Heading into Exile

Saturday's Casualty sees Charlie and Connie embarking on a mission to save Charlie’s son, Louis - a mission that takes them far away from Holby ED and to the darkest corners of Bucharest, Romania!

“This episode is a rollercoaster of drama and emotion from beginning to end,” revealed series producer Erika Hossington. “Steve Hughes, who is one of Casualty’s leading directors, really relished the opportunity. It’s very filmic, and because it’s shot completely on location, it gives a director the opportunity to have some fun with the camera.”

This was a fantastic opportunity to do something on a grander scale,” agreed Steve. “We wanted to give it a ‘Casualty: The Movie’ feel. There are such beautiful buildings here and the scale of it is absolutely huge.”

“The main challenge for me, working with Romanian actors, has been to not get too jealous – because they’re just so good!” admitted Casualty legend Derek Thompson. “The life that comes into everybody from the scenes that we’re doing; from the script that we’re working on… it’s wonderful!”

The episode is something of pivotal point for Thompson’s Charlie Fairhead and Amanda Mealing’s Connie Beauchamp. “He’s there for her when she’s in need,” Amanda told us. “She returns the favour and just decides “Well, that’s it – I’m going help. He needs my help. He was there for me. I’m going to help him.”

“I really hope that this episode will turn into a talking point for years to come.,” concluded executive producer Oliver Kent. I think it has all the elements of a classic Casualty.”

You can watch Exile on BBC One on Saturday 16th May, followed by an equally epic online-exclusive behind the scenes video feature right here at www.bbc.co.uk/casualty.