Casualty star Olly Rix reveals fans should be afraid for Flynn and Stevie in 40th anniversary

| Deputy Soaps Editor Published September 5, 2026 10:00am Updated September 5, 2026 10:06am To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video They say that life begins at 40 but for Casualty’s Flynn Byron it could be the end, with star Olly Rix revealing that fans should be worried about his on-screen alter-ego and Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) amid the 40th anniversary. The BBC One medical drama returns to screens Saturday (September 5), following an extended break with a very big reason to celebrate as the much-loved serial turns the big 4-0. To mark the occasion, cast and crew have pulled out all the stops, with a high-octane double bill set to take fans by storm as a major incident puts the lives of the doctors and patients of Holby ED in jeopardy like never before. Discussing the sheer calibre and scale of the milestone episodes, which he describes as a ‘very self-aware thank you’ to the fans, Olly Rix told Metro that the cast did a table read of the double-bill, which isn’t something they’d normally do. ‘We sat, read and discovered them in that moment,’ he said, ‘which I think is the best way to approach big episodes. Stevie and Flynn are right in the centre of the danger (Picture: BBCStudios / Metro) ‘We got to the end of the second one and it took me a minute to process what happens – so much happens. I think that pace and scope is present from the first few minutes of the first episode right the way through to the end.’ Art imitates life as much like the show itself, mainstay Flynn turns 40 during the explosive episodes – but he’s got little reason to celebrate as, alongside longtime colleague and confidante Stevie, he finds himself in a life-threatening situation – and yes the fans should be worried about their fate. ‘I hope they are,’ he told me. ‘We’ve failed on the episodes if they’re not. I was worried, I was holding my breath watching it. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘I’m not going to give the outcome away but I think they should be worried for their physical safety but perhaps they’re seeing the beginning of a shift in how those two feel about that dynamic.’ Flynn is one of several characters at the focus of the 40th (Picture: BBC STUDIOS) There have been romantic undertones in the Stevie and Flynn dynamic throughout much of the last boxset – that is until Flynn’s decision to let villainous abuser Colonel Bard die proved difficult for Stevie to get her head around. Olly told me that, while the trauma inflicted by Bard has always been there, the scenes in question were the audience’s first real opportunity to see what made Flynn ‘tick’. ‘ You can call it damage if you want – or residue of past experience or scars – but it has been there from his very first episode,’ he said. ‘He’s quite a complicated guy in that respect. Flynn and Stevie’s lives are on the line (Picture: BBC STUDIOS) To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video ‘Flynn isn’t linear and straightforward. His capacity for self-awareness has grown massively and I think he realises in the 40th – partly because it’s his 40th birthday as well – he’s starting to think about his life and his identity and how much of that he controls, how much of that matches up to a projection he had when he was younger when he was serving, when he was in a different world. ‘That’s all brought to the fore by the situation in which [he and Stevie] find themselves. But then again, once you’re in that situation, all that falls away and it becomes a simple: ‘can you step up or can you not?’ and Flynn is certainly going to try.’ The anniversary episodes will pay tribute to the past while also heralding in an exciting new chapter in Casualty history. ‘I think fans of the show and people who’ve been with the show since the beginning are going to be rewarded with that focus on the past’, concluded Olly. ‘But equally there is a very real forward-facing perspective – a statement of intent about the episodes: That they move fast. They’re big. They’re ambitious. And that’s where the future of the show lies – and that’s what we’re trying to carry forward into series’ down the line beyond the 40th’. Casualty airs its 40th anniversary specials at 8pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. If you’ve got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@metro.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Deals of the Day An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 A friend said I looked 'snatched' – I credit this new Charlotte Tilbury powder Arrow MORE: Casualty rejected 40th anniversary nostalgia and proved why it still matters Arrow MORE: Casualty confirms when explosive 40th anniversary episodes will air Arrow MORE: Is Casualty on tonight? When it’s back and next on TV confirmed The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.