Casualty (series 29)

Casualty series 29
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 48
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One
BBC One HD
Original run 30 August 2014 – present

The twenty-ninth series of Casualty began airing on BBC One & BBC One HD on 30 August 2014, one week after the end of the previous series. The series will consist of 48 episodes.

Cast

Main characters

Recurring characters

Jane Hazlegrove who plays Dixie Dixon returned in episode 1. Michael Stevenson returned in episode 6 as Paramedic Iain Dean. Chelsee Healey joined the cast in episode 6, to play Honey Wright, a barista in the ED. This was the last series in which Matt Bardock, who played Paramedic Jeff Collier, appears: his character died in episode 5. Zoe Hanna, who temporarily departed Casualty in the final episode of series 28, returned in episode 8, as did Dylan Keogh, played by William Beck. Jamie Collier returned in episode 6 for Jeff's funeral. Tamzin Bayle departed in episode 6. Antony Costa, Simon Rouse and Georgia Moffett guest starred in episode 9 and Gary Lucy starred in episode 10. Mark Letheren returned to the show as Ben Harding in episode 11 in a recurring capacity. Martin Ashford (Patrick Robinson) departed the series off-screen in episode 14 when Rita advised Connie of his resignation to spend more time with his daughter after her release from prison. Tess Bateman (Suzanne Packer) resigned from her position as Clinical Nurse Manager in episode 16 to help set up a new health centre as a secondment, she returns in episode 19 as a Band 7 Ward Sister. Rita Freeman (Chloe Howman) succeeded Tess as Clinical Nurse Manager in episode 18. In episode 29, Cal's on-off girlfriend Taylor was found by Cal and Ethan stabbed in the leg in public toilets, she was later arrested for fraud.

Production

Erika Hossington serves as the Series Producer. Oliver Kent is the Executive Producer for the series. The theme tune updated January 2014 remains the same, however, the titles have been modified over the series as characters have joined or left. In July 2014, it was announced that the series would feature three standalone episodes, which are independent from the main story arc and do not make any references to ongoing storylines.[1] The first standalone episode aired in November. It was a murder mystery that centred around Dr Chao and featured a guest appearance from Gary Lucy.[1] The second aired on 28 March 2015 and centred around Dr Hanna. On 13 February 2015 it was announced ex-EastEnders star Chucky Venn would join Casualty as a new nurse named Jacob Masters. He will make his first appearance on 11 June 2015. [2]

Casualty recently announced plans to air a dramatic episode in Romania later on this year. The storyline will revolve around Charlie and his drug-addict son Louie, who finds himself in hospital after being beaten up. Connie will also join Charlie on his dramatic adventure. Thompson commented on his storyline, saying: "I had a friend whose daughter was a drug addict. I lived with second-hand experience of what it was like for him to experience that." [3] Executive Producer Oliver Kent also commented on the decision to take Casualty away from its filming location, saying: "We get a bit nervous about taking Casualty out of its precinct because it can look a bit odd to see really established characters away from their normal environment."[4]

Episodes

Episode
No.[nb 1]		 Series
No.		 Episode Director Writer(s) Original airdate UK viewers
(millions)[5]
9151"Learning to Fly"Nigel DouglasTony McHale30 August 20144.90

Jeff discovers that Samantha has been keeping a big secret from him when her husband turns up at her house. Jeff is adamant that he never knew about their relationship. A fight develops with Samantha caught in the middle. Meanwhile Charlie returns from New Zealand and Connie raises her concerns that Charlie doesn't seem interested in his job anymore, but little does she know of his health problems. Charlie arranges an appointment with Elliot where he believes Charlie has a high possibility of angina. And Max helps a young couple to stand up to their families who don't want them to be together.

