BBC to air 'Casualty' movie in honor of show's 30th anniversary

LONDON, June 30 (UPI) -- The BBC says it will mark the 30th anniversary of its medical drama Casualty with a movie-length episode to be broadcast on Aug. 27.

The special will include a "bigger than ever dramatic and shocking stunt that will hit the very heart of the hospital," the British broadcaster promised in a press release.

"Key characters will be put in peril, well-loved faces from the show's past return, and the team will get their hands dirty to support Charlie and the Emergency Department staff in this moment of turmoil."

The movie will focus on the celebration of Charlie Fairhead's 30 years with the National Health Service. Derek Thompson has played the role since the inception of the show, which is the longest-running emergency medical drama series in the world.

"From Day 1 of filming Casualty in 1986, I've been so proud of it's true-to-life storytelling, representing everything the NHS stands for. I've been a part of a few anniversaries over the years, but this really feels like a significant moment in British television history," Thompson said in a statement.

Casualty executive producer Oliver Kent added: "Casualty's 30th anniversary episode is a huge celebration of everything that the show does best. The episode, titled 'Too Old For This Shift,' written by Matthew Barry and Andy Bayliss, and directed by Steve Hughes, is a feature-length action movie, which will make the audience gasp, laugh and cry buckets. There will be plenty of surprises for the audience, including some old faces that they won't have seen for a while. Best of all, it has the incredible Charlie Fairhead center stage."

Among the celebrities who have guest starred on the show over the years are Orlando Bloom, Kate Winslet, Daisy Ridley, Tom Hiddleston, Martin Freeman, Nicholas Hoult and Minnie Driver.