Peter Birch and Julia Watson starred as emergency medicine consultants Jack Hathaway and Barbara "Baz" Hayes.
Derek Thompson continued his role as charge nurse Charlie Fairhead while Sorcha Cusack portrayed sister Kate Wilson.
[2] The series' opening episode saw the introduction of six new characters: general manager Elliot Matthews (Peter Guinness); senior house officer Georgina "George" Woodman (Rebecca Lacey); senior staff nurse Mark Grace (Paterson Joseph); staff nurse Tina Seabrook (Claire Goose); receptionist Amy Howard (Rebecca Wheatley); and porter Derek "Sunny" Sunderland (Vincenzo Pellegrino).
[2] Patrick Robinson, Brenda Fricker, Cathy Shipton and Clive Mantle reprised their roles as Martin "Ash" Ashford, Megan Roach, Lisa "Duffy" Duffin and Mike Barratt for the two-part season finale which saw Charlie and Baz marry.
Jack is now engaged to Jayne but overreacts when new nurse Tina Seabrook makes an unfortunate comment about a man who deliberately fell off a ladder to get into hospital, having been told he would have to wait years for an appointment for his arthritis.
Ian goes to see his parents but is offended by his mother, who feels the fact he and Esme are unmarried reflects badly on his father, a vicar.
Lou seems to have minor injuries but in hospital a scan shows she has a bleed on the brain, which leaves her in a coma; Jason tells the police what he saw.
A caterer (John McArdle) is looking after his elderly wheelchair-using father (Geoffrey Bayldon), who is trying to ruin his relationship with a market gardener (Charlie Hardwick).