Why is Casualty not on? Is the medical drama cancelled?

Casualty consultant Dylan Keogh on the phone while looking shocked with an equally shocked Stevie Nash beside him.

Casualty is cancelled - but it won't be long until the drama is dialled back up. Tell everyone! (Image credit: BBC Studios)

There’s a Casualty-shaped hole in the schedules this week, as BBC1’s long running medical series is missing from its usual Saturday night time slot on May 11, 2024.

But worry not. It’s only temporary and nothing sinister (such as the rumoured cancelling of Casualty) is afoot! The drama is taking a planned break from our screens, due to live coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.

The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final 2024 airs on BBC1 from 8:00 pm until 11:55 pm, and Olly Alexander is flying the flag for the UK with his song Dizzy.

Graham Norton provides the commentary live from Malmö, Sweden as 26 acts perform in a bid to be crowned the new Eurovision champion.

As for Casualty, the beloved drama is due to return to BBC1 on Saturday, May 18 2024 with a strong ensemble episode that packs a punch.

A merges shot of a topless Olly Alexander in the background and Graham Norton in a bright pink suit with black shirt in the foreground. — The Eurovision is coming... Who will be crowned champion? (Image credit: BBC)

In the previous episode The Longest Shift (now available to watch on BBC iPlayer) paramedic Teddy Gowan (Milo Clarke) was left broken after being confronted with viral video footage of his horrendous sexual assault.

Consultants Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) and Dylan Keogh (William Beck) attempted to expose Patrick Onley (Jamie Glover) as a danger to patients, only to be rumbled by the vengeful clinical lead.

Elsewhere, Jacob Masters (Charles Venn) made a call to his son Blake, begging him to get in touch and return to baby Carter’s life, Patrick upped his campaign to reveal the identity of the whistleblower, and Rash Masum spotted the clinical lead acting dangerously in resus...

Patrick smiles in a sinister way. — Sinister Patrick Onley plans to intensify his campaign against Dylan Keogh AND expose the whistleblower - by any means at his disposal... (Image credit: BBC Studios)

Casualty — next episode spoilers

These storylines and many more will be picked up when Casualty returns on Saturday, May 18, 2024 on BBC1 at 8.35pm. The title for this episode has been confirmed as Shame the Devil and it is episode nine in the Breaking Point 12-parter.

Early spoilers reveal that there are question marks over whether doctor Rash Masum can get through an all important assessment day, as all eyes are on him. Nurse Faith Cadogan is thrown as a familiar face is admitted to Holby ED — will they turn out to be friend or foe? And nurse Ngozi Okoye strays into unknown territory when it comes to junior doctor Nicole Piper's surrogacy — could this be the end of their budding friendship?

Full spoilers coming soon. Check back for updates.

Casualty favourite Rash Masum montage showing the character experiencing different difficult emotions. — Casualty favourite Rash Masum is under the spotlight in Breaking Point. (Image credit: BBC/ALISTAIR HEAP/MATT BURLEM)

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Every episode of Casualty in 2024 – with spoilers!

With twenty years of experience as an entertainment journalist, Elaine writes for What’s on TV, TV Times, TV & Satellite Week and www.whattowatch.com covering a variety of programs from gardening and wildlife to documentaries and drama.

As well as active involvement in the WTW family’s social media accounts, she has been known to get chatty on the red carpet and wander into the odd podcast.

After a day of previewing TV, writing about TV and interviewing TV stars, Elaine likes nothing than to relax… by watching TV.