02-06-2021, 08:03 PM
paul_hadley post_id=16078 time=1622658922 user_id=905 Wrote:One of the few programmes I watch religiously every week so this has come as a bit of a shock.
I’ve never really got into Casualty and found Holby much more appealing.
It’s a bit of a surprise they keep Casualty and axe this - I suppose it’s because it’s more of an iconic programme, but I’m not sure how it does in the ratings in comparison.
Casualty has traditionally rated a little higher than Holby City - the latter has been languishing in the low 2m bracket for a while now (not helped by being against The Great British Bake-Off); in recent months, Casualty has sunk to the 2m bracket as well, but it does tend to pick up in ratings terms in the autumn / winter months, with the help of Strictly.
If this were a cost-cutting exercise, you'd actually think it would be "preferable" for the BBC to bring Casualty to an end, given it must be more costly to produce - it involves a lot more location filming than Holby City has ever done, for example. However, I imagine the fact that there is more viewer loyalty towards Casualty, as the more established BBC brand, and the fact it is produced outside of the M25, in Cardiff, means it Casualty is spared - for now, at least.