Casualty series 16


The sixteenth series of the British medical drama television series Casualty commenced airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 15 September 2001 and finished on 29 June 2002.

Production

Mervyn Watson, who had previously worked on Coronation Street and Emmerdale took over from Rachel Wright as producer for this series.
The episode count increased this series, this time to 40 episodes. The Controller of Continuing Drama Series, Mal Young, commented the decision to increase the show's airtime was in response to viewer feedback. "We were receiving complaints when it was off air, so we've decided to give viewers more of what they want." The departure of several characters from the end of the previous series seemed bold but paved the way for new faces. Young stated "We've done everything possible with those characters and I wanted to move on." Watson added "We've said goodbye to five or six people and said hello to an equal number." The aim was to increase the pace of the series by creating more dynamic character storylines to avoid it from becoming repetitive.
The opening episode "Holding the Baby", features an ambulance crashing into a car before dangling perilously over a railway line. The scenes were shot at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough over several days in late March 2001.
On 30 March 2002, "Hearts and Minds" had to be shown on BBC Two, due to some schedule changes on BBC One resulting from the death of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother earlier that day.

Cast

Overview

The sixteenth series of Casualty features a cast of characters working in the emergency department of Holby City Hospital and Holby Ambulance Service. Eleven cast members from the previous series reprise their roles in this series.
Robert Gwilym stars as emergency medicine consultant and clinical director Max Gallagher and Ian Kelsey as specialist registrar in emergency medicine Patrick Spiller. Derek Thompson continues his role as charge nurse Charlie Fairhead, Cathy Shipton as Lisa "Duffy" Duffin, as sister and Adjoa Andoh as senior staff nurse Colette Kierney. Jan Anderson and Zita Sattar continue as staff nurses Chloe Hill and Anna Paul.
Ian Bleasdale and Kwame Kwei-Armah continue their role as paramedics Josh Griffiths and Finlay Newton. Will Mellor stars as receptionist Jack Vincent and Ben Keaton continues as porter Spencer.
Dan Rymer joins the team in episode 1 as staff nurse Dillon Cahill, alongside Kelly Harrison as ambulance technician Nikki Marshall and Martina Laird as paramedic Comfort Jones. Christine Stephen-Daly and Judy Loe arrive in episode 3 as senior house officer Lara Stone and chief executive Jan Goddard. Lee Warburton joins in episode 11 as receptionist Jack's brother, security guard Tony Vincent.
Anderson departs in episode 20, whilst Kelsey leaves the series in episode 28 after his character Patrick dies due to a head injury. He is replaced by Christopher Colquhoun arriving in episode 29 as specialist registrar Simon Kaminski. Louise Brealey joins the cast in episode 32 as student nurse Roxanne Bird. Gwilym departed in episode 36 with accomplished actor Simon MacCorkindale arriving as emergency medicine consultant and clinical director Harry Harper in episode 37. Gwilym states his decision to leave the series was a "mutual one" adding "After four years in Casualty it felt like it had been enough…". Keaton departs at the end of the series.
The series features several recurring characters. Janet Dibley stars as Amanda Lewis, Max Gallagher's girlfriend, Chad Shepherd as Rob Jones, Comfort's husband and Henry Ian Cusick as Jason, Chloe's troublesome boyfriend. Amy Robbins appears as police officer Rachel James who becomes romantically involved with Patrick whilst Emily Dormer stars as receptionist Gilly, Spencer's irksome daughter. Bob Mason appears as paramedic officer Jeff McGuire.

Main characters

Recurring characters

Guest characters

Episodes