BBC One will premiere a new eight-part documentary series titled Caring Together on Monday, May 25, 2026.
The show follows actress Natalie Cassidy as she enrolls in college to train as a professional carer.
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Produced by Newry-based Big Mountain Productions for BBC Daytime and BBC Northern Ireland, the series explores the human stories and daily challenges within the health and social care sector across the United Kingdom.
Cassidy, known for her 30-year role as Sonia Fowler on EastEnders, filmed the project to highlight the realities faced by volunteers, professional nurses, and family carers in various care settings in England and Northern Ireland.
Training and Personal Journey
Cassidy discussed the documentary during an appearance on The One Show on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
She noted that the series fulfilled a long-held personal ambition inspired by her experience nursing her late father.
According to the logline, Cassidy will study, train, and work alongside health and social care students, care professionals, volunteers, and home carers at one of the UK's top Health & Social Care colleges.
Reflecting on her return to the classroom, Cassidy said, "It was very daunting because I thought, 'I'm going into a classroom here with a load of students.
I'm 42. What are they going to make of me?'"
She added, "But they took me under their wing, I became part of the team - it was wonderful getting to learn again."
Cassidy noted that this was her first formal schooling since age 16, as she went straight into EastEnders.
"It was lovely to get back into a bit of education," she said.
Care Settings and Community Stories
The documentary explores a range of care environments, including the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire MS Therapy Centre.
There, Cassidy met individuals and families managing long-term neurological conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's.
In Northern Ireland, the production collaborated with 24 institutions, including NHS Trusts and charities.
The team visited intergenerational projects in Belfast, therapy support programs in Moira, a dementia-friendly barbershop in Carrickfergus, and a Men's Shed group in Newtownabbey.
The series also features the Royal British Legion's Galanos House Care Home and Poppy Lodge in Southam.
Cassidy assisted staff with specialized residential care and bedtime routines for military veterans.
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Shirley Scotcher, chief executive of the Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire MS Therapy Centre, said, "We were absolutely thrilled to welcome Natalie Cassidy to our centre.
Natalie was warm, engaging, and genuinely interested in the experiences of our members, carers, and staff."
She highlighted the story of centre members Lisa and Gary Stonehouse as a powerful example of the realities many families face.
Galanos House Care Home Manager Jo-Anne Wilson described the sense of community among residents, who connect through shared military experiences.
"The team of staff takes great pride in supporting those who have served the country," she said.
Care staff member Amy Cotterill added, "It was lovely to meet and mentor Natalie.
She was so passionate about caring for others and willing to learn about my own experiences."
Cotterill hopes the documentary will help dismantle misunderstandings and stigma around care work.
Cassidy emphasized the empathy she witnessed among volunteers, charity workers, and nurses. "Everybody within that care system has so much empathy.
Everybody is caring, so you just have the best time," she said.
She expressed gratitude to the people who allowed cameras into their homes, hospitals, care homes, and college.
"That level of openness and trust is something I'll never take for granted," Cassidy said.
Big Mountain Productions executive Jane Kelly noted that the series coincides with the company's 21st anniversary.
"Caring touches so many lives, yet it is rarely explored in all its complexity on mainstream television," she said.
BBC Northern Ireland Head of Content Commissioning Eddie Doyle praised the regional independent production sector for telling universal stories.
The first four episodes of Caring Together will air daily at 1:30 PM and 7:00 PM on BBC One from Monday, May 25 to Thursday, May 28, 2026.
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They will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The final four episodes are scheduled for the week commencing Monday, June 1, 2026.
