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11. Connie is back
Okay, so this one isn't technically a Christmas story as Connie's return doesn't air until January 4. But we are just so excited that we had to include it anyway.
Connie has been off screen since last summer, when she was urged by her friend Charlie Fairhead to get treatment for her addiction.
In the New Year, however, Connie is back – bolder and brighter than ever before. Oh and she has got a brand new look as well.
One to watch: Saturday, January 4
Digital Spy
Casualty will be kicking off the New Year in the same way it ended the last: horror, heartbreak and a fresh batch of dilemmas.
As the death of 24-year-old junior doctor Mason reverberates around the hospital, everyone is struggling – but some more than others.
Amid all the misery, Connie makes her much-anticipated return, Ruby has a big decision to make and Dylan is given a lifeline. Here is a collection of all the big stories coming your way next week:
1. The ED reels from Mason's death
Following Mason's devastating death in tonight's episode, the ED clan are understandably all still visibly shaken by the time next week arrives.
Determined to stay in control, Dylan gathers everyone in the staff room, where he reads a heartbreaking letter from Mason’s mother, which states his cause of death.
The letter explains how much Mason loved working in the ED with the gang, citing the last few months as the best of his life.
Dylan also mentions that Mason's post-mortem has revealed his cause of death as an undiagnosed heart condition, before going on to blast the poor working of the ED.
2. Connie is back
The moment has come. She's been off screen since the summer, but fan-favourite Connie is back next week – bolder, brighter and better than ever before.
Unfortunately, Connie's return coincides with an undeniably difficult time for the department and she finds herself thrown straight back into the deep end in her attempts to keep everything together.
Although Connie isn't actually due to reprise her ED duties for another few weeks, she makes a big decision when it becomes clear that the current clinical lead may no longer be up to the task. Speaking of which...
3. Dylan is struggling
As you're about to see, Dylan will be hit the hardest by Mason's untimely demise – convinced that he let the junior medic down in his time of need.
Consumed with guilt, Dylan goes on a downward spiral in next week's hard-hitting scenes, shocking his concerned colleagues with his angry behaviour.
Noticing his struggle, Connie gets tough with Dylan, insisting that blaming himself for Mason’s death isn’t what the ED needs and that he needs to lead by example. Connie also states that Dylan's exemplary management of the incident has been noted, but will he listen? Or is he heading back down a dark path?
4. Rash isn't coping, either
As Rash struggles with his own guilt over his rivalry with Mason during his final days, he isolates himself from his equally distraught colleagues.
Noticing Rash's low mood, Jacob reaches out to him with some poignant advice that gets him thinking.
Jacob highlights how Mason's short-sighted determination to handle everything on his own got him nowhere in the end and implores Rash not to do the same.
5. David reaches out to Dylan
David also attempts to step up to help a struggling Dylan after Connie approaches him with her fears.
When Connie privately addresses her worries with the nurse, David correctly concludes that Dylan perhaps isn't coping as well as he'd like everyone to believe.
Wanting to help, David offers him a chance to offload some of his worries and burdens, but Dylan rebuffs him.
6. Ruby faces a new dilemma…
After the worrying events over Christmas, Ruby faces a new dilemma when she is approached by social services over the custody of her baby niece Harmony.
With Violette still missing, Ruby is left torn over what to do – until she gets an update on her sister's whereabouts and rushes to her aid.
Sadly, when Ruby arrives, Violette is in a very bad way having overdosed on heroin while staying in a commune with other addicts.
As Violette is rushed into the ED, Ruby's thoughts soon return to Harmony, who is facing an uncertain future now social services are involved.
7. …but later finds Harmony
Following a thought-provoking chat with Jade about foster care, Ruby realises that she simply can't let Harmony be taken away without a fight.
After revealing her plans to her boss Jan, Ruby tells Violette that she will take temporary care of Harmony – on the condition that she gets herself clean.
Violette is overwhelmed with gratitude and vows to turn her life around, but will Ruby find harmony in this overwhelming new challenge?
8. Charlie isn't ready to forgive and forget
Charlie is one person who definitely isn't happy to see Connie back – unsurprisingly, given her deplorable behaviour towards his wife Duffy earlier in the year.
Determined to make amends, Connie reaches out to Charlie, but is left stung when he angrily rebuffs her. Charlie says that he can't forget what happened and insists they will never be friends again, but will Connie fight for his forgiveness?
That remains to be seen, but Amanda Mealing – who plays her – told Digital Spy that she thinks Charlie should keep Connie at arm's length for the foreseeable future.
"I said to the execs that it should take a long time for Charlie to forgive Connie," Amanda said. "I think it would take something major."
Casualty airs these scenes on Saturday, January 4 on BBC One.
Digital Spy