BBC TV - HOLBY CITY

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Holby City is a medical drama television serial broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom.

Episode Update
Tues 21st November

The programme

Holby City began on 12 January 1999 as a spin-off from Casualty and is named after the fictional Holby City Hospital in which it is set. The show follows the lives and careers of staff and patients at the hospital and deals with a range of clinical and ethical issues. The regular characters are all staff, and patients are played by guest actors (which have included some famous names such as Eric Sykes, Phill Jupitus, Michael Jayston, Michele Dotrice and Ronni Ancona). The show was originally commissioned as a series to be shown as part of the BBC's winter schedules, however as of the start of Season 4 (9 October 2001) the program is broadcast all year round on Tuesdays at 8.00pm on BBC1.

In the early seasons of Holby City (mainly seasons 1 - 3) regular appearances were made from characters from sister-show Casualty and vice versa, however due to a huge growth in cast and busy filming schedules due to 52 episodes a year, the two shows tend to stay separate. Characters from both Holby City and Casualty however do meet when special Casualty@Holby City episodes are made.

Holby City is made at BBC Elstree and filming of the show takes place between 3 to 5 months in advance of broadcast. Using this as an example, an episode shown on TV at Christmas would have been filmed somewhere between July and September. Each single 1-hour episode takes two weeks to film - the cast film two episodes at the same time. The cast and crew of the show often work 12-hour days when filming. It may also be of interest to note that the Holby City building can often be seen in episodes of EastEnders in the distance.

In spring 2006, the BBC announced that a spin-off drama from the show, to be named 'Holby Blue' was in early stages of production. This upcoming series focuses on the Police service within the city of Holby. As an update, filming of Holby Blue commenced in September 2006, with completion of the 12-part series expected in late January. If the initial first series achieves good ratings for the BBC it is expected that the show will be recommissioned as a serial to be broadcast all year round, like its parents Holby City and Casualty.

On Saturday 4th November 2006 the actors who play Elliot Hope, Diane Lloyd, Matt Parker, Maddy Young, Mark Williams, Reg Lund, Kyla Tyson, Daniel Clifford, Maria Kendall and Dean West filmed a comedy version of Madonna's "Hung Up" song. This was broadcast on Friday 17th November 2006 as Holby City's contribution to the BBC Children in Need appeal. Characters Maddy Young, Daniel Clifford and Maria Kendall have not arrived on the actual show itself yet. Maddy and Daniel appear from 28th November 2006 and Maria Kendall appears from next year.

Series information

Casualty@Holby City

Reflecting Holby City's origins as a spin-off from Casualty and the closely-related premises of the two programmes, the BBC has screened occasional crossover mini-dramas entitled Casualty@Holby City and featuring a number of characters from each of the two casts. There have been four stories involving both casts:

• December 2004 - A Christmas special featuring a fuel tanker lorry crashing into the Accident & Emergency department of Holby City Hospital. Casualty character Jim Brodie died rescuing his colleagues from the burning hospital building.

• August 2005 - As part of the BBC's DoNation season, raising the profile of organ donation issues, an interactive mini-series was screened and viewers voted for one of two patients to receive an organ donation in the show. The plot was designed to raise awareness of the scarcity of organs and encourage viewers to consider joining the NHS Donor Register.

• October 2005 - A week-long Hallowe'en crossover focusing on issues around youth violence, featuring an ambulance hijack and an assault on character Comfort Newton by pupils at a failing secondary school.

• December 2005 - A further crossover was screened during the BBC's 2005 Christmas programming, which saw the return of popular former character Mr Nick Jordan (played by Michael French), and a group of staff involved in a road collision.

The BBC have not announced any further plans for crossover episodes.

Wards

Current wards

• Darwin - The hospital's cardiac ward. Currently the longest-featured ward in the show, patients with breathing, heart, lung, and other cardiac related problems are admitted to this ward. Featured since the start of the show.

