The BBC has announced that the long-standing TV favourite Casualty will be opened up to competitive tender to find a new production company. This move is the same process as its sister show, Holby City went through, before being axed.
The BBC says it will keep hold of ownership rights and promises that the drama will continue airing on the same channel. The change implies that incoming proposals from potential producers are welcome, although the BBC have confirmed the show is set to continue filming in Cardiff, supporting the production landscape in Wales.
Speaking about the decision, David Pembrey, Chief Operating Officer at BBC Content, remarked: “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.”
In 2023, it was announced that the medical drama series would take an extended break from television schedules.
The BBC confirmed via Twitter on September 23: “#Casualty will return. Casualty is on a break and will be back on your screens later this year.
WhatToWatch received confirmation from an official spokesperson that audiences can expect the series to make a comeback later in the year. The series recently aired a Christmas special and recommenced broadcasts on the BBC in March.
Fans have expressed varied reactions to the changes. One viewer commented on X, “They should have done this for Holby City instead of axing it outright, Holby was way better than Casualty.”
Another weighed in, saying, “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 said: “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 November 2024, the BBC announced that the long-running medical soap Doctors would end after 24 years, attributing this decision to “super inflation in drama production,” which had led to a steep rise in costs.