Fans of Casualty will have to exercise a little patience as the long-running BBC medical drama is taking a break from screens next week. The series, which has been delivering intense episodes in its latest “Internal Affairs” arc, will not air on Saturday, May 17, due to a scheduling change by the BBC.
Eurovision Takes Over
The reason for the interruption? The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will be airing live from Basel, Switzerland, and is set to dominate the BBC One schedule for the evening. With the Eurovision broadcast kicking off from 8:00pm, there’s no room for Casualty in its usual Saturday night slot.
The change has left some fans disappointed, especially with the current storylines heating up. However, the BBC has confirmed that this is only a one-week break — and the show will return the following week.
When Will Casualty Be Back?
Casualty is scheduled to return on Saturday, May 24, with the next highly anticipated episode in the ongoing series. Viewers can also expect the episode to be available on BBC iPlayer shortly before its television broadcast.
The upcoming episode, titled “For the Record,” will see:
-
Rida Amaan confronting the dark reality of Russell Whitelaw’s medical misconduct.
-
Flynn in a race against time to save Anna from a critical health crisis.
-
Rash going head-to-head with hospital management to protect a vulnerable patient.
-
Indie teaming up with Iain as the paramedic duo faces a difficult emergency call.
Fans React
While many viewers understand the need to accommodate a major international event like Eurovision, the decision to delay Casualty hasn’t gone unnoticed. Social media has seen a flurry of comments from fans missing their Saturday drama fix.
“I love Eurovision, but can’t we have Casualty earlier in the day?” one fan posted on X (formerly Twitter). Another added, “Just when the storylines are getting good, we get a week off!”
Not the First Time
This isn’t the first time Casualty has been bumped from the schedule for live events. The BBC often reshuffles its programming during major cultural or sporting occasions, including the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the Olympics. The temporary pause is part of regular broadcasting adjustments rather than any indication of production issues or cancellations.
What’s Next?
With several key story arcs building momentum — including the tension surrounding Russell Whitelaw’s manipulation, the emotional fallout from patient care controversies, and personal drama among the ED team — fans have plenty to look forward to when the show returns.
In the meantime, viewers can catch up on recent episodes via BBC iPlayer, where the full season so far remains available for streaming.
Casualty returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, May 24. Don’t miss it!