Casualty@Holby City

Infobox Television
show_name = Casualty@Holby City
format = Medical drama


caption = Still from the opening titles of "Casualty@Holby City"
network = BBC One
creator = Mervyn Watson
Tony McHale
senior_cast_members =
first_aired = 26 December 2004
last_aired =
runtime =
official_website =
num_episodes = 9 (as of 27 December 2005)
list_episodes = #Episode listing
related = "Casualty"
"Holby City"
country = flagicon|UK United Kingdom
website =
imdb_id = 0485556

Casualty@Holby City is the name given to special crossover episodes of BBC medical dramas "Casualty" and "Holby City". While "Casualty" was launched on 6 September 1986, and its spin-off "Holby City" first aired on 12 January 1999, the first full crossover episode between the two programmes was not broadcast until 24 December 2004. There have been four crossover specials under the title of "Casualty@Holby City" to date, comprising nine episodes total. The last crossover episode aired 27 December 2005, and there are currently no immediate plans to produce another.

Production

Origins

From the launch of "Holby City", various characters from both shows have made occasional crossover appearances in the other. "Casualty" characters Chloe Hill and "Sunny" Sunderland appeared regularly throughout the first series of "Holby City", while the first continuing crossover storyline saw a homosexual romance develop between "Casualty's" Nurse Tony Vincent and "Holby City"'s midwife Ben Saunders. These minor crossovers were limited, however, by the two shows' differing production schedules and locations. Although both set in the same fictional city of Holby, "Casualty" is filmed in Bristol, while "Holby City" is filmed in the BBC's Elstree studios in London. As a result of this, scheduling characters from one show to appear on the other has proved problematic - in one instance resulting in paramedic Luke Warren making a guest appearance in "Holby City" despite having been seen to be suspended from duty in the episode of "Casualty" screened the week previously.Mervyn Watson, Executive Producer of "Casualty", has commented on the origins of the idea to fully cross the two sister shows over for the first time: "I think the idea came from somebody in the comedy department, who casually said to the Controller of Drama "Wouldn't it be a good idea if...." The Controller did think it was a good idea, spoke to myself and Holby's Executive Producer, got it commissioned by the Head of BBC ONE and the rest is history."cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/christmas2004/interview/|title=Crossover Interview|publisher=BBC|date=December 2004|accessdate=2007-09-14]

Development

For the first, Christmas 2004 crossover, the episodes producer and director were both selected from the "Holby City" crew, with the first episode of the two-part special broadcast in the usual "Casualty" slot, and the second was broadcast in the week's "Holby City" slot. Crossing the two shows over for the first time presented a number of scheduling problems - largely resulting from the fact the "Casualty" and "Holby City" cast regularly work 120 miles apart, in Bristol and Elstree. Watson has commented::"At the heart of it was the problem of two large shows which work continuously 52 weeks of the year, being interrupted and brought to a halt for a short period (two weeks). This released a number of characters to appear in the special, but then we had to restart the two shows, sometimes using those characters when available, but mainly using the other characters who weren't in the special. The schedulers from both shows had a nightmare time, but kept smiling as ever and deserve medals for making it all possible."The second, Interactive crossover was commissioned as part of the BBC's DoNation season. Week beginning 22 August 2007 saw the BBC launch a week long organ donation campaign, in order to "raise awareness, explain the facts, dispel myths and encourage people to make an informed decision about whether to add their name to the Register."cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/04_april/28/donation.shtml|title=Major BBC organ donation season launches in August|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=28 April 2005|accessdate=2007-09-24] The Interactive "Casualty@Holby City" special was one of the headlining shows of the season, putting viewers in the place of doctors in order to decide the recipient of a fictional heart transplant. Despite being billed as a "Casualty@Holby City" crossover, the episode was written, directed and produced by "Casualty" crew members, and shot on location at the "Casualty" studios in Bristol. Only two "Holby City" characters actually appeared in the episode - Matron Lisa Fox and Critical Care Consultant Lola Griffin. The episode was also broadcast in the usual "Casualty" time slot, on a Saturday evening.

