Charlie’s snail wins the snail race. Charlie and Ken's 'relationship' develops.Norma clashes with Mark and resigns.Jane's promoted to Associate General Manager of A&E.Mike leaves for West Africa. Duffy has a leaving party and Mike returns from Africa.Ash's promoted to Charge Nurse.Josh and Lucy are involved in an accident with a motorcyclist (the hospital chaplain).Mike's attacked by a deceased patient’s wife.Jane's furious when Mark resigns to join a tobacco firm and leaves all his mess for her to sort out.Josh's accused, but later cleared, of sexual assault.Charlie's shocked to learn Ken's feelings for him.Queen's Casualty department closes.Lucy (Paramedic) is taken hostage at a siege in a house.Charlie ‘celebrates’ his 40th birthday by preparing a letter of resignation but throws it away.Charlie evacuates the department and talks a gunman out of committing suicide... 
The Patients
A woman whose plunged down a lift shaft, a road victim with three wives, former receptionist Norma's admitted after a fall, a parachutist who suffers a bad fall, a male stripper with burns, a woman with a calcified foetus lodged in her abdomen for 40 years, a man faking a heart attack who later suffers a real attack, a woman with diarrhoea which causes a dysentery outbreak, a homeless youth dressed as an elf riddled with lice, a Filipino woman with cigarette burns, a woman with an addiction to stealing gloves, football hooligans and a suicidal man wielding a gun.
Guest Stars
Helen Baxendale plays religious cultist Emma.
Watch the clip
Paul Barber plays down-and-out Mungo.
Adjoa Andoh (Colette in Series 15/16) plays RTA victim Maggie.
Craig Kelly (SHO Daniel Perryman in Series 10) plays burglar and rapist Ian.
Paterson Joseph (Staff Nurse Mark Grace in Series 12) plays blind bridegroom Michael.
Regular Characters
Charlie Fairhead (Charge Nurse), Josh Griffiths (Motorcycle Paramedic), Martin Ashford (Senior Staff Nurse), Mike Barratt (Consultant).
Characters Joining
Ep1: Mark Calder (Surgical Manager), Karen Goodlife (Senior House Officer), Adele Beckford (Staff Nurse), Ken Hodges (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Ep2: Helen Chatsworth (Project 2000 Nurse), Mie Nishi-Kawa (Receptionist), Frankie Drummer (Porter), Ep9: Brian Crawford (Paramedic) Mary Skillett (Training Staff Nurse), Ep10: Tom Harley (Locum Consultant) Ep15: Dave Masters (Senior House Officer), Ep16: Rachel Longworth (Staff Nurse).
Characters Leaving
Ep6: Norma Sullivan (Receptionist), Ep7: Ken Hodges (Clinical Nurse Specialist), Ep10: Helen Chatsworth (Project 2000 Nurse), Ep13: Tom Harley (Consultant), Ep13: Lisa 'Duffy' Duffin (Sister), Ep17: Karen Goodlife (Senior House Officer) Ep18: Mark Calder (Surgical Manager), Ep19: Brian Crawford (Paramedic), Ep24: Jane Scott (Paramedic/ Manager) Dave Masters (Senior House Officer) Adele Beckford (Staff Nurse) Mary Skillett (Staff Nurse), Mie Nishi-Kawa (Receptionist) Frankie Drummer (Porter).
Series 8 was contributed to by fans -acknowledgements
