There is clearly still an appetite for medical dramas. Casualty continues to be a fixture of the BBC schedule, while Noah Wyle's The Pitt has proved that viewers are still interested in high-stakes medical stories. A revival of Holby City could offer the opportunity to bring back some familiar faces while introducing a whole new generation of medical staff to the wards.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Holby will follow the same path as Waterloo Road. But with the show about to reach a potentially whole new audience, it is difficult not to wonder whether this could be the beginning of something more.
Former stars react
Bob Barrett, who played Sacha Levy, called Holby's move to Netflix 'extraordinary'. Asked about whether it could lead to the show coming back, he was hesitant, noting that Holby would be 'unthinkable' without Jac Naylor, who died during the final episode. Still, he pondered the possibility of putting on Sacha Levy's scrubs again: 'I think it would depend on how it's done, and who does it, that sort of stuff. It would have to be something that makes you go yes, I want to do that.'
James Anderson (Oli Valentine) added: 'Making this show was a really special experience, and I look back on the years I was part of it with great affection. It's lovely to see it getting a new lease of life and finding its way to a whole new audience.'
