The BBC One medical drama Casualty has returned to television for a special one-week celebration of its 40th anniversary, but will now go on a break until next year. The anniversary episodes, which aired in a double-bill, were praised by fans for delivering intense and dramatic moments, including a city explosion and an ambulance plunging from a cliff into a quarry. Returning cast members like Charlie Fairhead and Ethan Hardy made appearances, and Dylan Keogh faced a heartbreaking storyline with the death of his ex-partner, Sophia Peters, who was killed in the explosion. Casualty is not airing tonight because it returned to screens for only a week to mark its 40th anniversary. As is typical each autumn, the show will now take a hiatus during the run of Strictly Come Dancing. It is expected to return to television next year with a brand new series. During the end credits of the anniversary episodes, the BBC One announcer confirmed the show's return, saying, "The best is yet to come." Olly Rix, who plays Flynn in Casualty, hinted at a significant storyline for Flynn and Stevie in the upcoming season. He noted that the dynamic between the two characters is often humorous because they are the last to realize the depth of their relationship. The 40th anniversary episodes marked the end of one chapter for the show, with the tagline "Life begins at 40" suggesting a fresh and exciting new era for the long-running medical drama. Casualty will return to BBC One next year. The 40th anniversary episodes, along with all episodes from 2023 to 2025, are now available to stream on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. This means fans can revisit the show's most recent storylines and enjoy the anniversary episodes at their convenience.