CASUALTY RETURNS FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL ON BBC ONE AHEAD OF NEW SERIES, FIRST LOOK AND GUEST CAST

The BBC’s BAFTA award-winning drama Casualty has released first look pictures and announced guest cast for its upcoming festive special, All I Want for Christmas, giving viewers a glimpse at this format-breaking standalone episode coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December.

Made in Cardiff by BBC Studios Drama Productions, this innovative new special is a tribute to the miracle of blood, brought to life with all the tension and emotional depth that Casualty delivers so well.

It’s Christmas Day in the ED and the team are faced with an emergency blood shortage. Whilst Stevie (Elinor Lawless) fights to save lives, Iain (Michael Stevenson) risks his own to ensure the hospital doesn't go without.

The special will guest star Lucy-Jo Hudson (Wild At Heart, Doctors), Tristan Sturrock (Poldark, The Crown), Joseph Charles (Breathtaking, Solo: A Star Wars Story), Zoe Brough (Outrageous, Father Brown), Katy Carmichael (Malpractice, Spaced) and Valerie Antwi (DI Ray S2, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) who join the beloved Casualty regulars.

Rebecca Ferguson, Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama, says: “We’re so excited for viewers to see this incredible Christmas special, which genuinely made me gasp. It's tense, thrilling and super-charged with emotion.”

Roxanne Harvey, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Drama Production, says: “We’re so proud of this life-affirming episode. Beautifully told, with ambitious production values and outstanding performances, this is entertaining, thought-provoking drama at its very best.”

All I Want for Christmas will also feature real-life testimonies from contributors who’ve been directly impacted by UK blood donation, as well as interviews with key workers who form the country’s blood service.

The Casualty Christmas special airs on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December and will be followed by the next series of Casualty from later in the month. The special is written by Erin Kubicki and will be directed by Steve Hughes.