Casualty episodes are returning with a pretty big change ahead.

The world’s longest-running medical drama has been running since 1986, with the latest series beginning last month.

This time round, the series will only be 36 episodes long, with this change continuing into the future.

Just like EastEnders has done all year, Casualty will also be shown early at 6am on BBC iPlayer — starting on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

A small trailer was recently released, teasing fans with what’s ahead when it eventually returns to BBC One.

It is only a few seconds long but features more trouble for the likes of Iain (Michael Stevenson) and Stevie (Elinor Lawless), as well as a first look at Zoe Hanna’s (Sunetra Sarker) return to the ED.

Sunetra will be reprising her role as Zoe as part of Charlie Fairhead’s (Derek Thompson) final storyline.

Charlie has been a part of the cast since the very beginning, but will leave Holby ED next year.

Discussing the exit, Executive Producer, Jon Sen, said: ‘Derek and I would often joke that, after such a long and dramatic career in the NHS, there was almost nothing that Charlie hadn’t seen.

‘So it was an amazing surprise to me when Derek arrived with a brilliant idea for Charlie’s exit as part of an upcoming storyline, which was too good to pass up. We will all miss Derek enormously.

‘Over nearly four decades, Derek has crafted an iconic character who is woven into the fabric of British TV history.

‘We will miss his craft, his humour and his on-screen presence. We’re also going to miss a friend, so for the next few months we’re going to have a ball filming Charlie’s final chapter.’

Casualty has been a staple of Saturday night TV programming in the UK since its launch in 1986 and remains an integral part of the BBC weekend line up, which also includes juggernauts such as Strictly Come Dancing and The Wheel.

The show is currently on an extended hiatus, though it’s safe to say that fans are desperate for its return.