News

Rob Leane Apr 5, 2017

Former Doctor Who star Paul McGann will play "a surgical star" in BBC medical drama Holby City...

Paul McGann is best known among geeks as the eighth man to play the lead role in Doctor Who, but now he's set to attempt a different sort of doctoring: he's nabbed a role as a surgeon in the BBC's medical mainstay Holby City.

Mr McGann will play Professor John Gaskell, who's described in CultBox's report as "a surgical star with irrepressible charm" who will act as "the saviour of the hour when Holby struggles under a crisis, armed with a programme of surgical innovations – taking the hospital into an exciting but unknown future."

The prospect of McGann sharing scenes with long-time Holby star Guy Henry is particularly exciting for sci-fi fans. The Doctor and Grand Moff Tarkin (well, his pre-cgi on-set form in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) exchanging dialogue?...

Announced late last week... Over the next year, 12 drama directors will be mentored on one of the BBC’s 4 flagship continuing dramas ("EastEnders," "Holby," "Doctors" and "Casualty"), where they will receive a full credit on one episode of their assigned program. The shows will all aim to hire directors within nine months for a full directorial commission if the director has shown that they can meet the standards required. Oliver Kent, Executive Producer of Holby and Casualty, says: “This scheme will be a vital stepping stone which will bring some exciting new directing talent to our shows. We can’t wait to welcome them on board.” It is the...

Helen Flanagan has landed a role in 'Holby City'. The former 'Coronation Street' actress will play a lazy agency nurse named Kirsty in an episode of the BBC medical drama airing in July and she is thrilled to have landed the part. She said: ''I'm really pleased to be working in a show I really enjoy.'' Oliver Kent, 'Holby City's executive producer, added: ''We're delighted to have Helen on the show. She's going to ruffle some feathers. ''So it's definitely an episode to watch.'' The 23-year-old beauty recently admitted she struggles to be taken seriously as an actress following her stint on 'I'm A Celebrity...

Casualty actor Daniel Anthony will depart the soap in February, the show's executive producer has confirmed.

Daniel Anthony, who plays student nurse Jamie Collier, will exit in what executive producer Oliver Kent describes as a "sweet romantic story".

"Ramin, the gay Iranian asylum seeker who we saw earlier in the series, will return," Kent told Radio Times.

"There was a rather nice chemistry between the two of them and when we found out that Danny wanted to go, we thought we'd bring Ramin back. It's a rather nice story."

Daniel Anthony was tipped to leave the show after being left out of the latest cast photo.

Kent said that Anthony's decision to exit the soap inspired the team to introduce Lee Mead as Lofty.

Describing Lofty as "the most adorable character", Kent believes that he will prove as popular as Abs.

"Lee is probably the nicest guy in showbusiness; he...

Holby City star Tina Hobley has revealed that she would like a role in Downton Abbey.

The actress explained that she is hoping to land some "gritty" roles after playing Chrissie Williams for over a decade.

She told The Telegraph that she would like to play a killer in Broadchurch or "a lady of the night" in Downton Abbey.

"I want to get as far away from Chrissie as I can," she said. "So I am looking for gritty dramas."

Hobley added that she has turned down a couple of dramas for fear of being typecast.

"They were too similar to what I have been doing. I am not going to take something just because it's a job. I am going to wait for the right thing."

It was announced in June that Tina Hobley would be bowing out of Holby City, after 12 years in the role.

Producer Oliver Kent...

Honor Blackman is to make a guest appearance in the new series of Casualty this weekend.

Blackman, who starred as Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger, plays a pensioner called Agatha in the BBC One show.

Agatha ends up in hospital after being hit by a bicycle and reveals to the hospital staff that she has a past which includes driving ambulances in African warzones. She will also make an impression on paramedic Dixie.

Casualty executive producer Oliver Kent said: "We've had a long history of famous guest appearances but never a Bond girl.

"Honor plays a fantastically witty and charming character on a mission."

The new series also sees the arrival of two new characters - a trainee doctor called Lily Chao, played by Crystal Yu, and a nurse called Rita Freeman, played by Chloe Howman.

The new series of Casualty airs Saturday, August 3 at 9.10pm on BBC One.

Oliver Kent has been announced as the new executive producer of Casualty and Holby City.

BBC Drama Production announced that Kent will be taking over from Johnathan Young, following reports that the BBC was searching for a replacement earlier this month.

Kent has worked for BBC Drama for 17 years, and became Casualty's series producer in 2007. He is also currently the senior producer for Holby City.

His new role will see him reporting to Clare Hudson, Head of BBC Wales Productions, and Kate Harwood, Head of BBC Drama Production England.

Kent said of his appointment: "I am truly delighted to be taking up the position of Executive Producer on Casualty and Holby City.

"Over many years I have grown to love both programmes equally and am really excited at the prospect of working with the brilliant teams in Elstree and Roath Lock. I am inheriting two shows in great shape...

Casualty's series producer Oliver Kent recently had a chat with Digital Spy about future plans for the BBC's flagship medical drama. For gossip on new characters, the show's 25th anniversary and more, make sure to head over to the main interview. Here, though, Soap Scoop presents some exclusive character teasers from Oliver... We've just seen the character of Linda Andrews return to our screens as a new regular. Are there any big plans on the horizon for her?

