The BBC has announced that Casualty will be put out to competitive tender, as the long-running medical drama will be produced by a new company after the change
Balvinder & Julian Viennese Waltz to Never Enough from The Greatest Showman
The BBC has confirmed that the long-standing medical drama Casualty will go through a competitive tender process, much like its sibling series Holby City.
Despite this change, the show will continue being aired on the same channel with the BBC holding all rights to the programme.
Fans will be reassured to know that filming will remain in Cardiff, maintaining its significant role in Wales’ production landscape.
David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer at BBC Content, commented: “The award-winning Casualty is a hugely important continuing drama which has been on our screens since 1986.
“We are opening it to competition as part of our ongoing commitment to delivering the very best value for audiences.”
After a notable pause in the broadcast schedule last year, the beloved series made a comeback.
On September 23, a statement from the show assured fans: “#Casualty will return. Casualty is on a break and will be back on your screens later this year.”
WhatToWatch relayed confirmation from an official spokesperson that audiences can expect the return of Casualty later in the current year.
Fans have been their diverse opinions on the significant change. One viewer said on X: “They should have done this for Holby City instead of axing it outright, Holby was way better than Casualty.”
Another added: “All this reminds me of when ITV decided to axe The Bill. Apparently these domestic workplace dramas must be more expensive to produce than they look.”
A third person remarked: “An odd move, I doubt Casualty is an expensive show to make. And if that’s the case where is the money going to come from for Doccy Who? You could probably make a season of Casualty for what one episode would cost.”
In a surprising turn of events in November 2024, the BBC announced the cancellation of the long-running medical soap Doctors after 24 years on air, attributing the decision to “super inflation in drama production,” which has led to a steep rise in costs.