The first two episodes of the Halloween crossover were produced by the "Casualty" team, on its Bristol set, while the second two episodes were produced by the "Holby City" team, in Elstree, London. In fact, no actual crossover of characters from the two shows occurs in the first two episodes, which feature solely regular "Casualty" cast, and guests.cite news|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0537114/|title="Casualty @ Holby City" Teacher's Pet (2005)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2007-09-23] cite news|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0537113/|title="Casualty @ Holby City" Crash and Burn (2005)|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2007-09-23] In reporting the announcement of the Halloween crossover, both The Stage and The Guardian commented on the BBCs attempt at reviving its reputation of commissioning top quality dramas::"The two hit shows joined together last month for a joint venture to promote organ donation with the DoNation season. The joint episode will air in the week beginning 24 October, the same week the Corporation launches its adaptation of Dickens’ classic Bleak House starring Gillian Anderson and Charles Dance. EastEnders is also set to receive a boost with the Mitchell brothers returning to screens.:BBC1 controller Peter Fincham said: “We have got three very different dramas playing this week that emphasise the breadth and depth of what we have to offer. Changing the scheduling of established favourites and the format for presenting period drama is exactly what I want BBC1 to be doing, challenging our audiences with top quality programming.”cite news|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/news/newsstory.php/9693|title=Holby’s hospital dramas to unite against violence|publisher=The Stage|date=16 September 2005|accessdate=2007-09-10] cite news|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,1571141,00.html|title=Casualty and Holby reunited for youth violence special|publisher=The Guardian|date=16 September 2005|accessdate=2007-09-10]

On the decision to produce a second Christmas crossover, "Casualty's" Executive Producer Mervyn Watson has commented that: "the last one was so successful that the Channel Controller ordered another!"cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/christmas2005/interview/|title=Crossover Interview|publisher=BBC|date=December 2005|accessdate=2007-09-14] As with the 2004 Christmas crossover, the cast of both "Casualty" and "Holby City" were involved in both parts of this special, however for the first time in producing a "Casualty@Holby City" crossover, the episodes were not divided up between the "Casualty" and "Holby City" teams as had always been standard in the past - with the first half of the special produced by regular "Casualty" staff and the second by "Holby City". Instead, Diane Kyle was appointed to produce the entire episode, with Paul Harrison brought in to direct both parts for greater continuity.

Filming

The majority of the first, Christmas 2004, crossover was filmed at "Casualty"'s Emergency Department in Bristol, over the course of six weeks. Additional filming occurred at the "Holby City" set in Elstree, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children, a Barratts office block in Brentford and an ex-MOD tank testing site in Chobham.cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/christmas2004/interview/|title=Crossover Interview|publisher=BBC|date=December 2004|accessdate=2007-09-14] The following three crossovers were divided between the sets of both "Casualty" in Bristol and "Holby City" in Elstree. The Interactive special was filmed exclusively on the "Casualty" set, and large proportion of the Christmas 2005 crossover episodes were also filmed in a road tunnel in Caernarvon, Wales.Citation
last=
first=
author-link=
publication-date=23 December 2005
date=
year=
title= TV drama in North Wales tunnel
periodical=The Daily Post
publication-place=Liverpool, England
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] Mervyn Watson commented: :"It was the only one that we could hire for two weeks without causing huge traffic jams. The whole shoot was five weeks long. Staging stunts like car accidents is difficult and stressful at the best of times, but doing all that in a tunnel doubled it. The great advantage was that there was no problem with the weather, it was a totally controlled environment with excellent parking facilities for the unit, and a warm welcome from the locals, which is always nice."cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/christmas2005/interview/|title=Crossover Interview|publisher=BBC|date=December 2005|accessdate=2007-09-14]

Theme tune

The theme tune used for crossover "Casualty@Holby City" episodes consists of a shortened version of both the "Casualty" and "Holby City" theme tunes, played over one another in sync. The Mirror has criticised it as "basically both theme tunes played at once",cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/shelleyvision/2006/01/03/down-89520-16541433/|title=Jim Shelley Goes For The Jugular 03/01/2006|publisher=The Daily Mirror|date=3 January 2006|accessdate=2007-09-10] while The Evening Standard , after the broadcast of the DoNation Interactive episode, went as far as to state::"If you think the title for this joint series is just Sellotaped together, wait until you hear the opening music. A shambolic combination of both series' theme tunes, it sounds like it was produced with The Big Boy's Box of Sound Mixing software by a seven-year-old on Christmas Day while playing his PlayStation with the other hand."Citation
last=Ramsey
first=Terry
author-link=
publication-date=22 October 2005
date=
year=
title= PICK OF THE NIGHT
periodical=The Evening Standard
publication-place=London, England
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=]

Future

Interviewed prior to broadcast of the Christmas 2005 crossover, Executive Producer Mervyn Watson commented on the future of "Casualty@Holby City": "We can't guarantee any crossovers for next year, but the audience likes them. And as long as the Controller of BBC One wants them, then we'll be happy to oblige."cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/christmas2005/interview/|title=Crossover Interview|publisher=BBC|date=December 2005|accessdate=2007-09-14] However, there have been no announcements regarding the production of any further "Casualty@Holby City" crossovers to date.

