Casualty has confirmed its long-term future amid a tendering process, with BBC Studios winning the contract to produce the soap. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the BBC series had been put out to competitive tender to decide who will produce.
The show was always going to continue on the broadcaster, though as part of the process the setting will move from Bristol to Wales, having been filmed at Cardiff’s Roath Lock Studios since 2011.
An official BBC document stipulated that the series needed an “authentic representation of Wales and reflect the reality of the Welsh NHS”.
The broadcaster has now confirmed that BBC Studios has won the pitch for the next three seasons, with filming beginning next spring, the producer having “scored highest against the published criteria”.
“This transition will ensure Casualty plays an important role in the production ecology of Wales as part of the BBC’s commitment to backing homegrown storytelling,” they added.
Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt said: “Casualty is a hugely important, much loved BBC drama and this tender has ensured it will continue to flourish.
“It was an extremely competitive process and we would like to thank the shortlisted producers for their high quality and comprehensive proposals. We look forward to working with BBC Studios as we build on the show’s long-running success.”
“Casualty will be supercharging the portrayal of Wales to the UK and beyond and BBC Cymru Wales are delighted,” added BBC Cymru Wales’ Head of Commissioning Nick Andrews.
“Casualty always breaks new ground, and it has done so again. The sheer scale of the portrayal of Wales – in character and place is a game changer. BBC Studios fired our imaginations, and we look forward to where they take the world of Casualty next.”A similar tender process happened with former sister show Holby City in 2017, with BBC Studios also winning a bid to produce the soap.
Some of the soap’s stars previously spoke about the setting change, William Beck (Dr Dylan Keogh) calling it “really exciting”, while Milo Clarke (Teddy Gowan) and Olly Rix (Flynn Byron) assured fans that there was nothing to worry about.