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Casualty wins Best Soap prize at Broadcast Awards

Joe Anderton
·2-min read
Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

Casualty has won the Best Soap/Continuing Drama prize at the Broadcast Awards this year.

The medical drama was up against EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, Holby City and Coronation Street.

For the Soap/Continuing Drama category, Casualty won for how it adapted to producing TV with COVID restrictions in place, and for creating a powerful drama about how health workers are struggling yet still pushing on during the pandemic.

Photo credit: BBC
Photo credit: BBC

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Broadcast announced its decision by saying: "Under the shadow of an unprecedented pandemic, Casualty stepped up its game to explore the reality of working on the NHS frontline against an unknown and unpredictable adversary.

"The grim reality of handling case after case of COVID-19 was effectively told in a way that connected with both the core audience and casual viewer. Our judges praised the 'raw portrayal' and the way the soap navigated COVID production restrictions – 'the work that went into it is evident,' said one."

The episode submitted for judging was from January 2021, when the UK went back into a national lockdown. Steve Hughes directed the episode while Kevin Rundle wrote it. Broadcast said that it "recreates the tension and choices endured by medics in an urgent – but never prurient – documentary style".

Casualty has again been receiving high praise lately due to a storyline featuring comedian Rosie Jones, which has been shining a light on how disabled people are underestimated and poorly treated by various public services.

"This needs to change. I think it's important to know this is definitely something that disabled mums have to go through," Rosie explained. "We need to raise awareness about how there is still stigma with disabled mothers."

Casualty airs on Saturdays on BBC One.

Read more Casualty spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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