Note: Guest starring Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) and the return of Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon (Jane Hazlegrove).
9162"Fallen Stars"David Innes EdwardsAnita Pandolfo6 September 20144.65
Rita loses her temper with a patient when she turns out to be dishonest about an alleged rape case. But then her day takes a turn for the worse as Tess notices how late she was to work, and Ash discovers her drinking in the staff room - sending her home with the difficult question of whether he will tell Connie about the drinking. Cal treats a HIV schoolgirl involved in a fight, while Max convinces a rock star to come clean. And Charlie becomes irritable towards Tess when she recommends a retirement care plan.
9173"Home"Joss AgnewMark Catley20 September 20144.78
Andrea returns to the ED at the same time that her young patient is admitted. When Andrea insists on operating on the young boy despite Connie's advice, her suspicions are raised. Rita does not turn up for her shift so Ash calls on her. When she eventually allows him in he agrees to keep her drinking secret from the rest of the staff. When an alcoholic dies later on in the day Ash is reminded that if Rita does not stop drinking she could be heading that way. Lofty treats a distressed young man with an abscess in his mouth.
9184"Go Out and Get Busy"Nigel DouglasMatthew Barry27 September 20144.90
Connie becomes irritated after she discovers that Robyn put false information in a patient's allergies notes, but then when a wedding ends in disaster after a floor collapses Charlie decides to send Robyn out with Ethan to assist. However things are not as simple first thought when it appears that the only way to get the bride out alive is to amputate a leg below the knee. Lofty uses some creative thinking to help a deaf woman to speak up about her abuse, and Max helps a teenager complaining of severe abdominal pains.
9195"Born Lucky"Steve HughesKevin Rundle4 October 20145.75

Connie is asked to take a few selected members of the team to motivate a failing hospital. Ethan, the driver, takes his eyes off the road for a minute too long and a Land Rover smashes into the minibus, throwing it to its side. Cal is embarrassed by a mother and daughter who tease him about a one night stand, before becoming emotionally distressed after learning about the severity of Ethan's condition from the impact of the crash. The day ends in turmoil when the minibus explodes - while Jeff is still inside.

Note: Death of Jeff Collier (Matt Bardock).
9206"The Last Call"Steve HughesEmma Goodwin11 October 20145.48

As the ED staff prepare themselves for Jeff's funeral, Dixie struggles to cope with the day: rather than attend the funeral, she attends a rescue call where an alcoholic has been dumped on a landfill site after he slept in a wheelie bin on rubbish collection day. Iain joins her and after they save the man, he persuades her to pay her respects and they set off for the funeral. Lofty treats an OCD sufferer who has poured bleach on her hands. A few old faces return to say goodbye to Jeff on a thoroughly emotional day for everyone involved. Honey Wright joins ED as their new tea lady.

Note: First appearance of Honey Wright (Chelsee Healey), return of Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) and departure of Tamzin Bayle (Gemma Atkinson). Guest starring Jamie Collier (Daniel Anthony).
9217"The Index Case"Joss AgnewSteve Bailie18 October 20144.90

Connie wonders if she missed something when a man dies in the ED, and the dead man's daughter accuses her of his death. Ash believes that Dixie blames him for Jeff's death. Cal works closely with Ash, Charlie and Ethan on a rare virus which connects two patients together.

Note: Guest starring Guy Self (John Michie).
9228"Return to Sender"Matthew EvansMatthew Barry25 October 20145.07

Zoe returns to the ED and is surprised that the staff had not been told she was coming back. Connie has a complaint lodged against her, despite efforts to talk sense to the woman. Dixie continues to cause ripples throughout the department and has a confrontation with Ash, who still feels guilty about Jeff's death. Lofty treats a youth who is constantly being stopped and searched, and suffers a stroke because he has sickle-cell anaemia.

Note: Return of Zoe Hanna (Sunetra Sarker) and Dylan Keogh (William Beck).
9239"Entrenched"Matthew EvansDale Overton1 November 20145.35
Rita is promoted to Senior Staff Nurse. Mac attends a war memorial service. A football fan riot starts and a young boy is caught up in the fight. A flare is set off in the ED and smoke alarms wail. Matthew protects everyone from the blast and Lofty stays in the middle of the smoke to rescue a young boy from cubicles and, despite the fact the boy dies anyway, is hailed a hero by his colleagues. Big Mac is still struggling to cope with Jeff's death and decides to transfer back to the ED.
92410"Deadfall"David Innes EdwardsJeff Povey15 November 20145.06

Ethan takes charge of a night shift. Charlie, on the way to work, assists paramedics when a man and woman crash into the back of a lorry. On the way to ED the man arrests and later dies. Lily suspects he was murdered and decides to investigate further. The woman is then admitted, but confused and agitated and insistent she is being followed, which again makes Lily suspicious. The woman later dies in hospital. A policewoman detective sergeant is the murderer in a drugs-related drama. Lily proves that she is a detective herself and is responsible for saving another life and the arrest of the killer.

