Daily Mail: BBC drama has number of episodes slashed in 'devastating' move

Story from Daily Mail:

BBC drama Casualty has seen its number of episodes slashed in a bid to save money amid the cost of living crisis.

The show, which first debuted in 1986, is the world's longest-running medical drama.

However due to the increased cost of living and TV budgets forced to rise in order to complete with the likes of Netflix, the latest series ended last week.

A source told The Sun: 'Casualty peaked in the Noughties when it was on our screens on a Saturday night almost all year round, and that's what many people have come to expect.

'The only year that saw a shorter series was in 2021 because of the pandemic, when all TV productions were severely affected.

Adding: 'Now it seems the cost of living crisis could prove just as devastating.'

A spokesperson for the BBC said: 'This is not the first time the show has taken a break due to the busy Autumn schedule.

'Our priority is always delivering quality over hours and due to super inflation in drama production we’ve taken the decision to slightly reduce the number of episodes per year in order to maintain the quality on screen for audiences. We’ve received no complaints from cast and crew, and it will be back on air later this year.'

Last year, the show had an 11 week break due to the Queen's death and the winter World Cup.

It comes after Sunetra Sarker announced that she will be returning to the wards of Holby City Hospital and Casualty in a shock return.

The actress, 50, who portrayed Doctor Zoe Hanna, revealed that her return will coincide with Charlie Fairhead's (Derek Thompson) exit from the show.

She said: 'This week I was in hospital - but not as a patient. I might have gone back to a certain hospital that I used to work at a while ago called Holby City Hospital.

'I'm going back after about... it must be seven years. I left in 2016 so it's been a while.

'I’m going back for a special double episode because our lovely Charlie who has been there forever is going to leave the show.

'So I’m going back to make sure I get my last little moment with him.'

Derek, 75, revealed in May that he was finally hanging up his stethoscope and quitting the BBC drama Casualty after nearly four decades.

The actor revealed that 'the time has come' - with his final scenes to be broadcast next year.

Derek has played a central part in the show since it was first screened in 1986, and the BBC said his exit would culminate in a 'gripping' storyline with his character at the 'front and centre' of the action.

Discussing his departure, Derek said: 'The time has come for me to hang up Charlie's scrubs after the most wonderful 37 years.

'Charlie Fairhead was inspired by a real nurse – Pete Salt. Together with the writers and producers, I have tried to bring to Charlie the compassion, kindness, heroism and sound judgement that we all see and love in Pete and I want to say thanks to Pete and everyone else over that time who has inspired me in bringing this character to life.'

Emergency department nurse Charlie Fairhead has been in nearly 900 episodes and is the longest-serving cast member in the medical drama.

Charlie has been the backbone of fictional Holby City Hospital's emergency department, with the character involved in a number of huge, hard-hitting storylines over the years.

He was run over by an ambulance on his wedding day, had a near-fatal cardiac arrest during a gang siege, and had a loving relationship and heartbreaking farewell with his fellow nurse Duffy (Cathy Shipton).

Duffy died on the show in 2020 after being diagnosed with dementia. In heart-rending scenes, Charlie found her out in the snow after she wandered off.

Rushed to hospital with hyperthermia, Duffy then had a bleed on her brain, which left Charlie realising nothing more could be done for her.

Charlie recently faced further devastation when he was forced to say goodbye to nurse Robyn Miller (Amanda Henderson), whose daughter, Charlotte, was named with him in mind.

Robyn was involved in a catastrophic car accident while on the way to start her new life with Charlotte and partner Paul (Paul Popplewell).

Jon Sen, executive producer of Casualty for BBC Studios, said: 'Derek and I would often joke that, after such a long and dramatic career in the NHS, there was almost nothing that Charlie hadn't seen.

'So it was an amazing surprise to me when Derek arrived with a brilliant idea for Charlie's exit as part of an upcoming storyline, which was too good to pass up.

'We will all miss Derek enormously. Over nearly four decades, Derek has crafted an iconic character who is woven into the fabric of British TV history.

'We will miss his craft, his humour and his on-screen presence.

'We're also going to miss a friend, so for the next few months we're going to have a ball filming Charlie's final chapter.'