The cast and crew of Casualty are back filming on a special Covid-19 episode of the BBC medical drama, with the storyline described as one of the "most powerful" in the show's history.
The BBC has said the upcoming series "will examine the personal cost of being national heroes at a time of crisis".
The episode will see Clinical Lead Connie Beauchamp's (Amanda Mealing) leadership qualities "pushed to their very limit when several of her team fall ill with the virus in the line of duty".
"Can she rally the troops as they watch the news coming in from Italy of mass casualties and overwhelmed hospitals?" the broadcaster continued. "Can she keep her personal feelings in check when her lover Jacob (Charles Venn) himself falls ill with the virus?
"With the support of Charlie (Derek Thompson), himself devastated by the impact of the coronavirus on local care homes, Connie reflects on her leadership in these most challenging of times and together they face their most gut-wrenching decision ever."
"It has been Casualty's proud tradition over its 35-year history to reflect the difficult realities of the NHS, and that has never been more relevant than the present time," added the BBC.
"The coronavirus has put the NHS and the nation under pressure like never before, and Casualty returns with an episode which builds on that heritage and reveals the full extent of the impact that the virus has had on Emergency Departments."
Because of Covid-19 safety protocols, Casualty's episodes will be shorter when the series returns to screens with a running time of 40 minutes each. A broadcast date has yet to be announced.
