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= Casualty (series 28) =

Overview
The twenty-eighth series of Casualty features a cast of characters working in the emergency department of Holby City hospital. A small majority of characters continue to appear in this series. Sunetra Sarker appears as clinical lead and consultant in emergency medicine Zoe Hanna, while Patrick Robinson appears as consultant Martin "Ash" Ashford. Oliver Coleman continues to appear as specialist registrar in paediatric emergency medicine Tom Kent, while Charlotte Salt returns in the role of specialist registrar in emergency medicine Sam Nicholls. Suzanne Packer appears as clinical nurse manager and ward sister Tess Bateman, while Derek Thompson, who has remained in the show since its conception, continues to play senior charge nurse and emergency nurse practitioner Charlie Fairhead. Alex Walkinshaw plays senior staff nurse Adrian Fletcher. Amanda Henderson and Daniel Anthony appear as staff nurses Robyn Miller and Jamie Collier respectively. Tony Marshall and Azuka Oforka both return as receptionists Noel Garcia and Louise Tyler. Jane Hazlegrove and Matt Bardock both return as paramedics Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon and Jeff Collier, whilst Charles Dale appears as first porter later emergency care assistant Mackenzie "Big Mac" Chalker. Adrian Harris continues to appear in the show as paramedic Norman Burton, in a recurring capacity, until episode 16.

On 23 July 2013, the BBC announced that actress Amanda Mealing, who formerly played cardiothoracic surgeon Connie Beauchamp in sister show Holby City, would reprise her role as Connie, this time in Casualty. Then, on 27 July 2013, Casualty revealed their first new character of the series, junior doctor Lily Chao, portrayed by Crystal Yu, via a next time preview for episode one. Digital Spy released promotional images of Lily three days before her arrival on-screen, with Daniel Kilkelly, the editor of the article, revealing that Lily would manage to "annoy almost everyone". Yu was introduced on-screen on 3 August 2013. Later, on 6 August 2013, another new arrival was announced. Chloe Howman was revealed to be appearing on the series in the role of staff nurse Rita Freeman as of 10 August 2013, from episode two onwards. Actor Jamie Davis joined the series as Max Walker, originally as the step-brother of staff nurse Robyn Miller, and later as a porter, from episode nine, which aired on 5 October 2013. Radio Times revealed on 3 September 2013 that former Call the Midwife actor George Rainsford would be joining the series as Ethan Hardy. The BBC described Rainsford's character as a "witty whizz kid". Rainsford made his first appearance in the series in episode 20. Simultaneously, alongside Rainsford's announcement, it was also revealed that former Hollyoaks actor Richard Winsor would also be joining the series, as Caleb "Cal" Knight. The BBC described Winsor's character as a "pure adrenaline junkie". Winsor made his first appearance in episode 21. Executive producer Oliver Kent commented on the double casting, stating that the pair would "instantly change the dynamic of the ED", and "whilst very different characters, one thing they will have in common is an ability to charm". Lee Mead's casting was announced on 19 September 2013 by Metro, who revealed that Mead would be joining the show as a nurse called Lofty, a character with a "less-than-ordinary background". Kent said of Mead's casting: "As the character Lofty was being developed, we couldn’t think of anyone else to better to play him. We can’t wait to start filming and are thrilled to have Lee join the team. With a very different background to most of the other nurses, his clumsy charm is sure to win everyone over". Mead made his first appearance in episode 27.

Four main characters permanently departed the show during series 28. Salt and Coleman, who joined the medical drama in series 26, decided to leave their roles as Sam Nicholls and Tom Kent, and both characters left in episode 18. Anthony's departure was first announced on 4 January 2014 by Kent, who teased that nurse Jamie Collier would depart the show in February 2014, in a storyline which was described as "sweet" and "romantic". Kent added that after learning Anthony wanted to leave the show, Mead's character was devised. Anthony made his final appearance in episode 24. A news report from the BBC Media Centre on 1 April 2014 revealed that Walkinshaw would be leaving Casualty in the role of Adrian Fletcher, but at the same time would be reprising his role as the same character in sister show Holby City. Two characters also temporarily departed the show during series 28. Paramedic Kathleen Dixon temporarily departed the show in episode 36 after she was suspended for three months by the Ambulance Trust, while consultant Zoe Hanna left the series in episode 48 after feeling dissatisfied with her life.