Latest success for commercial arm as drama pushes into Welsh portrayal

BBC Studios has retained the contract to produce Casualty following a competitive tender process.

It is the latest in a string of successes for the BBC’s commercial arm, which has landed all four of the shows put out to tender this year (Fake Or Fortune, Rip Off Britian, This Farming Life and CBeebies specials).

The Casualty contract is for three series with filming due to start in the spring. The BBC declined to set out the value of the tender due to commercial sensitivities.

The BBC1 continuing drama will continue to be filmed in Cardiff, and going forward it will also be set in the Welsh capital for the first time, as part of the BBC’s commitment to authentic regional portrayal.

This creative refresh, moving away from the fictional city of Holby, was revealed when Casualty was put out to tender in May 2025.

Director of BBC Drama Lindsay Salt said: “Casualty is a hugely important, much loved BBC drama and this tender has ensured it will continue to flourish.

“It was an extremely competitive process, and we would like to thank the shortlisted producers for their high quality and comprehensive proposals. We look forward to working with BBC Studios as we build on the show’s long-running success.”

Head of commissioning for BBC Cymru Wales Nick Andrews added: “Casualty will be supercharging the portrayal of Wales to the UK and beyond and BBC Cymru Wales are delighted. Casualty always breaks new ground, and it has done so again. The sheer scale of the portrayal of Wales – in character and place is a game changer.

“BBC Studios fired our imaginations, and we look forward to where they take the world of Casualty next.”

Casualty is the longest-running primetime medical drama globally, launching in 1986, and is the last remaining medical drama on the BBC. Its sister series Holby City was axed in 2021 while Doctors was cancelled in 2023.

BBCS’s securing of the contract means it has won 18 out of 24 (75%) BBC shows that have been tendered since 2016.

Independent producers recently criticised the BBC’s tendering process, claiming the commercial arm has a competitive advantage.

This story was originally published on www.broadcastnow.co.uk