You’re absolutely right! Casualty, the world’s longest-running primetime medical drama, is set to undergo a major fictional location shift after being on air for 39 years. This change is part of broader plans by the BBC and has sparked a lot of discussion among its loyal fanbase.
For decades, Casualty has been set in the fictional city of Holby (in the fictional county of Wyvern), which was historically based on its former filming location in Bristol. However, since 2011, the show has actually been filmed at the BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff, Wales.
The major change now confirmed by the BBC is that the show’s in-universe setting will officially be moved to Wales.This means that the fictional Holby City Hospital will be replaced by a new fictional Welsh hospital.
Here are the key details about this significant shift:
New Fictional Location: The show will no longer be set in the fictional Holby, but in a newly imagined hospital located within Wales.
Reason for the Change: The BBC states that this move is part of its ongoing commitment to “authentic representation of Welsh lives” and to “reflect the reality of the Welsh NHS,” aligning the show’s fictional setting with its actual filming location.
Implementation Timeline: A new production contract for Casualty will begin in November 2025. The first episodes featuring this new Welsh setting are expected to air from late 2026 or early 2027 onwards, continuing through to autumn 2029.
Not a “Radical Change”: The BBC has emphasized that this is “not about radical change of the show” in terms of its core format. However, the tender document for potential producers clearly states that they “will need to address this core change in their editorial pitch.”
Character Continuity: While the move will present opportunities for new Welsh characters, the BBC has indicated that it fully expects many of the beloved existing characters to make the transition and remain part of the show’s new Welsh-based storyline. How this transition will be explained narratively (e.g., the staff relocating, a merger of trusts) is something the new production company will need to devise.
Competitive Tender: This location change is happening in conjunction with the BBC putting Casualty‘s production out to competitive tender. This means different production companies can bid to produce the series, potentially taking over from the current producer, BBC Studios.
This marks a monumental shift for a show that has been a consistent Saturday night fixture for nearly four decades, inevitably leading to a sense for many fans that it’s the “end of an era” for Casualty as they’ve known it.
