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Casualty reveals first-look trailer at 'unprecedented' drama in 40th anniversary special double bill

The show celebrates four decades on air next month.

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Published: Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at 5:48 pm

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An extended trailer for the 40th anniversary of Casualty has been released.

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The longest-running primetime medical drama in the world plans to mark its milestone anniversary with a double bill of episodes.

Airing on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday 5 September, the instalments will see the show's beloved characters placed in a "major high-stakes incident" that is set to throw the emergency department into chaos.

Radio Times was on set with the Casualty team during the making of these episodes, and will have an exclusive look behind-the-scenes with interviews from cast and crew next month.

As the trailer above shows, consultant Dylan Keogh (William Beck) and staff nurse Cam Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh) stroll out of Holby City Hospital's emergency department to the sight of ash falling from the sky following a catastrophic explosion.

Those injured are seen receiving medical care, while clinical lead Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) informs his colleagues that the incident has taken place at St James' Hospital, on the other side of the fictional Wyvern Valley.

Olly Rix as Flynn Byron, covered in dust and stood outside of the hospital from Casualty

Flynn Byron (Olly Rix) alerts his colleagues to the unfolding situation. BBC STUDIOS/ALISTAIR HEAP/MATT BURLEM

Clinical nurse manager Siobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill) reveals that a major incident has been declared across Holby, with Dylan fearful that they're the only infirmary available to tackle the nightmare.

As the words "Life Begins at 40" flash across the screen, Dylan is in tears, staff nurse Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell) looks fearful, and Flynn attends to a patient in the back of an ambulance with consultant Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless).

We then see armed police approaching the ED and masked men running through the corridors, pushing doctor Nicole Piper (Sammy Dobson) onto a bed.

Finally, Flynn and Stevie are sent spiralling when an ambulance drives off a road. A previous teaser showed the lights of the vehicle glowing ominously beneath some water.

In key art for Casualty, Dylan Keogh looks upwards outside of the hospital

Dylan Keogh (William Beck) faces a personal tragedy. BBC STUDIOS/ALISTAIR HEAP/MATT BURLEM

In a nod to the show's roots, the video concludes with the original logo, which appeared between 1986 and 1997. Eagle-eyed fans will have noticed this has also been reflected on Casualty's social media channels.

A statement released today (12 August) promises "drama on an unprecedented scale, unlike anything Casualty has tackled before."

We also know that Dylan will face a personal tragedy, while Flynn and Stevie's predicament will include a fight for survival.

In key art for Casualty's 40th anniversary, Stevie looks sideways covered in ash outside of the hospital

Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) faces a life-or-death situation. BBC STUDIOS/ALISTAIR HEAP/MATT BURLEM

The BBC soap has also teased that these episodes will signal an "exciting new chapter", as it prepares for major changes next year. After being put out to tender - which means to find another production company - a new contract was signed with BBC Studios to make the next three series.

Part of the new deal was to move the story away from Holby City after four decades, and focus on a new Welsh hospital. Casualty has already been produced from studios in Roath Lock, Cardiff, since 2011.

Completing the cast for the episodes are Charles Venn, Kirsty Mitchell, Michael Stevenson, Milo Clarke, Naomi Wakszlak, Aron Julus, Sarah Seggari and Neet Mohan.

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Previous episodes of Casualty are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.

Casualty returns on Saturday 5 September on BBC One and 6am on iPlayer.

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Authors

Michael Adams wearing a white t-shirt and beige gilet against a white background

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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