The special episode is a tribute to the miracle of blood
Casualty Christmas special © BBC PicturesAuthor: Alex RossPublished 23rd Dec 2024
It’s been off our screens since September, but award-winning drama Casualty returns for a brand new series later this December, kicking off with an emotional Christmas special last Saturday (21st December).
Titled All I Want for Christmas, the 50-minute long episode was centred around the miracle of giving blood, and whilst the usual characters were involved, the special also featured real-life interviews from people who have lived through the impact of giving and receiving blood.
After watching the emotional episode, viewers took to social media to express their feelings, with many being moved to tears, and others rushing to sign up to give blood.
One wrote: ‘Once again, @BBCCasualty breaking boundaries of drama and delivering a damn good documentary simultaneously. Take a bow, all of you. If you need a reason to Give Blood, watch that!’
Another added: ‘This episode will go down in #Casualty history, along with the Covid ep and for all the right reasons. A tough watch for me, with a storyline close to home, but a truly powerful piece of television. Congratulations to the whole team ❤️’. (sic)
Another viewer wrote: ‘Really enjoyed this episode and it has really made me think about donating blood 🙏’, with somebody else writing: ‘I was brought to tears watching this with the real life stories. Giving blood is so important’. (sic)
You can find out more about Giving Blood right here.
If you’ve not watched the Casualty Christmas special yet, here’s all the details you need to know about the episode.
What happens in the episode?
Revealing the plot for the festive episode, BBC said: ‘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 fights to save lives, Iain risks his own to ensure the hospital doesn’t go without’.
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, added: “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.”
The festive episode of Casualty 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.
Who is in the cast?
As well as the usual Casualty regulars, there’s a number of guest stars for the upcoming Christmas special.
Lucy-Jo Hudson, Tristan Sturrock, Joseph Charles, Zoe Brough, Katy Carmichael and Valerie will all feature in the episode.