After nearly four decades of dramatic trauma, heartbreak, and heroism, the BBC has confirmed a seismic shift in the world of Casualty: the show’s iconic fictional setting of Holby City Hospital will be replaced by a brand-new Welsh-based hospital as the show repositions itself both on- and off-screen.

This bold new era will officially begin in late 2026, with a new production contract spanning at least three seasons of 24 episodes each. However, loyal fans can breathe a sigh of relief: key characters are expected to transition into the new setting, preserving the continuity viewers know and love.

📍 Why the Change — and What It Means

According to an official BBC production document, Casualty’s next creative team will be required to “include authentic representation of Wales and reflect the reality of the Welsh NHS.” The move will introduce a new fictional hospital based in Wales, aligning with Casualty’s real-world filming base at Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff, where the show has been produced since 2011.

“This is not about radical change of the show,” the BBC clarified, “although the move to Welsh portrayal will mean a new fictional hospital… [producers] will need to address this core change in their editorial pitch.”

📽️ New Producers, New Vision

In a significant shift, Casualty is being opened to external production companies who can pitch their creative take on the show. The BBC will select a new producer this November, with new episodes airing under their direction from late 2026 to autumn 2029, with a possible two-year extension beyond that.

Current producer BBC Studios is still in the running, but is not guaranteed to retain control — a decision echoing Holby City‘s 2017 re-pitch (though it ultimately remained in-house until its cancellation in 2022).

🌍 What Fans Can Expect

✅ Familiar Faces
The BBC stresses that existing characters will move to the new setting — likely explained via on-screen promotion, transfers, or restructuring of the ED.

🌄 Welsh Identity Front and Centre
New episodes will incorporate Welsh language, culture, NHS frameworks, and local geography into storylines, marking a stronger commitment to regional representation.

🆕 Fresh Blood
A new hospital means new departments, staff, and stories. Expect original characters to join the ensemble, creating friction, friendships, and a new dynamic for fans to invest in.

📚 Continuity Respected
The BBC insists this is not a reboot, but a continuation — with the same tone, heart, and emergency grit Casualty is famous for.

📺 When Will the Change Happen?

• 🏁 Tender process ends late 2024

• 🧾 New producer announced November 2024

• 🎬 First Welsh-set episodes air in late 2026

• 📆 Three-season run confirmed (until 2029), with a possible 2-year extension

🎭 A New Chapter for the Longest-Running Medical Drama

Casualty, which premiered in 1986, is the world’s longest-running medical drama — and this change marks one of its most ambitious transitions ever. While fans will surely miss Holby’s corridors and familiar signage, this move presents an unprecedented opportunity to refresh and deepen the series in a new cultural context.

🗣️ Fan Reactions So Far

“If they keep Dylan, Rida and Iain — I’ll follow them to Wales, Mars, anywhere.” – @EDForever
“Honestly, the Welsh NHS deserves the spotlight. This could be brilliant.” – @CasualtyPulse
“Please no off-screen exits for faves like Faith or Jan. Write them into the move!” – @HolbyHearted

Casualty is set to make a major location change as BBC plans are revealed.

The medical drama, which has been running for 39 years, is set in the fictional city of Holby in the fictional county of Wyvern, which is based on its former filming location of Bristol.

Since 2011, Casualty has been filmed at the BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff and that will remain the same going forward.

As was previously announced, the BBC is opening the show up for production companies to apply for the chance to create the show for BBC One for three seasons of 24 episodes each.

In an official BBC document for potential producers, it has been revealed that whoever takes over the show will need to move the in-universe setting to Wales, in a new fictional Welsh hospital.

“We are asking tenderers to include authentic representation of Wales and reflect the reality of the Welsh NHS,” the document reads.

“This is not about radical change of the show, although the move to Welsh portrayal will mean a new fictional hospital based in Wales, and tenderers will need to address this core change in their editorial pitch to the evaluation panel.

“The successful tenderer will need to be able to demonstrate how to incorporate Welsh portrayal and maintain familiarity at the same time.”

The BBC say that this is an opportunity to introduce new characters and continue to reflect a diverse modern Britain, but also fully expects existing characters to make the move to this new hospital.

The plan is to announce the show’s new producer in November, and that episodes produced under this new contract will air between late 2026 and autumn 2029, with the possibility of a two-year extension.

Casualty’s sister show Holby City was involved in a similar pitching process back in 2017, although BBC Studios ended up continuing to produce the show until its end in 2022. The document notes that BBC Studios is also bidding to remain as Casualty producer.

This won’t be the first time a long-running BBC soap has changed its in-universe location, as Waterloo Road moved from Manchester to Scotland for the final three seasons of its original run, with teachers and students moving country to maintain continuity.