Casualty series 31
Rik Makarem appeared in the series between October 2016 and January 2017 as first year foundation doctor (F1) Sebastian Grayling.
The episode features both the main characters lives, and the hospital itself in danger when an air ambulance crashed in the emergency department car park.
[7] The feature-length anniversary episode that began the series, aired for 99-minutes on 27 August 2016, and featured a storyline event that connected Casualty with its sister show Holby City.
[8] In an interview with What's on TV, Charles Venn revealed that his character, Jacob Masters, would have a key role in the anniversary special.
[2] Further details on the series finale were revealed on 5 April 2017, where it was announced that the episode, "One", will be shot in a single-take, using one camera, 40 microphones and five boom operators.
[11] The thirty-first series of Casualty features a cast of characters working in the emergency department of Holby City Hospital.
George Rainsford, Richard Winsor and Crystal Yu portray speciality registrars Ethan Hardy, Caleb "Cal" Knight and Lily Chao.
Amanda Henderson, Azuka Oforka and Jason Durr play staff nurses Robyn Miller, Louise Tyler and David Hide.
Tony Marshall and Jamie Davis appear as receptionist and porter Noel Garcia and Max Walker respectively.
Emily Carey and Owain Arthur appear as Grace Beauchamp-Strachan and Glen Thomas in a recurring capacity.
[13][14] It was announced on 7 June 2016 that, following three guest appearances in the previous series, Cathy Shipton had returned to the show as a regular cast member.
[15] Her character, Lisa "Duffy" Duffin, who appeared in the show across various stints since its inception, returned in the opening episode of the series.
"[15] Arthur made his final appearance in episode 9 when his character Glen Thomas jilts his fiancée, Robyn Miller (Henderson).
[24] Winsor decided to leave the series of his own accord, but was initially surprised to discover his character would be killed off, before coming round to the idea.
[29][30][31] Russell Boulter reprised his role as Ryan Johnson for two episodes to resolve a storyline about his estranged marriage to Duffy.
[32] During the feature-length special, three characters from Holby City made guest appearances: hospital chief executive officer (CEO) Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry), cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical lead of Darwin ward Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel), and ward manager of the AAU Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw).
[1] Mealing, Stevenson, Everitt and Tonicha Lawrence, who plays patient Stephanie Sims, appeared in the episode of Holby City that followed the feature-length special, "Protect and Serve".
[34] Marcel also appeared in episode 3, alongside John Michie, who plays consultant neurosurgeon Guy Self on Holby City.
[36][37] Chizzy Akudolu confirmed that she would make a guest appearance in the series, portraying her Holby City character, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Mo Effanga.
[48][49] Accredited actress Pam St. Clement was cast as "surly" patient Sally Hodge who appeared in the feature-length episode.
He goes out with Iain and Jez, where they find Connie's crashed car and work to bring her and Grace back to hospital.
Meanwhile, Charlie is celebrating his 30th anniversary of working at Holby's emergency department (ED) when news of the accident comes through.
As the staff return to do what they can, the whole department is thrown into chaos when the air ambulance transporting Grace is struck by a drone and crash lands outside the hospital.
Alison Graham, writing for the Radio Times, described the episode as a "bold piece of television" and praised the show for displaying "the chaos of a front-line service".
[93] The helicopter crash, Charlie and Duffy's wedding and Cal's murder were shortlisted for Best Drama Storyline at the 2017 Inside Soap Awards.
[95] Casualty was shortlisted in the "Best Soap/Continuing Drama" category at the 2018 Broadcast Awards, but lost out to Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.
