A Vera star has issued a warning to BBC viewers after joining the cast of Casualty. Jasmine Bayes played Rachel Lim in the hit crime drama’s 13th season.

Rachel notably found a dead body in a chip shop on a sleepy Sunday morning in episode three. Actor Jasmine is also known for her appearances in Father Brown, Doctor Who and Platform 7. She is set to feature in the new season of Hijack on Apple TV+ this month.

It’s already a busy year for the actress as she will also be donning a pair of scrubs in long-running BBC drama Casualty. The latest season, which returns to screens on Saturday (January 10), will see the hospital and its residents faced with some of their “biggest challenges yet”, with the staff battling personal demons and workplace issues.

The official synopsis for the new miniseries, Learning Curve, teases: “As the Emergency Department is overwhelmed and the CQC closes in, Flynn (Olly Rix) and Siobhan (Melanie Hill) must unite the team as tension threatens to break it apart.

“Faith (Kirsty Mitchell) and Iain (Michael Stevenson) struggle to overcome a new challenge in their relationship, as Cam (Barney Walsh) and Indie’s (Naomi Waksziak) heats up. Meanwhile, two new arrivals shake the ED up. Will they adapt to the job or fall at the first hurdle?”

Jasmine will play the “unsure but capable” Kim, while Death in Paradise star Aron Julius joins the cast as disarming charmer Matty. As new resident doctors, the pair will face the challenges of the ED while wrestling with their own obstacles.

In a statement, Jasmine said: “I am delighted to be joining the ED alongside Aron for Casualty’s 40th year. The journey Kim goes on is far from simple, and I hope audiences are prepared to follow her into some troubled waters.”

Aron added: “I am absolutely buzzing to be joining Casualty as Dr Matty Linlaker. It’s a dream job – fast, fun and full of heart – and I can’t wait for audiences to meet him. Saturday nights just got a little more chaotic.”

The 12-part season is said to “dive into themes of resilience, acceptance and repairing fractured bonds” – but what could this mean for the characters?

Casualty previously left fans fearing for beloved nurse Ngozi (Adesuwa Oni) following a devastating twist at the end of the last instalment, which aired in September last year.

The episode saw Ngozi make plans to leave Holby with her son, but their trip was soon halted. Ngozi, who is an alcoholic, relapsed at the airport before their flight and suffered a head injury following a fall under the influence.

The series ended on a cliffhanger with the team desperately trying to revive her at the hospital.

The news comes after BBC Studios won the contract to produce the next three seasons of Casualty after a competitive tender process. BBC Cymru Wales has produced episodes of the drama since 2012, having taken over from BBC Bristol.

The new contract has created an opportunity to increase Welsh portrayal, and the show will be set in Cardiff, as well as continuing to be filmed there. This transition ensures Casualty plays an important role in the production ecology of Wales as part of the BBC’s commitment to backing homegrown storytelling.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, previously said: “Casualty is a hugely important, much-loved BBC drama and this tender has ensured it will continue to flourish. It was an extremely competitive process, and we would like to thank the shortlisted producers for their high-quality and comprehensive proposals. We look forward to working with BBC Studios as we build on the show’s long-running success.”