Note: Guest starring Valentine Kildare (Gary Lucy). This episode was dedicated to Rebekah Gibbs (Nina Farr).
92511"Asylum"Julie EdwardsHenrietta Hardy22 November 20144.61
Ash treats an asylum seeker who is admitted after falling. When she reveals that she will not have life-saving surgery because she is a Jehovah's Witness he loses control. Connie sends him to a counselling session. Dixie scatters Jeff's ashes. Dylan works with Ethan to treat a teenager worried about ovarian cancer.
92612"Losing Grip"Julie EdwardsAsher Pirie29 November 20144.76

Connie brings her daughter to work, unaware of the trouble she's capable of. Ash becomes angered by a patient's lifestyle choice when the patient is admitted after falling from a container. Ethan makes a breakthrough when a man is admitted after a failed robbery. Dixie apologises to Ash for her irrational behaviour. Honey is shocked when Ethan discovers her secret.

Note: Guest starring Miles Stone (Charlie G Hawkins).
92713"Feeling Good"Steve BrettMatthew Barry6 December 20144.72
Ash is partnered with Dylan by Connie. Together they work on a suspected overdosed 19-year-old, but disagree with how to treat the patient. Zoe becomes frustrated with Cal when he attempts to flirt with her patient. The paramedics receive a hamper basket addressed to Jeff, but are shocked by the contents.
92814"Solomon's Song"Steve BrettJeff Povey13 December 20144.46

Honey reveals a shocking secret which rocks Noel's world. Ash, Charlie, Dixie and Iain attend a call-out to a cathedral when a chandelier collapses leaving the congregation crushed under rubble. Lily treats a man who is insistent he is Jesus. Connie and Grace's relationship strains as Connie continues to prioritise patients over her own daughter.

Note: Last appearance of Martin "Ash" Ashford (Patrick Robinson).
92915"Next Year's Words"David TuckerKelly Jones3 January 20155.35
Connie continues to fail with coping with her daughter and her problems escalate when news of the video footage reaches her and she accuses Zoe. Charlie criticises Connie's manner with a struggling young mother and goes on to provide the help she needs. Honey and Noel make some progress in their fledgling relationship of daughter and father.
93016"Clinging On"David TuckerKit Lambert10 January 20155.87
Tess hands in her resignation as clinical nurse manager, prompting Lofty to convince Rita to apply for the new position. Connie is shocked to discover that the video footage has leaked online. She faces further heartbreak as Grace reveals she wants to live with her grandmother instead. Zoe treats a male who has fallen through a shed roof, but his symptoms show he has scurvy.
93117"Muddling Through"David BeauchampGillian Richmond17 January 20156.00
Connie struggles without Grace, and the day of Hailey Blake's court case arrives. Connie throws herself into work and treats a hallucinating patient who, upon taking LSD, jumped seven metres from a shopping centre into a ball pit below. As Ethan discovers a mysterious scar on her lower abdomen, he becomes suspicious and investigates further. Zoe treats Hailey after she suffers a panic attack outside the ED, and after later conversing with Connie, they reach the conclusion to not go any further with their court case. Robyn decides she needs to become more helpful, so sets up a food bank.
93218"The Last Goodbye"David Innes EdwardsMark Catley & Tom Higgins24 January 20155.86
Rita's first day as Clinical Nurse Manager gets off to a bad start when her disgraced husband Mark turns up to talk to her, having been released from prison. When Connie's daughter Grace is reported missing, Connie accuses Mark of abduction. Honey hurts her ankle while re-auditioning at the pole-dancing club, and to keep things discreet she calls on Ethan to help, while Lofty deals with a patient who thinks her child is being abused.
93319"What a Difference a Day Makes"David Innes EdwardsSuzie Smith31 January 20155.75
A single father and his two teenage children are brought in after a car crash, but the dad only seems concerned about his daughter, leaving his son feeling neglected. Big Mac's money worries lead him to a pawn shop - where he encounters a window cleaner who appears to have been stabbed - and a man is admitted with abdominal pain, although the doctors become suspicious when they can find nothing wrong with the patient. A determined Connie throws herself into work after losing Grace, Tess returns to the department and Honey is upset when Ethan gives her the cold shoulder - especially after they had been getting so close.
93420"Front Line"Michael Owen MorrisJoe Williams7 February 20155.97
It's inspection day at the ED and Connie is showing the strain. When two soldiers are brought in after they were injured in an explosion during a training exercise, Rita can't understand why one of them is lying about the accident. A computer hacker tries to make others happy by giving out stolen money, although he ends up in the ED after falling and hitting his head. As the doctors treat him, Robyn inadvertently spreads a virus from his memory stick to Holby's computer system. Honey catches Big Mac taking stock from the food bank after finding out he has more bills to pay. Zoe and Max get back together after Max impresses with his IT expertise.
93521"Sweetie"Michael Owen MorrisSally Abbott14 February 20155.84

