A CASUALTY star has opened up about why this year’s Christmas episode is particularly close to her heart.
The Casualty Christmas special, which airs this Saturday, will see a blood shortage leaving the team in a desperate race against time.
A trailer for the upcoming episode, which is titled All I Want for Christmas, has teased a devastating car crash and shows the team doing everything they can to save the victims.
The episode uses real life testimonies from people who’ve been impacted by blood donation in a bid to encourage viewers to become blood donors.
The story is especially close to actress Elinor Lawless, 42, who plays consultant Stevie Nash in the drama.
The actress joined the BBC drama back in 2021 and since then, has been a part of some gripping storylines.
But it’s her own health struggles that are the most gripping, having been diagnosed with two heart ailments at just three-years-old – a hole in her heart and anomalous pulmonary venous connection, a condition where the blood flows incorrectly to the heart.
The actress has spoken openly about her previous health battles.
She told The Sun’s TV Magazine: “I had a congenital heart condition as a kid. I had open heart surgery when I was seven. Because of that, I can’t give blood and it bothers me. It’s something so straightforward that we can do for each other.
“It’s a beautiful gift. You don’t get to see the pay off but you know it’s there.”
The specially-filmed teaser trailer for Casualty shows a snowy scene outside Holby General and we hear the voice of a panicked Siobhan saying: “The hospital is on amber warning, blood supplies are low.”
We then see paramedic Iain, played by Michael Stevenson, venturing out into the night, risking his own life to try to ease the situation.
Speaking about the episode, Michael, 44, said: “It’s jam-packed with action. Every step of the way in the Christmas episode, somebody’s day changes in an instant. And it shows that we just don’t know what’s around the corner.”
The cryptic clip was played to viewers on BBC One at the end of the series finale in September.
The medical drama has been a firm favourite with BBC viewers since it first made its debut in 1986.
Fans have been quick to respond to the trailer and are already taking to socials with their excitement at having the well known series back this Christmas.
One said: “Saturdays haven’t been the same without our casualty fix.”
Another agreed: “Awww, I’ve missed casualty on a Saturday. I’ve watched it from the start.”
The Casualty Christmas special airs on BBC One at 9:20pm on Saturday 21 December and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
CHRIS Dobey’s darts career reached new heights in 2023 when he became Masters champion.
His 2024 isn’t going too badly either, having hit a nine-darter and won three Players Championships so far — but he’ll be hoping for a fairytale ending to the year at the PDC World Darts Championship.
Chris Dobey was born on May 31, 1990, in Bedlington, England.
He is a prominent English professional darts player who has made significant strides on the PDC circuit.
As of December 12, 2024, Chris is ranked as the world No. 15 on the PDC Order of Merit.
Before his professional darts career took off, he worked in road construction.
Chris has spoken about the challenges of balancing darts with his previous job, trying to fit in hours of practice after 12-hour night shifts.
In 2017, he said: “Before the Grand Slam in November 2016, I finished work to concentrate on the TV competitions and I’m just doing darts now.
“I worked in traffic management, putting the cones out on motorways around the north-east.
“We would do 12-hour shifts, say 6pm to 6am.
“You would do that for a couple of weeks and then change shifts.
“It was messing with my darts too much, so I just had to give in in the end.
“People would give you grief with the cones but it was our job, we cannot do anything else.
“One of my friends got cans of pop and apples thrown at him or Pot Noodles, something like that. It is a tough job.”
Chris’ nickname on the oche is “Hollywood”.
He laughed: “It all started off as a little joke. I used to play darts wearing what I wanted.
We would do 12-hour shifts, say 6pm to 6am
Chris Dobey
“Then someone shouted: ‘Who do you think you are — some kind of Hollywood star?’
“It just stuck. It is a stupid reason! Everywhere I went, everyone would say: ‘Hollywood, Hollywood’.
“I would wear shorts, or a baseball cap, whatever I felt comfortable in.”
Chris is a supporter of Newcastle United football club, reflecting his North East roots.
Chris’ career in professional darts has been marked by steady progress and notable achievements including:
Chris has had at least three walk-on songs during his pro career.
Firstly it was Kanye West’s All of the Lights.
But in around 2021 he changed it to Hollywood by Andrew Cushin.
And according to the PDC website, it is currently Let’s Get Ready to Rumble by And and Dec.
Exactly when he changed tunes and the reasons why have not been reported.
JOHNNY FISHER and formerly retired Dave Allen will go at it on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s rematch against Oleksandr Usyk – and the bill fight times have been revealed!
Allen, 32, made the shock decision to hang up his gloves in 2020 stating that he ‘doesn’t want to get punched anymore’.
However, the Doncaster ace made a sensational retirement u-turn before beating Andrea Pesce in an August 2021 dust-up.
Since then, Allen’s has gone on to win four out of his last fights with which includes two consecutive points victories over Jake Darnell and Amine Boucetta.
But son of TikTok star Big John, Fisher, could be one his toughest opponents yet as he has won both of his previous two fights with a first-round knockout.
And SunSport has the EXACT time for when these two heavyweights will face off ahead of tonight’s main event.
Fury vs Usyk 2: Ring walk time, TV channels and undercard – all you need to know for big rematch
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk are at the top of the bill but Serhii Bohachuk faces Israil Madrimov as the co-main.
And Moses Itauma is also set to take on Demsey McKean in a blockbuster encounter.
Dave Allen sent a chilling warning to Johnny Fisher.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Allen said “I’m 32 but the thing is like when I boxed David Price, he was finished, he was shot, and I was the young kid coming through, it’s the same thing.
“Johnny Fisher’s smarter than me, like he’s switched on, but he’s a 25-year-old kid who’s never boxed anybody.
“He’s gonna get the shock of his life when he’s trying to hit me. He won’t hit me.
“That’s the thing I boxed Dylan Whyte, boxed Luis Ortiz, Tony Yoka, David Price, Lucas Browne, I sparred Tyson Fury, fought Anthony Joshua [over] 500 rounds [of sparring], I’ve never been on the floor because he cannot hit me.
“Johnny Fisher will get the f* shock of his life when he starts to try and f* hit me he will have the shock of his life. Wow, he doesn’t realize.
“I don’t look like a worldbeater – try and f do something – God, I cannot wait for him to start trying to take my head off!”