"Yes, Linda has a massive story leading into the new series, where she will find herself getting involved up to her neck in a very dark situation involving a couple of characters. One of those characters is played by Tina O'Brien and the other is played by Naomi Bentley. Linda's desire to help out and do the right thing, albeit in Linda's inimitable and slightly rebellious (more)...

Gemma Atkinson has joined the cast of 'Casualty'. The former 'Hollyoaks' actress will take on the role of glamorous paramedic Tamzin, who generates plenty of attention from the male staff in Accident and Emergency, in a bid to spice up the long-running medical drama. 'Sex and the City 2' star Dhafer L'Abidine has also joined the show as competitive ambulance worker Omar. Producer Oliver Kent said: "Tamzin is going to bring a touch of glamour to the paramedic team and set some hearts racing in the emergency department while Omar's melting roadside manner is going to raise the temperature of Holby's female...

Gemma Atkinson has joined the cast of 'Casualty'. The former 'Hollyoaks' actress will take on the role of glamorous paramedic Tamzin, who generates plenty of attention from the male staff in Accident and Emergency, in a bid to spice up the long-running medical drama. 'Sex and the City 2' star Dhafer L'Abidine has also joined the show as competitive ambulance worker Omar. Producer Oliver Kent said: "Tamzin is going to bring a touch of glamour to the paramedic team and set some hearts racing in the emergency department while Omar's melting roadside manner is going to raise the temperature of Holby's female...

BBC medical drama Casualty has been filming on-location in Peterborough for a "spectacular" stunt scene, reports have revealed. Film crews for the programme have been shooting at the Nene Valley Railway over the past few days, although exact details of the storyline in question are currently being kept under wraps. Speaking to Peterborough's Evening Telegraph newspaper, series producer Oliver Kent commented: "It was a shoot involving a couple of teenagers and a train - and it being Casualty, (more)...

Ex-EastEnders actor Stephen Lord has joined the cast of Casualty, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. Lord - who played teen Jay Brown's father Jase Dyer for a year until he was killed off in 2008 - takes on the role of Kirsty Clements's (Lucy Gaskell) husband Warren. A dark and brooding character, Warren's arrival leads to viewers discovering a little more about Kirsty and her family. Series producer Oliver Kent told Digital Spy: "We're really excited that Stephen Lord is joining Casualty as Kirsty's husband. He's a really good actor with a great range and we're (more)...

Casualty boss Oliver Kent has revealed that fans can expect to see more Holby City crossovers in the show's next series. Speaking in an interview with Digital Spy, the medical drama's series producer confirmed that Holby regular Donna Jackson (Jaye Jacobs) will make an appearance in the first episode of season 25, due to air in September. Kent explained: "Donna will be coming down! We like to do Holby crossovers from time to time and the idea is that from now on, we'll have two or three a year. "It's great when there's a major event in Casualty to see other characters come down. Mark Catley, (more)...

Casualty's series producer Oliver Kent has revealed that an emotional and powerful storyline is in store for returnee Megan Roach. Megan, played by Irish actress Brenda Fricker, was one of the BBC medical drama's original characters, working as a nurse in Holby between 1986 and 1990. Viewers will see her make a surprise return to the hospital as a patient later this year. Speaking to Digital Spy about the comeback plot, Kent teased: "Megan arrives suddenly in an episode where she's admitted suffering from side-effects of cancer treatment. "Charlie realises that she's very, very ill and the knowledge that his best friend is terminally ill is very difficult (more)...

Former EastEnders star Michelle Collins is to film a multi-episode guest stint for BBC One's flagship medical drama Casualty, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. The 49-year-old - who played superbitch Cindy Beale in the Walford soap between 1988 and 1998 - takes on the role of Camille, mother to a young girl injured at the beginning of the new series. Collins goes on to make weekly guest appearances until episode six. Speaking to Digital Spy of the casting, series producer Oliver Kent said: "We're really, really excited to be working with Michelle Collins. It's obviously a number of years since she last worked with Michael French and their first scene together, which (more)...

BBC medical dramas Casualty and Holby City are to air a trio of crossover episodes in the New Year, Digital Spy can exclusively reveal. Lead Casualty writer Mark Catley will pen two episodes of the series, sandwiching a single instalment of its sister show for a storyline which sees a regular Casualty character being rushed for treatment on the wards of Holby City. Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Casualty's series producer Oliver Kent said: "It's a very exciting one. I can't say too much at the moment, except to say that one of our most important characters will find themselves being treated in Holby City and another of our regulars will go along with them. "The plan is that in the Casualty episode, which will transmit in February, the leading character concerned will be injured and their life (more)...

TV legend Andrew Sachs is to make a guest appearance in a special festive episode of Casualty next month. The 78-year-old, who starred as Manuel in the 12 episodes of Fawlty Towers, will appear in the two-parter as a priest called Father Morgan, alongside ex-EastEnders actor Joe Absolom, who plays loan shark Benny. With the intention of moving to the States to start afresh, Benny arranges to collect his final lot of debts from Father Morgan and a poverty-stricken family. Benny suddenly has a change of heart, however, when he turns to the priest for help, which also leads to help with a crazy scheme which leaves them both in a compromising situation. Series producer Oliver Kent said: "Andrew Sachs is a living legend. When Andrew was (more)...