Casualty series 30
Chelsea Halfpenny appeared in the serial between September and November 2015 as F2 Alicia Munroe, reprising the role as a main cast member in July 2016.
Three new regular cast members joined the serial in spring 2016: Lloyd Everitt as paramedic Jez Andrews; Jason Durr as staff nurse David Hide; and Jaye Griffiths as consultant Elle Gardner.
In addition to Unwin writing and directing the first two episodes, it was also revealed that he had contributed to one of the series major storylines, which saw brothers Cal and Ethan learn they were adopted.
Throughout the series, Hossington and Kent teased the show's build-up to the thirtieth anniversary episode, hinting that "something major" would happen to one of the "lead characters that will take them a very long time to recover from."
In addition to this, the show was also shortlisted under the Best Drama category at the National Television Awards in 2016, however lost to rival Downton Abbey.
[4] It was later revealed by Charles Venn in an interview with What's on TV on 8 June 2016, that his character, Nurse Jacob Masters, would be at the forefront of the anniversary episode.
[5][6] In a more recent interview with Hossington, she revealed that the current ongoing storyline involving Ethan and Cal was pitched by co-creator Paul Unwin.
The thirtieth series of Casualty featured a cast of characters working in the fictitious emergency department of Holby City Hospital.
George Rainsford, Richard Winsor and Crystal Yu portrayed specialist registrars Ethan Hardy, Caleb "Cal" Knight and Lily Chao.
Amanda Henderson starred as staff nurse Robyn Miller and Charles Dale appeared as healthcare assistant Mackenzie "Big Mac" Chalker.
Tony Marshall and Azuka Oforka portrayed receptionist Noel Garcia and Louise Tyler, the latter becoming a staff nurse early in the series.
Jane Hazlegrove appeared as operational duty manager and paramedic Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon, whilst Michael Stevenson starred as Iain Dean.
[17] Lloyd Everitt's casting in the role of paramedic Jez Andrews was announced in January 2016, with Kent describing him as "young, handsome and openly bisexual.
[18] Jason Durr and Jaye Griffiths were also announced to be joining the regular cast on 24 February 2016, as staff nurse David Hide and consultant Elle Gardner.
Of Jez, David and Elle, Kent said: "They will be taking on very different roles and will be embarking on their own brilliantly vibrant, bold and gripping stories each Saturday night.
[24] Dale's decision to leave the series was announced on 7 June 2016, with his character Mackenzie "Big Mac" Chalker departing in episode thirty-eight at the conclusion of his drug addiction storyline.
Her guest return was announced on 24 August 2015, with Shipton commenting, "I was surprised and delighted to be asked to recreate the role of 'Duffy' to launch the 30th series – especially as Paul Unwin, one of the original creators, was not only writing but also directing.
[41][42] Kerry Bennett joined the cast in a recurring capacity as HART paramedic Jess Cranham in episode six,[43] along with Anna Acton and Grace Doherty, who joined the cast as Jess's partner and daughter Nikki Chisom and Olivia Cranham in episode twelve,[44] were part of a storyline which saw Dixie take "center stage".
[7] They were involved in a domestic abuse storyline which concluded in episode eighteen, broadcast on 9 January 2016, when a hostage situation and fire occurred leading to Nikki being arrested.
[49] Hannah Spearritt joined the cast in a recurring capacity as Mercedes Christie, a drug addict that attacked Noel and later blackmailed Big Mac in a long-running storyline.
[38] Mercedes son and partner, Connor Christie and Vince Callaghan were introduced in episode twenty-eight, played by Toby Murray and Andrew Knott respectively.
[53] Matthew Marsh and Vicky Hall reprised their roles as Dylan's father, Brian Carroll and his partner, Hazel Leyton in episode thirty-five.
[54] Sydney Wade and Tonicha Lawrence began appearing as Grace's friend Carmel Sims and her mother, Steph in episode thirty-six.
[55] They appeared in a storyline which saw Steph psychologically abuse Carmel and later, run Connie and Grace off the road in the end of series cliffhanger.
Elsewhere, Louise becomes passionate about a couple whose baby is about to die, and a gang of thugs shoot a targeted member of the public at a nightclub, giving Jacob an opportunity to put his newly devised gun-shot wound policy into action.
[86] However, on 22 November 2015, Casualty lost out to rival Welsh series Pobol y Cwm which won the Soap round of Radio Times' 2015 TV Champion.
Amanda Mealing (Connie Beauchamp), Sunetra Sarker (Zoe Hanna), Derek Thompson (Charlie Fairhead) and Richard Windsor (Caleb Knight), were amongst those nominated in the Best Drama Star category, whilst Charlie's near-death experience, Connie & Jacob's romance and Ethan & Cal meeting their mother were amongst those nominated for Best Drama Storyline.