It's Valentine's Day, but the love is low when staff treat serial child killer Olive Russell, whose prison van has just been in an accident deliberately caused by Susie Reardon, the mother of one of Olive's victims. With both women in hospital, the staff have to call on all their professionalism to remain neutral - but it isn't easy and Rita ends up making a crucial error when she allows Susie to talk to Olive which then escalates, later resulting in a confrontation at when she demands Olive to tell Susie where her daughter is at knife-point in the resus area in her attempted revenge. Meanwhile, Connie asks for Cal's resignation following the inspection report but, after words from Charlie, tells Cal that he still has a place in the department. Connie also suggests Dylan should apply for the consultant's vacancy. Robyn gives Lofty an anonymous card and Ethan and Honey share a goodbye kiss before she leaves to look after her injured grandmother.

Note: Last appearance of Honey Wright (Chelsee Healey).
93622"Sweet Little Lies"Julie EdwardsLucia Haynes21 February 20155.53
A social worker returns to work after she claims that she has had and beaten cancer, only to suffer stomach cramps. Despite the woman's reluctance, her boss insists on taking her to the ED, where Dylan and Lofty get a surprise when they dig out the patient's notes and confront her over it. Connie tries to convince a teenage girl with Tourette's syndrome that she needs help as she keeps saying that she is coping. An elderly patient comes into the ED complaining of fatigue and breathlessness. But when she introduces her 'psychic dog', which can apparently sense illness, Lily has no patience for the woman until she realises that the woman has multiple tick bites on her back with some of the ticks still attached.
93723"Something to Live For"Julie EdwardsStephen McAteer28 February 20155.66
Dixie convinces former drug addict Dave not to give up on himself, or his relationship with his father and son after an accident involving his caravan exposes drugs in a cupboard. Connie finds a friend in Alfred, a patient suffering from motor neurone disease who used to be a surgeon, and discovers he is finding life unbearable in a care home. Zoe and Max continue their secret fling, but the porter decides he wants everything out in the open and gives Zoe till the end of the shift to come up with a reason to stay private.
93824"Excess Baggage"Rebecca GatwardEmma Goodwin7 March 20155.92
Lily faints while on a shift, treating a man with an arrow stuck in his rear. Later, when Dylan offers to give Lily a taxi she denies the offer and decides to rides her moped home instead. Overtired, she falls asleep while driving. Meanwhile Amy Hills, an air hostess, is knocked unconscious by falling hand luggage on a plane. Amy's husband resorts to drug taking and collapses, sweaty, in the emergency department. Connie is furious at Rita after a meeting between the two results in Connie missing her farewell to Alfred.
93925"Toxic Relationships"Rebecca GatwardAnita Pandolfo & Mark Stevenson14 March 20155.81
Due to having worked excessive hours, Lily falls asleep on her moped while driving home. In a blur, she crashes into a schoolgirl. When she is later interrogated by the schoolgirl's father she admits she was overtired, so the father angrily blames Connie and Lily. However, Lily is in the clear, as the schoolgirl later admits that she deliberately stepped out in front of Lily's moped to stop her father from going on a business trip abroad. Rita decides that enough is enough and tells the nurses to work to rule by doing only what is in their job descriptions instead of letting senior staff make them do porter's work and suchlike. A mother and baby are admitted, and when amphetamines are found in their blood the staff become concerned, but it is later found that a man was making methamphetamine in the flat below and letting drug vapour rise upstairs. He is later admitted to the hospital after his meth lab explodes.
94026"The Road Not Taken"Ian BarnesBarbara Machin28 March 20155.68

Three alternate timelines for the same day:
1) Zoe's day starts with a video call from Maggie. Zoe is then torn between treating a six-year-old girl who was run over by her father or a pregnant woman fearing her baby is coming. She prioritises the six-year-old girl; but she dies. Then, on the way home the pregnant woman suffers contractions, causing her ex-boyfriend to be distracted resulting in a car crash. When they return to the hospital, Zoe must choose whether to perform a caesarian or REBOA - she picks the REBOA, however both the mother and baby die. However Zoe then wonders what the outcome would be if she retook her day.
2) Zoe retakes her day, this time prioritising the pregnant woman. The six-year-old girl dies. On the way home the pregnant woman is again involved in a car crash and is admitted again; however this time she performs a caesarian. The baby survives but the mother dies.
3) Zoe then gets up half an hour earlier: this time everything goes right - the six-year-old survives, and so does the mother and baby.

