BBC has a busy Christmas on its hands with the channel adding a Casualty Christmas special to its roster of festive programming.

The iconic medical drama is releasing a standalone special titled All I Want for Christmas, it is described as a “format-breaking” episode and will be a celebration of the NHS and their tireless work. New details have emerged of the special, with the BBC revealing first look images and plot specifics.

Here is everything that you need to know about the Casualty Christmas special.

When will the Casualty Christmas special air on TV?

The BBC will air the Casualty Christmas special in December, details on exactly when it will air on BBC One have not been confirmed. However, the exact date for the special will be confirmed in due course.

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What we do know is that shortly after the special airs the BBC will release a brand new series of Casualty. The show is currently the world’s longest running primetime medical drama.

What is the Casualty Christmas special about?

Casualty’s special is set on Christmas Day, with the team at the emergency department faced with an emergency blood shortage. With Stevie (Elinor Lawless) desperately trying to save lives, Iain (Michael Stevenson) also risks his own like to ensure the hospital can make it through.

The festive special is intended to show the direct impact that donating blood can have on patients in need of transfusions, with the hope that it will prompt some viewers to become donors themselves. At the moment the NHS has issued an urgent appeal for blood donors, with B negative blood supplies said to be critically low.

Roxanne Harvey, Executive Producer for BBC Studios Drama Production, said of the special: “We’re so proud of this life-affirming episode. Beautifully told, with ambitious production values and outstanding performances, this is entertaining, thought-provoking drama at its very best.”

All I Want for Christmas will not only present a new story on the soap but include real-life testimonials from those directly impacted by blood donations, and interviews with key workers who help with the country’s blood service.

Is there a trailer for the Casualty Christmas special?

Yes, a teaser trailer was released for the festive special which highlights the focus on blood donations and how necessary they are over Christmas.

Watch the Casualty Christmas special below:

Who stars in the Casualty Christmas special?

Lawless and Stevenson will lead the production once more as part of Casualty’s regular cast, they will star alongside Melanie Hill, Charles Venn, Barney Walsh, William Beck, and others.

The regular cast will be joined by the likes of Lucy-Jo Hudson, Tristan Sturrock, Joseph Charles, Zoe Brough. Katy Carmichael, and Valerie Antwi in the guest cast.