Next of Kin (Casualty)

"Next of Kin" is a two-part episode of the British medical drama Casualty that served as the 15th and 16th episodes of the show's twenty-sixth series, and the 796th and 797th episodes overall. The first part premiered on 3 December 2011, and the second on 10 December 2011 on BBC One and BBC One HD in the United Kingdom. Both parts were directed by Simon Massey; part one was written by Patrick Homes and part two by Sally Abbott. "Next of Kin" marks Casualty's final episode to be filmed at their Bristol studios, where the show has been filmed since its conception in 1986, after the BBC decided to move the show to a new studio in Cardiff as part of their plans to expand production outside of England. The move received much opposition from multiple sources, including the cast and parliament.

The plot sees the show's setting, an emergency department, engulfed in a fire, a stunt designed to mark the final episode from Bristol. It also features the exits of regular characters Ruth Winters (Georgia Taylor) and Jay Faldren (Ben Turner); writers wanted to challenge the characters a final time before leaving through a pregnancy story. "Next of Kin" also served to progress other character stories. Filming took place in August 2011 at both the show's studios and The Bottle Yard Studios, where a replica set was created for the fire stunt. The final scene was filmed on the Clifton Suspension Bridge, mirroring the show's first ever scene.

The show's production team worked with companies The Giggle Group and MTFX Ltd across the development of the episode. Elements of the episode were filmed and edited using computer-generated imagery (CGI) so that fire could be inputted into scenes, making it appear realistic. Massey admitted that the production team encountered multiple logistical problems with the fire scenes, in particular in a tracking shot of the ED. Stunt performers were hired for the episode and used in scenes where two characters were thrown backwards by a backdraft explosion, and where a character was thrown through a glass sign.

The episode marked the first time Casualty had filmed and aired in high-definition television (HDTV). It was promoted through three trailers and a documentary released on the show's official website. The episode rated well with 5.01 and 5.31 million viewers watching the two parts within 7 days of their original broadcast. It was also well received by television critics, who praised the drama of the fire stunt and Ruth and Jay's exit from the show.