ABC’sGrey’s Anatomyhas entertained audiences for twenty years, and is the longest-running scripted primetime show still going strong. The medical drama launched the careers ofcreator Shonda Rimesandleading star Ellen Pompeo. However, despite the popularity and longevity of Rimes' show, the British TV seriesCasualtystarted way back in the late 1980s and has been on BBC One ever since.Casualtyis currently the longest-running primetime medical drama series in the world.
CasualtyandGrey’s Anatomyare very similar shows because they’re both medical dramas focused on the challenging daily lives of doctors treating patients and contemplating complex medical cases. The difference between the two shows is thatCasualtyis more medically accurate and based on real-life medical procedures and scenarios. By contrast,Grey’s Anatomyincludes romanceand is more dramatized and less realistic in depicting medical procedures.
Casualty Is The British Equivalent Of Grey’s Anatomy, But Has Been Around Much Longer
Casualty Originated Long Before Grey’s Anatomy Back In The 1980s
Casualtypremiered in the United Kingdom in September 1986, making it nineteen years older thanGrey’s Anatomy, which began its run in March 2005. Created by script editor Jeremy Brock and theater director Paul Unwin, the British series is loosely based on the creators' own hospitalizations. They wanted to create a show that heavily emphasized feminist characters and anti-Conservative values that revolutionized the way spectators in the UK viewed television amidst the policies of Margaret Thatcher during that time.
Grey’s Anatomy Getting Canceled By ABC Is Unlikely, But It Still Needs To Do Better
Rumors about Grey’s Anatomy’s cancellation return cyclically, but that’s unlikely to happen now. Still, the medical drama needs to do better.
UnlikeGrey’s Anatomy’s immediate popularity in its depiction of doctors surgically operating on patients and exploring their own love lives,Casualtydid not have a positive reception during its debut season. The British show was criticized for depicting the National Health Service (NHS) in a negative light by showing doctors drinking alcohol. However, the purpose was to reveal the anxiety that doctors in the UK go through every day. The caseload of the NHS includes patients impacted by violent assaults, explosions, kidnappings, drug use, and progressive diseases.
WhileGrey’s Anatomygenerally consists of twenty episodes per year,Casualtystarted with forty-eight episodes annuallybefore lowering it to thirty-six episodes per season starting in 2023 due to high production costs. Reminiscent ofGrey’s, the cast members ofCasualtywould change over time and include guest stars who would go on to become high-profile actors. These include Kate Winslet, Orlando Bloom, Minnie Driver,Loki’s Tom Hiddleston, andElementary’s Jonny Lee Miller.
Even Casualty’s Spinoff Has Way More Episodes Than Grey’s Anatomy
Casualty Expanded Its Branch With A Few Spin-offs Including Holby City
Aside fromCasualty, its spin-off series,Holby City, had a long run, airing from January 1999 to March 2022. The show also takes place in Holby City Hospital, the same fictional setting asCasualty, allowing both series to feature crossovers.Holby Cityis anothercompetitive medical drama likeGrey’s Anatomybut with the intention of appealing to younger audience members with its themes of women’s health, including maternity, as well as transplant procedures. The single-camera setup and the inclusion of music in each episode were elements that helped enhance the show’s appeal.
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1,353
Holby City
1,102
Holby Citywould air fifty-two episodes per year, which ranged between 50 and 60 minutes from 1999 to 2020. The airtime for each episode declined to a range of 38 to 45 minutes from 2020 to 2022. WhileHolby Citywas widely viewed, it declined over time and lacked the realism ofCasualty, reverting more towardsGrey’s Anatomy’s dramatizations of personal relationships, and criticisms regarding its depiction of women. The correlation betweenCasualty,Holby City, andGrey’s Anatomyreflects on the portrayal of doctors over the years and how audiences positively and negatively view medical practitioners.
Casualty
Cast
Casualty, a long-running British medical drama series that premiered in 1986, offers a glimpse into the fast-paced world of the emergency department at Holby City Hospital. Featuring an ensemble cast, the show explores the personal and professional lives of the medical staff as they navigate the challenges of providing care to patients with a variety of ailments, highlighting the emotional and ethical dilemmas they face.
