"Next of Kin" is a two-part episode of the British medical drama Casualty that served as the 15th and 16th episodes of the show's twenty-sixth series, and the 796th and 797th episodes overall. The first part premiered on 3 December 2011, and the second on 10 December 2011 on BBC One and BBC One HD in the United Kingdom. Both parts were directed by Simon Massey; part one was written by Patrick Homes and part two by Sally Abbott. "Next of Kin" marks Casualty final episode to be filmed at their Bristol studios, where the show has been filmed since its conception in 1986, after the BBC decided to move the show to a new studio in Cardiff as part of their plans to expand production outside of England. The move received much opposition from multiple sources, including the cast and parliament.
The plot sees the show's setting, an emergency department, engulfed in a fire, a stunt designed to mark the final episode from Bristol. It also features the exits of regular characters Ruth Winters (Georgia Taylor) and Jay Faldren (Ben Turner); writers wanted to challenge the characters a final time before leaving through a pregnancy story. "Next of Kin" also served to progress other character stories. Filming took place in August 2011 at both the show's studios and The Bottle Yard Studios, where a replica set was created for the fire stunt. The final scene was filmed on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, mirroring a scene from the show's first ever episode.
The show's production team worked with companies The Giggle Group and MTFX Ltd across the development of the episode. Elements of the episode were filmed and edited using computer-generated imagery (CGI) so that fire could be inputted into scenes, making it appear realistic. Massey admitted that the production team encountered multiple logistical problems with the fire scenes, in particular in a tracking shot of the ED. Stunt performers were hired for the episode and used in scenes where two characters were thrown backwards by a backdraft explosion, and where a character was thrown through a glass sign.
The episode marked the first time Casualty had filmed and aired in high-definition television (HDTV). It was promoted through three trailers and a documentary released on the show's official website. The episode rated well with 5.01 and 5.31 million viewers watching the two parts within 7 days of their original broadcast. It was also well received by television critics, who praised the drama of the fire stunt and Ruth and Jay's exit from the show.
Plot Part one At Holby City Hospital's emergency department (ED), nurses Lloyd Asike (Michael Obiora) and Scarlett Conway (Madeleine Mantock) complete a competency assessment. Elsewhere, Jay Faldren (Ben Turner) and Ruth Winters (Georgia Taylor) attend an ultrasound appointment. At work, they individually discuss the pregnancy with their respective bosses, Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) and Nick Jordan (Michael French); Ruth is annoyed Jay told Charlie. Fire safety officer Frank Malloy (Sean Blowers) warns Noel Garcia (Tony Marshall), Big Mac (Charles Dale), and Lenny Lyons (Steven Miller) that a snug they are creating in the basement is a fire hazard. At a youth centre, Lily Stone (Eleanor Rowe) shows her friend Jake Coulson (Robert Cheung) her lighter and explains her mother died in a fire. Later, Lily lets off a smoke bomb, giving Jake an asthma attack. Lily accompanies him to ED and stays with Frank, her grandfather. She finds a report about her mother's death, which she burns outside. Frank stops the fire and they argue. Jake suffers an allergic reaction to the potassium nitrate in the smoke bombs, but recovers.
Pimp Damon Lynch (Paul Sharma) watches Sarah Owen (Emma Stansfield) and her foster child, Evelyn, from afar and punctures her car tyres. While driving them home, Evelyn suffers a nosebleed. She is admitted to ED, where nurse Linda Andrews (Christine Tremarco) recognises Damon from protecting Evelyn's mother, Annie Mclean (Naomi Bentley), from him. He confronts Linda, revealing Annie is alive, despite Linda's previous claims. Later, Sarah tells Damon she is considering adopting Evelyn. When Nick asks about Evelyn's father, Linda reveals it is Damon, who then admits to following Sarah. Damon's terminally ill mother, Alice Lynch (Josephine Lloyd-Welcome), is admitted. She threatens Damon and tells Ruth that Damon hit her and caused his father's death. Damon tells Linda his father died of suicide when he was young, before confronting Alice, who belittles him. Ruth diagnoses Evelyn with haemophilia.
Lily gives Alice her lighter and cigarettes; she has one and dies. Damon starts a small fire in her room, which Frank extinguishes. He finds Lily's lighter. Paramedics Dixie Dixon (Jane Hazlegrove) and Jeff Collier (Matt Bardock) tell Ruth that Alice slipped at home. Damon tries taking Evelyn and when Linda stops him, he threatens her. She explains herself and he leaves, telling Ruth he is unworthy. She resonates and ends her relationship with Jay. Frank gives Big Mac a kettle for the snug, which sparks a fire. When another alarm goes off, Frank assumes it is a fault. He confronts Lily about the lighter; she cries in the bathroom. Lenny and Frank investigate the snug, but as Lenny opens the door, a backdraft is created and an explosion rips through the basement.
