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The Ö÷²¥´óÐã has today confirmed that Casualty will be moving from Bristol to the Cardiff area.

We have previously said that, as part of the Network Supply Strategy, moving Casualty will play a significant part in fulfilling our commitment to building a creatively sustainable centre of excellence for drama in Wales and, more broadly, it will accelerate the development of the creative sector there.

Casualty will now enjoy significant benefits in joining the wider drama production community including Doctor Who, Torchwood, Pobol Y Cwm and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

A decision about the new location for Casualty is dependent on further value-for-money evaluations, ensuring maximum benefit for licence payers. The decision will be announced later in the year.

Notes to Editors

In October 2008 the Ö÷²¥´óÐã stated that, by the end of the Charter period (2016), half of all network TV production will come from out of London, with 17% of network spend from the Nations by 2016 and an interim target of 12% by 2012.

Subject to final funding approval, this will be achieved by building up the television production hubs in Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast, London, Bristol, Salford and Birmingham. These "centres of excellence" will be supported by moving returning programmes and series to create sustainable businesses, both in-house and in the wider local creative economies.

Bristol will remain a "centre of excellence" for Natural History and Factual programming.

Casualty will remain under the editorial lead of John Yorke, Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Controller, Drama Production & New Talent.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Press Office