The BBC has indeed announced that Casualty will be put out to competitive tender.

The BBC has indeed announced that Casualty will be put out to competitive tender.

Here’s what this means:

  • Why the Change? This move is part of the BBC’s ongoing “Compete or Compare” strategy, launched in 2014, which aims to open up more of its TV programmes to competition. The goal is to ensure “the very best value for audiences” and to maintain efficiency in production.

  • What it Means for Casualty:

    • New Producer Possible: Up until now, Casualty has been produced in-house by BBC Studios Continuing Drama. With competitive tendering, other independent production companies will now be invited to pitch their proposals to take over the making of the show.
    • BBC Retains Rights: Importantly, the BBC will retain all rights to the programme. This means Casualty will continue to be shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, regardless of which company ultimately produces it.
    • Filming Location Stays: Fans will be reassured to know that the show will continue to be filmed in Cardiff, Wales. This is important for maintaining its role in the Welsh production industry.
    • Future is Secure (for now): The BBC has explicitly stated that this process “underpins our commitment to Casualty,” reassuring viewers that the show is not being cancelled and will continue for the foreseeable future. The new contract for production covers episodes planned to air between 2027 and 2029, with a possibility of a two-year extension beyond that.
    • Episode Count: The official tender document indicates a minimum of 24 episodes per series, which is a slight reduction from previous years (it was cut to 36 episodes per series in 2023).
  • Precedent: Casualty‘s sister show, Holby City, went through a similar competitive tender process in 2017. In that instance, BBC Studios (the in-house producer) successfully retained the contract. However, Holby City was eventually axed in 2022, which has caused some concern among Casualty fans, though the BBC is keen to stress Casualty‘s security. Other BBC shows like Songs of Praise, A Question of Sport, Fake or Fortune, and Blue Peter have also gone through this process.

  • Timeline: The invitation to tender was published recently, with initial submissions due by early June 2025 (around June 3rd). A final decision on who will produce Casualty is expected to be made by November 2025. Episodes from the new production arrangement would then need to be delivered to the BBC by late 2026, for broadcast from early 2027 onwards.

So, while it’s a big behind-the-scenes change, the aim is to ensure the long-term future and continued quality of Casualty for its dedicated audience.

Here’s what this means: Why the Change? This move is part of the BBC’s ongoing “Compete or Compare” strategy, launched in 2014, which aims to open up more of its TV programmes to competition. The goal is to ensure “the very best value for audiences” and to maintain efficiency in production. What it Means for…