Note: Guest appearance from Maggie Coldwell (Susan Cookson).
94127"Something Borrowed, Something Blue"Jo JohnsonPaul Matthew Thompson4 April 20155.60
Connie continues to help her friend Alfred, who has motor neurone disease, and gives him special treatment. But as his condition deteriorates, she is placed in a quandary when he asks her to help him die. A former heroin addict lies about his past to protect his future wife, little realising the danger he is putting himself in, while a young woman is brought in after deliberately crashing her car to claim on the insurance. Ethan discovers that Cal stole his money, Taylor disappears and Iain applies for a new job.
94228"Under Pressure"Jo JohnsonKate Verghese11 April 20155.09
Connie goes to see Alfred in his care home, but she struggles to accept the severity of the situation he is in. When his carer reveals a new method of communication Connie gives it a go - but is horrified when Alfred asks her to help him die still. A schoolboy vengefully replaces a safe substance with a reactant in a Science experiment, and when his bully takes lead in the practical things go horribly wrong when the beaker explodes and shards of glass impale the teacher. It's Iain's last day as Paramedic, before he begins his new occupation as a Rapid Respondent. Connie steals benzodiazepines from the medical cabinet, what is she doing?
94329"The King's Crossing"Seán GleesonAndy Bayliss18 April 20154.21 (overnight)
Connie is utterly distraught as her friend, Alfred finally dies peacefully in the ED. However her suspicious demanding attitude towards her staff concerns Rita greatly, particularly when she is reluctant to give him any medication and claims Alfred has a DNR, but cannot find it in his notes. Rita sneakily phones and asks for a basic toxicology screening on Alfred's body. When the results come through it appears that Alfred had traces of benzodiazepines in his body - did Connie euthanise her friend? A construction worker loses control of his digger and knocks his daughter into a hole before covering her in bricks. He then smashes part of the ED wall with the digger hand. It appears he is suffering a serious head injury and needs surgery immediately. Cal is stunned when he finds Taylor with a knife in her leg in a public toilet. He treats her there and then with Ethan, but when Taylor runs off again Cal is livid. Connie is arrested on suspicion of murder, with Rita calling them on her...
94430"The Rita Supremacy"Seán GleesonJeff Povey25 April 20154.38 (overnight)
Connie is forced to fight her corner as she is interrogated over the murder of Alfred Maxwell. However, when Connie realises she only gave Alfred two benzodiazepines she demands the police search her office and drawer for the evidence which may just set her free. But then, just minutes before the police arrive at her office Rita sees the medication, and hides the evidence, resulting in Connie being charged over his murder. Robyn and Ethan treat a young school couple after they are saved from a house fire. Robyn soon becomes suspicious that the fire was the result of arson. Her suspicions are later confirmed as the young girl's mother admits to starting the potentially deadly fire. Lofty treats a woman with an infected tattoo, but when Robyn discovers the pair sharing a kiss she makes her feelings crystal clear towards the later dejected nurse.
94531"The Department of Secrets"Simon MasseyPaul Matthew Thompson2 May 2015
94632"Cruel Harvest"16 May 2015

Notes

  1. ↑ "Episode No." refers to the episode's number in the overall series, whereas "Series No." refers to the episode's number in this particular series.

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dowell, Ben (2 July 2014). "Introducing Holby Noir: Casualty to air three stylish standalone episodes". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/s18/casualty/news/a628690/former-eastenders-actor-chucky-venn-joins-casualty-as-new-nurse.html
  3. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s18/casualty/news/a642389/casualty-to-air-dramatic-episode-as-charlie-and-connie-head-to-romania.html
  4. ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-04-17/casualty-charlie-and-connie-go-to-romania-for-an-action-adventure-episode
  5. ↑ "Top 30 Programmes". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved 8 February 2014. (User must select "BBC1" in the Channel field and then select the appropriate year, month and week to retrieve the figure for each episode)