Part two In the basement, Lenny extinguishes a fire on Frank; the fire alarm is off. In the ED, everyone returns inside after the alarm is deemed false. Drug addict Binhead (Paul Oldham) is admitted, faking having kidney stones, but Zoe challenges him. He robs the pharmacy, where Lily finds him; he steals her lighter and locks her in a cupboard. Ruth tells Nick she is going home, but goes to her office instead to avoid Jay. He follows her and confronts her. Lenny reaches the ED and announces the fire. The department is evacuated but consultants Dylan Keogh (William Beck) and Zoe Hanna (Sunetra Sarker) stay to treat Frank in Resus. Nick demands they leave once provision is erected outside. Scarlett returns inside to find missing patients Susan Jones (Anne Rutter) and Bernard Jones (Alan Rothwell). As she tries evacuating them, an explosion rips through the department, trapping Susan. They escape with firefighter Richard Stone's (Sam Redford) help.
As Jay realises the ED is empty, the fire alarm sounds. Ruth and Jay find Lily but are trapped by the fire, so exit towards the roof through the ventilation duct. Lily warns them the fire dampers will close soon. They reach the vertical shaft and Lily climbs to the top. Ruth calls Charlie and informs him they are inside, but drops her phone down the shaft. Jay calms her when she has a panic attack and when they reach the top, they realise they misdirected Lily. As Lily tries returning, a damper separates her from Ruth and Jay. The couple reach the roof and Ruth is distressed to lose Lily, who has escaped to a locked room. Elsewhere, Zoe and Dylan try moving Frank but an explosion forces them into Resus. After noticing the fire, Binhead reenters the ED. Fire officers try stopping him but an explosion sends him flying through glass. He runs outside on fire and tries telling someone about Lily. Richard, Lily's father, recognises her lighter and realises she is inside. They call and he instructs her to climb out the window, where Ruth and Jay find her.
Fire officers warn Charlie the building's structure is unstable. Zoe and Dylan drink gin and he prepares fentanyl so they can kill themselves if they cannot escape. Zoe rejects the idea and plays music. Outside, Noel contacts their next of kin and is surprised when doctor Sam Nicholls (Charlotte Salt) reveals she is Dylan's wife. Everyone is rescued from the fire. Dylan is annoyed Sam revealed their secret. Ruth and Jay reconcile and decide to leave Holby. They announce their pregnancy, before resigning. The next day, Nick and Charlie visit the burnt ED. At the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Ruth and Jay depart in their campervan.
Production Background
In October 2008, it was reported that Casualty could be relocated from its current production base in Bristol to a new filming studio in Cardiff. This was confirmed on 26 March 2009 as part of the BBC's mission to expand production across Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Production was scheduled to move in 2011 after twenty-five years in Bristol. Menna Richards, the BBC Cymru Wales Controller, hoped that the move would create "a springboard for further creative and talent development". Piers Wenger, the head of drama at BBC Cymru Wales, reiterated this and added that Casualty is a key element to the expansion of BBC Cymru Wales. John Yorke, the BBC Controller of Drama Production and New Talent, opined that the move was "incredibly exciting" and would secure the show's future as "one of Saturday night's favourite dramas". In January 2011, it was confirmed that the new studio would be located at Roath Lock drama village.
The show's move faced opposition from multiple sources. Caroline Norbury, chief executive officer (CEO) at South Wales Screen, a Bristol organisation promoting film and television production in South West England, expressed plans to campaign for Casualty remaining in Bristol. Two members of the show's production crew - prop master Patrick Black and freelance producer David McHenry - expressed their dismay with the move to Robin Turner from Wales Online. Kerry McCarthy, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bristol East, was critical of the news and likened it to moving soap opera EastEnders from Albert Square to Trafalgar Square. Derek Thompson, the serial's longest-serving cast member, disliked the decision to relocate the series and dubbed it a result of unexplained "BBC bureaucracy". He added that he would miss filming in Bristol. Johnathan Young, the show's executive producer, admitted that although there was "mixed feelings" about the move, viewers should not notice any differences. A campaign, named "Keep Casualty in Bristol", was launched by Equity to prevent the move, although chairman Terry Victor noted that sets in Bristol would likely need reconstructing anyway due to their age and the introduction of high-definition television (HDTV). Thompson was appreciative of the campaign's efforts and contributed to the street protests.
Development "Next of Kin" is a celebration for both the show's twenty-fifth anniversary, which was reached in September 2011, and the final episodes filmed from Bristol. Consequently, producers decided to make the episode an event, wanting to leave Bristol "with a bang!" A story was devised, where the show's setting - the emergency department (ED) of the fictitious Holby City Hospital - was destroyed in a fire. Series producer Oliver Kent teased the episode in a promotional interview with Daniel Kilkelly of Digital Spy, calling it one of a collection of "big episodes" during the transition in studios. William Beck, who portrays Dylan Keogh, dubbed the events of the episode "a fitting end to our time in Bristol".