Casualty - Series 25 preview
Michelle Collins guest stars as the distraught mother of Simone, a young victim of a college shooting incident, in a feature-length first episode of the 25th series of Casualty, on Saturday 4th September 2010 on BBC One.
Meanwhile, Holby City's laidback staff nurse Donna (Jaye Jacobs) is catapulted into the ED to help out during the traumatic events and new nurse Mads (Hasina Haque) joins the team as its latest regular.
> Find out the latest Casualty spoilers.
> Read our interview with Tristan Gemmill, who plays Adam.
> Read our interview with Jaye Jacobs, who plays Holby City's Donna.
> Read our interview with Steven Miller, who plays Lenny.
What's coming up in Episode 1?
The team faces their worst day ever as a shooting incident at a local college escalates, bringing terror into the heart of the ED. Seen through the eyes of the team in the emergency department and the victims' traumatised families, the incident tests the team's courage, expertise and, ultimately, the strength of their bonds with each other.
"This opening storyline has been in development for a year," explains series producer Oliver Kent. "Casualty is renowned for its explosive series openers but this time we wanted to do something different. Rather than focus on the scene of a disaster we wanted to explore the human cost of disastrous events and look at the awful impact they have on the victims and their families. Without a shot being seen fired you watch as the dreadful effect on everyone involved takes its toll."
"This subject is a sensitive area and it's our responsibility to present a realistic yet dramatic interpretation of the events, exciting without being sensationalist," says Casualty's consultant producer and lead writer Mark Catley.
"The key was to see the devastation through the eyes of the parents, they are our window in to the chaos and their confusion reflects our own. And over the first seven episodes of the new series we attempt to show not only the immediate affect of these actions but the widespread fallout that ensues."
What's coming up later in the series?
As the series continues, the team has to fight to restore their reputation after the press nicknames them “Hellby”. And they’re placed under further threat when Simone’s mother threatens to sue. They have become the most infamous ED in the land - will they clear their names and keep their jobs?
Lenny Lyons gets a blast from the past when he receives a message relating to his long estranged mother. When he finally gets the courage to call, he discovers he is too late - she recently passed away. Will his friendship with Yuki continue to keep him on the straight and narrow in the ensuing emotional chaos?
Elsewhere, gung-ho paramedic Jeff Collier finds himself reacting unexpectedly in the midst of the College incident. While the press brand him a hero, Jeff is uncomfortable. Will Dixie help him deal with his demons?
And feisty psych nurse Kirsty Clements helps a patient overcome her part in the traumatic events but is having a troublesome relationship with her husband, Warren. Will the dashing Adam Trueman provide a shoulder to cry on?
