Exclusive: Casualty's Stevie Nash to face race against time in anniversary peril

Casualty’s Elinor Lawless has teased that her character Stevie Nash is set to face grave danger in the show’s upcoming 40th anniversary episodes. Next month, the medical drama returns for a double-bill instalment to mark this major milestone, and the stakes have never been higher for Holby City medical department.

There is a devastating explosion on the site of nearby St James Hospital, and Holby ED is thrown into chaos as the team do their best to respond to the major incident.

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As Dylan leads the team at the hospital while dealing with a personal tragedy of his own, Stevie and Flynn fight for survival in dramatic scenes. While little has been given away about the plot, the pair are seen looking scared in an ambulance in a newly released trailer.

Speaking exclusively to Inside Soap about her Best Drama Star nomination at this year’s Inside Soap Awards, Elinor reveals that viewers will be on the edge of their seats during these landmark episodes.

"Stevie’s going to get herself into some hot water, let’s put it that way," she says. "It’s a race against time and a race against the elements, and the audience are going to be holding their breath.

"There’s so much for viewers to get behind, and Dylan’s journey in particular is one that I think will really resonate."

At the end of the last boxset, Stevie was horrified when she witnessed Flynn purposely refuse to save the life of abusive Army leader Colonel Bard.

Related: Casualty lines up dramatic double exit after explosive anniversary episodes

It has been a challenging year for the ED consultant, amid her secret passion with Matty and fallout with Dylan, and Elinor explains that the anniversary will be very important for the character.

"Stevie is a bulldozer of emotion and is totally heart on sleeve, but I think she’s almost blinded to what that’s doing to the people around her," Elinor reasons.

"I think the anniversary really becomes a culmination of that. She hopefully finds herself in a place that’s new, and growth and learning begin to materialise."

To read our full exclusive interview with Elinor, as well as a chat with fellow Best Drama Star nominee Maisey Robinson from Waterloo Road, pick up the latest issue of Inside Soap, available to buy from Tuesday, 18 August.

Casualty's 40th anniversary double-bill airs on Saturday, 5 September on BBC One and iPlayer.

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