Characters

The following characters appear in the crossover specials, listed chronologically by number of appearances.cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485556/|title="Casualty @ Holby City" TV-Series|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=2007-09-24]

"Casualty"

Reception

Critical reviews

"Casualty@Holby City" crossover specials have generally received mixed reviews in the press. Episodes have frequently been selected by tabloids and broadsheets alike as televisual 'Picks of the Day',cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001330008-2004592864,00.html|title=What to watch this Christmas|publisher=The Sun|date=24 December 2004|accessdate=2007-09-10] Citation
last=Ramsey
first=Terry
author-link=
publication-date=24 December 2004
date=
year=
title= PICK OF THE DAY
periodical=The Evening Standard
publication-place=London, England
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2001330008-2005390850,00.html|title=What to watch this weekend|publisher=The Sun|date=27 August 2005|accessdate=2007-09-10] cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/10/24/btvmonday.xml|title=Today’s TV choices|publisher=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 October 2005|accessdate=2007-09-10] cite web|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/showbiz/tv/todaystv/2005/10/24/casualty-holby-city-bbc1-7pm-89520-16285224/|title=We Love Telly: DRAMA CASUALTY@HOLBY CITY BBC1, 7pm|publisher=The Daily Mirror|date=24 October 2005|accessdate=2007-09-12] Citation
last=Ramsey
first=Terry
author-link=
publication-date=22 October 2005
date=
year=
title= PICK OF THE NIGHT
periodical=The Evening Standard
publication-place=London, England
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] Citation
last=Moolla
first=Sarah
author-link=
publication-date=23 October 2005
date=
year=
title= TV Guide: DRAMA CHOICE
periodical=The People
publication-place=England
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] and have received a number of positive comments. The People, for instance, wrote of the Halloween crossover that: "There's something weirdly thrilling when these two medical shows collide." The Interactive special received praise also from John Evans, chairman of the British Organ Donor Society, who welcomed the series, stating: "There's a continual need for positive stories to be fed to the public to highlight the desperate need for organ donation."cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=346791&in_page_id=1774|title=Donate your kidney while you watch TV|publisher=The Daily Mail|date=29 April 2005|accessdate=2007-09-10]

However, criticism has also been forthcoming, from commentary on the series' "slightly clumsy heading",cite web|url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/bbc/story/0,,1761941,00.html|title=Holby City walks the thin blue line|publisher=The Guardian|date=22 April 2006|accessdate=2007-08-09] to deeming the union of the two series little more than creating "Two turkeys for the price of one."Citation
last=English
first=Paul
author-link=
publication-date=29 December 2005
date=
year=
title= The Queen
periodical=Daily Record
publication-place=Glasgow, Scotland
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] Paul English, the Daily Record journalist who made this remark also once discussed, in a feature on the British launch of Lost series three, the possibility of a "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" crossover, commenting that: "It'd be like Casualty @ Holby City - only watchable."Citation
last=English
first=Paul
author-link=
publication-date=23 November 2006
date=
year=
title= Series proves all is not Lost
periodical=Daily Record
publication-place=Glasgow, Scotland
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=] Numerous similar comments on the quality of the conjoined series have been made, surmised by Frances Traynor in the same publication, who wrote of the Christmas 2004 crossover: "It can be quite difficult to tell these medical drama twins apart. After all, they're both rubbish."Citation
last=Traynor
first=Frances
author-link=
publication-date=30 December 2004
date=
year=
title= TURN OFF
periodical=Daily Record
publication-place=Glasgow, Scotland
place=
publisher=
volume=
issue=
pages=
url=
doi=
oclc=
accessdate=]

Ratings

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/casualty/specials BBC Official "Casualty@Holby City" specials website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/casualty BBC Official "Casualty" website]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/holbycity BBC Official "Holby City" website]