Casualty: An Overview
Casualty is a British medical drama television series that has aired on BBC One since 1986. The show follows the lives of the staff and patients at the fictional Holby City Hospital and the associated Holby City Ambulance Service. It is the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world.
The series focuses on the professional and personal lives of the medical staff, with episodes often featuring both medical and dramatic storylines. Stories typically revolve around medical emergencies, with each episode ending with a cliff-hanger. The series has undergone multiple changes in the cast over the years, with some characters having been featured for more than 30 years.
The show has been praised for its accurate portrayal of medical procedures and its focus on the human stories behind the medical cases. It has won several awards, including the National Television Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards.
This paper provides an overview of the series, including its history, cast, and awards. It also discusses the impact Casualty has had on British culture.
History
Casualty was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, making it the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. The series was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, who worked as medical consultants on the show.
The series has undergone several changes in the cast over the years, with some characters having been featured for more than 30 years. The show has also seen changes in its setting, moving from the original Holby City Hospital to the fictional Holby City Ambulance Service in 2009.
The show is currently in its 36th series, which began airing in August 2020.
Cast
The current cast of Casualty includes Amanda Mealing, Derek Thompson, Jason Durr, and Jane Hazlegrove. Mealing plays Connie Beauchamp, the clinical lead of the Emergency Department at Holby City Hospital. Thompson plays Charlie Fairhead, the longest-serving character in the show, having been in the series since its inception in 1986. Durr plays Jacob Masters, a paramedic, and Hazlegrove plays Duffy, a nurse.
Awards
Casualty has won several awards, including the National Television Award for Most Popular Drama in 2014 and the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series in 2017. The show has also been nominated for several BAFTA Awards.
Impact on British Culture
Casualty has had a significant impact on British culture, with the show being a fixture in British television for over 30 years. The show has been praised for its accurate portrayal of medical procedures and its focus on the human stories behind the medical cases.
The show has also been credited with raising awareness of medical conditions and issues, such as dementia, mental health, and alcohol abuse. It has been used as a platform to discuss important topics, such as the NHS crisis and the importance of organ donation.
Conclusion
Casualty is a long-running British medical drama television series that has aired on BBC One since 1986. The show has gained a loyal fanbase over the years and has won several awards. It has also had a significant impact on British culture, with its accurate portrayal of medical procedures and its focus on the human stories behind the medical cases.
References
BBC. (n.d.). Casualty. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8dm
BBC One. (2020, August 29). Casualty: Amanda Mealing and Derek Thompson Talk About their Characters. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1lT2VhqGZJdw6p2Zs6Fwh6v/casualty-amanda-mealing-and-derek-thompson-talk-about-their-characters
National Television Awards. (2014). Most Popular Drama. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from https://www.nationaltvawards.com/awards/most-popular-drama/
Royal Television Society. (2017). Best Drama Series. Retrieved October 15, 2020, from https://rts.org.uk/award/best-drama-series-2017