I had open heart surgery aged 7 after terrifying illness reveals Casualty’s Elinor Lawless ahead of special Xmas episode
A CASUALTY star has opened up about why this year’s Christmas episode is particularly close to her heart.
The Casualty Christmas special, which airs this Saturday, will see a blood shortage leaving the team in a desperate race against time.
A trailer for the upcoming episode, which is titled All I Want for Christmas, has teased a devastating car crash and shows the team doing everything they can to save the victims.
The episode uses real life testimonies from people who’ve been impacted by blood donation in a bid to encourage viewers to become blood donors.
The story is especially close to actress Elinor Lawless, 42, who plays consultant Stevie Nash in the drama.
The actress joined the BBC drama back in 2021 and since then, has been a part of some gripping storylines.
But it’s her own health struggles that are the most gripping, having been diagnosed with two heart ailments at just three-years-old – a hole in her heart and anomalous pulmonary venous connection, a condition where the blood flows incorrectly to the heart.
The actress has spoken openly about her previous health battles.
She told The Sun’s TV Magazine: “I had a congenital heart condition as a kid. I had open heart surgery when I was seven. Because of that, I can’t give blood and it bothers me. It’s something so straightforward that we can do for each other.
“It’s a beautiful gift. You don’t get to see the pay off but you know it’s there.”
The specially-filmed teaser trailer for Casualty shows a snowy scene outside Holby General and we hear the voice of a panicked Siobhan saying: “The hospital is on amber warning, blood supplies are low.”
We then see paramedic Iain, played by Michael Stevenson, venturing out into the night, risking his own life to try to ease the situation.
Speaking about the episode, Michael, 44, said: “It’s jam-packed with action. Every step of the way in the Christmas episode, somebody’s day changes in an instant. And it shows that we just don’t know what’s around the corner.”
The cryptic clip was played to viewers on BBC One at the end of the series finale in September.
The medical drama has been a firm favourite with BBC viewers since it first made its debut in 1986.
Fans have been quick to respond to the trailer and are already taking to socials with their excitement at having the well known series back this Christmas.
One said: “Saturdays haven’t been the same without our casualty fix.”
Another agreed: “Awww, I’ve missed casualty on a Saturday. I’ve watched it from the start.”
The Casualty Christmas special airs on BBC One at 9:20pm on Saturday 21 December and will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.