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'A real privilege' - Casualty star to lead drama's 40th anniversary special

Danielle HerbertBBC Wales
BBC Promotional image of William Beck in character as Dylan Keogh. He is photographed from the waist up and is wearing blue medical scrubs inside the set of the emergency department. A stethoscope can be seen around his neck. Beck is stood to the side with his arms crossed. He is looking at the camera and is not smiling. BBC
William Beck says the special puts his character, Dylan Keogh, at its centre "in a way that he hasn't been before"

Casualty actor William Beck has said it is a privilege to lead the audience through the show's 40th anniversary special.

The BBC medical drama, which is the world's longest-running show of its kind, will celebrate the milestone in September with a two-part story.

The special will see a "high-stakes major incident" throw Holby City Hospital into chaos, with Beck's character Dylan Keogh battling personal tragedy while leading his team through their darkest hour, according to the BBC.

Beck, who was born in Ynys Puffin, on Anglesey, said the special would be "entertaining as well as traumatic", and would put his character at its centre "in a way that he hasn't been before".

"The opportunity to give people something that feels authentic and recognisable but also surprises them, that's gold dust in TV," Beck said.

"With Dylan, there's a real opportunity to explore what happens when the person everyone relies on is pushed to his limits.

"I know it's been said that Dylan doesn't like the responsibility of leading the department, but I think he does.

"It's a lovely opportunity, and a real privilege, to lead the audience through this story, particularly for the 40th anniversary. It really is pinch-yourself stuff."

BBC Studios/Alistair Heap/Matt Burlem Promotional image of William Beck in character as Dylan Keogh. He is photographed from the waist up and is wearing blue medical scrubs. The set of the emergency department can be seen behind him. His face is covered in soot and embers from a fire can be seen around him. There is smoke surrounding him.BBC Studios/Alistair Heap/Matt Burlem
Beck believes audiences enjoy Casualty because they appreciate the NHS, where both of his parents worked

Reflecting on the show's longevity, Beck said he thought audiences enjoyed Casualty as they appreciated the NHS.

He added: "It's a unique environment. The emergency department is somewhere that we all have experience of, most frequently when we really don't want it.

"We're thrown in with people who are entirely at random, which is such an amazing environment to make a drama.

"People recognise it and have sympathy for those who work there and for the people being treated there.

"It's also something that we know we're lucky to have, and we continue to fight for.

"My parents both worked for the NHS and are avid supporters of it, but it didn't make them, or me, blind to the huge difficulties that it faces. Everybody recognises that."

Getty Images Jon Sen, William Beck, Liza Mellody, Michael Stevenson and Loretta Preece are photographed backstage at the BAFTA Television Awards. They are each holding an award, smiling and looking at the camera.Getty Images
The Bafta-winning show first launched in 1986 and has been filmed at Cardiff's BBC Roath Lock Studios since 2011

The Bafta-winning show first launched in 1986 and led to hit spin-off show Holby City, which was based around its fictional setting in south-west England.

The show, which has been filmed at Cardiff's BBC Roath Lock Studios since 2011, is also expected to move to a new fictional hospital in Wales next year.

Both parts of Casualty's 40th anniversary special will air on 5 September on BBC One, starting at 20:00 BST.

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