An interesting insight from a recent set visit to BBC Casualty reveals a touching detail that often goes unnoticed by viewers on screen

A reporter from the Express, Fran Winston, who visited the Casualty set at BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Wales, highlighted this poignant aspect. While the set itself is incredibly detailed and authentic, genuinely feeling like a real-life NHS hospital, it’s these personal touches that truly resonate.

Specifically, upon entering the fictional staff room – a space that has been the backdrop for countless dramatic and emotional scenes over the years – a keen-eyed visitor would immediately notice a notice board adorned with photos of previous cast members. These aren’t just generic pictures; they are snapshots capturing their laughter and smiles, reminiscent of the kind of photos you’d find in any real-life staff common area across the UK.

The board features images of much-loved departed characters, including:

• Robin Miller (played by Amanda Henderson)
• Jeff Collier (Matt Bardock)
• Kathleen “Dixie” Dixon (Jane Hazlegrove)
• Lisa “Duffy” Duffin (Catherine Shipton)
• Noel Garcia (Tony Marshall)
• And of course, the legendary Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson), who left the show in March 2024 after an impressive 38-year tenure, is also present in this memorial display.

According to Producer Sarah Beardsall, who guided the set tour, this particular corner of the staff room is rarely captured on camera. While eagle-eyed viewers might spot it tucked away in the far left-hand side of the room if they look closely, it’s generally not a focal point.

Furthermore, these tributes aren’t confined to just the staff room. The reporter also noted that the fridge freezer in the ambulance bay area is adorned with a poignant montage of past characters, and another photo-filled notice board graces the walkway to the call centre.

These small, yet heartfelt, memorials to characters who have left the show – sometimes through tragic circumstances – add a profound sense of authenticity and history to the set. It makes the fictional Holby City ED feel much more like a real workplace with a shared past and a sense of continuity. Visitors to the set found these little tributes quite moving, as they underscore the deep connection the show has to its own history and the characters who have defined it over nearly 40 years. It’s a touching detail that truly gives the set a “heart.”

A reporter from the Express, Fran Winston, who visited the Casualty set at BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Wales, highlighted this poignant aspect. While the set itself is incredibly detailed and authentic, genuinely feeling like a real-life NHS hospital, it’s these personal touches that truly resonate. Specifically, upon entering the fictional staff room – a…