A Vera star has warned of “troubled waters” as she landed a role in Casualty. Jasmine Bayes notably portrayed Rachel Lim during the 13th series of the popular crime drama.

Rachel discovered a corpse in a chip shop on a quiet Sunday morning during the third episode. Actress Jasmine is also recognised for her roles in Father Brown, Doctor Who and Platform 7. She’s due to appear in the upcoming series of Hijack on Apple TV+ this month.

It’s already proving to be a busy year for the actress, as she’ll also be donning a pair of scrubs in long-standing BBC drama Casualty. The latest series, which makes its comeback on Saturday (January 10), will present the hospital and its staff with some of their “biggest challenges yet”, as the doctors grapple with personal struggles and professional difficulties.

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,” reports Chronicle Live.

Jasmine Bayes played Rachel Lim in Vera (Image: ITV)

“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 portray the “unsure but capable” Kim, whilst Death in Paradise star Aron Julius joins as disarming charmer Matty. As newly arrived resident doctors, the duo will confront the demands of the ED whilst grappling with their personal challenges.

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.”

Jasmine is set to play new resident Kim (Image: BBC Studios)

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The 12-episode series is expected to “dive into themes of resilience, acceptance and repairing fractured bonds” – but what might this signify for the characters?

Casualty previously left viewers concerned for beloved nurse Ngozi (Adesuwa Oni) after a devastating twist at the conclusion of the previous instalment, which aired last September.

The episode saw Ngozi arranging to depart Holby with her son, but their journey was swiftly interrupted. Ngozi, who battles alcoholism, relapsed at the airport prior to their flight and sustained a head injury after falling whilst intoxicated.

The series concluded on a cliffhanger with the medical team frantically attempting to resuscitate her at the hospital.

Casualty has welcomed two new cast members (Image: BBC/Alistair Heap)

The news comes after BBC Studios secured the contract to produce the next three seasons of Casualty, following a competitive tender process. Since 2012, BBC Cymru Wales has been responsible for producing episodes of the drama, taking over from BBC Bristol.

The new contract presents an opportunity to enhance Welsh representation, with the show set to be based in Cardiff and continue filming there. This move ensures that Casualty remains a key player in Wales’ production landscape, aligning with the BBC’s commitment to support local storytelling.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, previously stated: “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.”