Casualty: The Movie. Yup, you heard it right.

The longest-running medical soap in the world is about to have the biggest birthday bash ever by releasing a feature-length special.

casualty on bbc one

by Becky Lancashire |
Published on

The movie, entitled Too Old For This Shift, will air in August to commemorate the show’s 30th anniversary.

It’s said to include a ‘shocking stunt’ and promises to be a completely unforgettable episode.

Some of the programme’s key characters will find themselves thrown into harms way in this action-packed episode, and some old favorites will even make a surprise return.

Veteran Casualty star Derek Thompson, who has played medic Charlie Fairhead since the very first episode - and is the only remaining original cast member - will also see his character receive a tribute for three decades in the NHS.

The 68-year-old actor told the Express: “From day one of filming Casualty in 1986, I’ve been so proud of its true to life storytelling, representing everything the NHS stands for.

“I’ve been a part of a few anniversaries over the years, but this really feels like a significant moment in British television history."

The episode will also crossover into Casualty’s sister series Holby City, with cadiothoracic consultant Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel), CEO Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry) and Adrian “Fletch” Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw) all playing key roles.

In addition to the many fan-favourites, numerous big names have walked the corridors of Holby City Hospital during the show’s history, including Tom Hiddleston, Orlando Bloom and Kate Winslet, who have all gone on to enjoy hugely successful careers.

Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, Casualty was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 6 September 1986.

And according to writer Susan Wilkins, it was meant to be a response to the Margaret Thatcher era, and Paul Unwin said that as young socialists, they wanted to create a “television revolution” that would be feminist, anti-racist, pro-NHS and anti-Tory.

Fast forward to the current day and the show currently averages 5.35 million viewers, including catch-up service figures.

Congratulations on your 30th anniversary Casualty, here's to many more years!

Casualty’s 30th anniversary episode Too Old For This Shift will air on BBC One on August 27.

Will you be tuning in for the anniversary special?

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