'ER' likely to be renewed for 15th season

Aida Turturro / Rex Features

ER is close to being picked up for another season, according to reports.

The veteran medical drama had been expected to finish this year but plans for its sendoff were cut short by the writers' strike. Now NBC is likely to give the show one final season - its 15th on the air - although the number of episodes has yet to be determined.

In its heyday, ER was the number one show on US television, regularly drawing over 30 million viewers. Ratings have tailed off in recent years, however, with the current season averaging just 9.4 million to date.

Casting for the new season has already begun, with Aida Turturro (The Sopranos) and Australian actor David Lyons both in line for recurring roles.