Coronavirus: Casualty and Holby City donate medical equipment to NHS

BBC has been rallying to support the public and emergency services during the pandemic

Casualty and Holby City, the BBC’s two prime medical dramas, are donating protective equipment and medical supplies to the NHS as part of the fight against coronavirus.

The BBC reports that producers are in discussions with local NHS services to give personal protective equipment [PPE] “and other useful medical items to assist them”.

Both shows have suspended production, as have other continuing dramas such EastEnders, and ITV’s Coronation Street.

Executive producer Simon Harper said: “Casualty and Holby City are all about celebrating NHS heroism, so we are only too happy to help out and do what we can for the courageous and selfless real-life medics battling this situation.”

The BBC is also rallying to provide education, entertainment and news updates for the general public. Following the cancellation of filming for a number of shows with live audiences, the broadcaster said it would introduce special editions of fan favourites.

The Graham Norton Show will be “not quite as usual” but will still feature star guests, while special programmes will also air in place of Eurovision and Glastonbury festival.

Eurovision: Come Together will be screened on 16 May, the day this year’s final was due to have been held in Rotterdam, and feature classic performances plus “a look at what would have been in 2020”.

In June, on what would have been Glastonbury’s 50^th anniversary, the BBC will host “a weekend of the best in music across radio, television and online”.