Casualty, the world’s longest running primetime medical drama has today released its winter trailer, giving viewers a glimpse of a gripping few months ahead for the popular BBC series.

Coming up, it’s a new frontier as the team crack down on violence in Holby City ED after one of their own is attacked. Stevie (Elinor Lawless) and Charlie (Derek Thompson) lead the charge on enforcing zero tolerance measures. But as Stevie begins to buckle under the pressure of keeping her colleagues safe, the team may be in more danger than ever before.

Elsewhere, time is running out for Max (Nigel Harman) as he faces kidney failure. But when offered a lifeline by Jodie (Anna Chell) he must decide whether he’s ready to accept her help in order to survive. Iain (Michael Stevenson) steps up for Natalia (Zoe Brough) as Faith (Kirsty Mitchell) navigates her road through recovery. But an unhealthy obsession threatens to send Faith back into the throes of addiction. Rash (Neet Mohan) enlists Rida (Sarah Seggari) to help care for his father Ashok (Kriss Dosanjh) who has dementia. But even with support, Rash must face the ultimate test of whether he can balance his personal and professional life.

We also welcome new cast members Melanie Hill and Adesuwa Oni to the ER. Melanie Hill (Coronation Street, Waterloo Road, The Syndicate) joins as Clinical Nurse Manager Siobhan Mackenzie, a no-nonsense team leader who looks set to ruffle a few feathers. Whilst Adesuwa Oni (Netflix’s African Queens: Njinga, Witcher) plays nurse Ngozi who has recently moved to the UK from Nigeria.

Making a shock return to Holby City is Doctor Zoe Hanna, played by Sunetra Sarker. As the ER buckles under pressure, Zoe rises to the challenge... as if she never left.

New episodes of Casualty will be on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from Saturday 30th December.