Series Producer Liza Mellody talks about CASUALTY’s exciting 40th Anniversary double bill ..
What do these episodes reveal about the wider Casualty family and the people who work within it?
We wanted to reflect the truth of the emergency department as it is, here and now in 2026. The doctors, the nurses and the paramedics are truly dedicated. It’s a hard job to do, our characters are human, they are flawed but they do the best they can with what they have. In traumatic and scary times, it’s easy to think the worst of people but there is always good in the world, sometimes you just have to look a little harder!
We are proud to be a Saturday night primetime show, so we want to engage and entertain our audience while reflecting the truth of the busy ED department as it is now.
What do you think Casualty says about Britain that no other television programme can?
This show has been going for 40 years, so of course, it’s been through major change. It has evolved and is modern. What it was in 1986 is not what it is now, but neither is the emergency department or the characters we find within it. We want to shine a light on what’s happening here and now and it’s challenging. The UK is the only country that has the NHS so that’s what sets us apart.
We are experiencing a cost-of-living crisis, the NHS is struggling and understaffed. We want to reflect that and show how people still care, but also how challenging it can be for staff and patients. If you go into an emergency department, you are usually going in a time of crisis. We want to tell entertaining, engaging but also truthful stories, and show how our frontline medics cope and respond.
Every week Casualty welcomes viewers into moments of crisis, hope and resilience. Why do you think those stories continue to resonate so strongly?
Because everybody in their lives, unfortunately, will encounter the emergency department, or know somebody that has. We are meeting people in their worst-case scenario, in their time of need, and our characters are able to diagnose, treat and reassure them. We are telling human stories through the lens of medicine, adrenaline, warmth, joy, pain and ultimately hope. It is a marvellous concoction for Saturday night viewing.
What do you think younger audiences discover when they watch Casualty today?
The Casualty that we have today is modern and relevant. It is exciting, it’s cinematic, and new. And it’s something the whole family can watch together. We have adrenaline-filled stunts and medicine. Our stories are relatable. They have heart and wit. There are stories for everybody. Casualty has changed and for the better.
What do you think Casualty has given Britain over the past 40 years? What responsibility comes with being part of a programme that has become a national institution?
In an ever-changing world, it’s nice to be able to put Casualty on a Saturday and know that you are going to get fifty minutes of unmissable television. There are so many people that have said, “I became a nurse or doctor because of Casualty,” or “I know how to do CPR because of Casualty,” or “I know what to do when someone’s choking” and “I went to the doctors to get checked out because of one of your storylines and I think it saved my life.” With that comes a responsibility to be authentic. We are a drama, but we have a huge medical team advising on the show, so what we portray is authentic with a twist of dramatic licence!
Bring on the next 40 years!
