Casualty

Casualty

1986 - United Kingdom

This review covers the period 1986 up to 2000 only.

Hugely successful BBC series concerning the night shift at the fictional Holby City Hospital. Devised by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin as a British alternative to the US series St. Elsewhere, Casualty has never shied away from down-to-earth, real life subjects such as child abuse or AIDS, incurring the wrath of politicians and, in particular, the Conservative government of the mid-1980's, when it attacked the policies of hospital closures and NHS cuts.

Over it's long run the series has attracted a number of leading actors including Oscar winner Brenda Fricker, who in the early years played senior nurse Megan Roach. Both Kate Winslet and Helen Bexendale have been patients on their way to success, whilst well known British faces such as T.P. McKenna and Norman Wisdom have received treatment in the departments cubicles. Robson Green appeared as a hospital porter before going on to be a major British TV star and 'Star Trek: The Next Generation's' Marina Sirtis guested in an episode. Only one character has remained constant throughout, charge nurse Charlie Fairhead as played by Derek Thompson, who first came to notice as an East-End villain alongside Bob Hoskins in 'The Long Good Friday'. Like most of the staff at Holby, Charlie has had to deal with life's ups and downs, including broken relationships, alcoholism, a nervous breakdown and a heart attack. As if that wasn't enough he has also been shot by one of his patients. Casualty has always gone for nail-biting drama to finish each series, this normally involves a cliffhanger concerning a member of the regular cast who have, over the years been raped, stabbed and pushed over balconies.

Throughout its long run the series has pulled no punches in its depiction of social diseases as well as medical ones and has successfully and sympathetically handled cases of a racial nature as illustrated in the season 9 story concerning Charge Nurse Martin Ashford (Patrick Robinson) who was accused of Actual Bodily Harm after injuring a knife welding racist.

Another strong point of the series is its continued addressing of major held myths and/or fears arising from the potently twin combination of medical and emotional problems by using its central characters as examples. Both writers and actors have handled the highly emotive subject of rape with sensitivity twice during the show's history. Initially by showing the long term effects of the crime on the likable and popular Duffy, before much later expanding on the subject following a savagely brutal incident involving the character of Tina. Actress Claire Goose who played the part of Tina worked with a rape counsellor and read police case notes in order to prepare for the storyline and received much praise and commendation for her portrayal of a rape victim. Duffy held centre stage yet again, when faced with the emotionally fraught crisis arising from a scare involving the topically important issue of cervical cancer.

Undoubtedly the most consistent undercurrent of social concern which has formed the drama of the series has been the plight of over worked, underpaid hospital staff and the problems facing them, which has been reflected over the years in the turbulent on-off relationships of many of the staff, including Charlie's relationship with Baz and Max Gallagher's drug addict son who was eventually and tragically murdered by pushers after spending a successful period in rehabilitation.

The series also spawned a more conventional spin-off, Holby City, which took the drama beyond the narrow confines of the hospital's busy A&E department, to concentrate on the lives, loves and problems of the staff and patients of a surgical ward.

Consistently well produced, written and acted, Casualty forsakes the high gloss sheen and glamour of its US cousins to excitingly and effectively portray the human face of a beleaguered NHS, which only barely continues to survive through the committed hard work and sheer dedication of its true unsung heroes... its staff.

Published on December 3rd, 2018. Written by Humor for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

The Practise

Twice weekly series set round a modern health centre

Also tagged Medical Drama

Alf

US sitcom about an Alien Life Form (ALF), who follows an amateur radio signal to Earth only to crash land on the roof of a garage owned by the Tanners, a middle class family living in the suburbs of Los Angeles...

Also released in 1986

ER TV series

ER first hit the television screens with all the speed and force of an express train in 1994, and immediately earned the label of 'rock 'em - sock 'em' television, hardly giving the viewer a chance to catch breath as each story-line unfolded.

Also tagged Medical Drama

Dr Finlay's Casebook

Based on a series of stories 'The Adventures of a Black Bag' by Dumbartonshire born novelist A. J. Cronin, Doctor Finlay's Casebook proved to be an instant hit with viewers in spite of stiff competition from US exports Dr Kildare and Ben Casey.

Also tagged Medical Drama

Angels BBC TV Serial

Drama based at the fictitious St Angela's Hospital in London. 'Angels' was dubbed the 'Z-Cars' of nursing by some critics due to its authentic semi-documentary approach.

Also tagged Medical Drama

Lovejoy

Roguish but loveable antique dealer who would happily fleece the unscrupulous dealers he encountered, whilst ensuring that those who had fallen victim to the sharks received what was rightfully their due.

Also released in 1986

Executive Stress

Two of British comedy's most popular stars came together for this highly original and cleverly written series.

Also released in 1986

London's Burning TV Series

The gritty reality and dark humour of a group of firefighters based at a fictional London-based fire station.

Also released in 1986

Dr. Kildare

At Blair General Hospital a young intern has to learn to deal with his surgeon mentor.

Also tagged Hospital Drama