• Keller - Holby's General Surgery ward, for patients needing liver transplants, appendix removals, people with body cancers and other general surgery problems. This ward has been featured since series 2.

• The Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) - for patients admitted via their GP or from the Emergency Department where they will undergo further tests and stabilisation before they are transferred to the relevant ward or discharged. Featured since late series 4.

Former wards

• Otter Ward - The hospital's children's ward. This ward was featured from series 3 to series 4 of the show.

• Maternity - Holby's baby delivery and baby care unit. This ward was featured from series 4, however in series 7 the show's bosses decided to axe it due to repetitive storylines.

Recurring wards and other areas

Wards in the hospital that only appear a small number of times

• ED - The Emergency Department from sister-show Casualty is sometimes featured in Holby City. As of 2006, this has only happened around 5 or 6 times since the show's birth in 1999

• Laboratories - The hospital labs are sometimes seen when character Reg Lund is working there.

Staff casualties

• Nick Jordan - Beaten up in lift and gashed wrist

• Jasmine Hopkins - Stabbed in heart and miscarried

• Anton Meyer - Suspected Motor-Neurone disease and shot

• Victoria Merrick - Stabbed in the heart, murdered

• Mike Barratt - Broken leg and damaged muscle

• Alex Adams - Suspected Parkinson's disease and beaten up

• Chrissie Williams - Stillbirth

• Kath Shaughnessy - Stabbed in the abdomen

• Ben Saunders - Car crash, died

• Steve Waring - Car crash, died

• Alistair Taylor - Fire in the ED, died

• Liam Evans - Crippled after falling over balcony

• Rosie Sattar - Stabbed in the ED fire and miscarried

• Will Curtis - Scaffolding through chest, died

• Matt Parker - Stabbed on AAU

• Joseph Byrne - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Fentanyl overdose

Cast

Current cast

The following characters appear regularly in the programme as of November 9th, 2006

Note that departing or returning characters are not listed here, and can be found in the relevant section further in this article. They are ordered by arrival date.

• Paul Rose, Consultant Anaesthetist, Darwin/Keller

portrayed by Andrew Lewis, from 3x03 (2000-)

• Chrissie Williams, Clinical Matron (prev. Ward Sister), Darwin

portrayed by Tina Hobley, from 3x30 (2001-)

• Jess Griffin, Staff Nurse, Orthopoedics (prev. Personal Assistant to Owen Davis, Staff Nurse, AAU)

portrayed by Verona Joseph, from 4x15 to 8x15; from 9x04 (2002-)

• Donna Jackson, Bank Nurse, Various

portrayed by Jaye Jacobs, from 6x24 (2004-)

• Connie Beauchamp, Clincal Lead; Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon (prev. Medical Director), Darwin

portrayed by Amanda Mealing, from 6x35 (2004-)

• Mark Williams, Charge Nurse, AAU (prev. Staff Nurse, Darwin)

portrayed by Robert Powell, from 7x18 (2005-)

• Dean West, Specialist Trainee, Neuro (prev. Medical Student, various)

portrayed by Paul Henshall, from 7x29 (2005-)

• Matt Parker, Specialist Trainee, Keller (prev. Medical Student, various)

portrayed by Adam Best, from 7x29 (2005-)

• Lola Griffin, Consultant Critical Care Physician, AAU

portrayed by Sharon D Clarke, from 7x34 (2005-)

• Reg Lund, Locum Registrar, AAU (prev. Research Registrar)

portrayed by Martin Hancock, from 7x37 to 7x51; 8x14; from 8x24 (2005-)

• Percival "Abra" Durant, Locum Consultant General Surgeon, Keller

portrayed by Adrian Edmondson,7x38; 7x48; 8x09; from 8x33 to 8x34; from 8x46 (2005, 2006-)

• Elliot Hope, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon (prev. Clinical Lead), Darwin

portrayed by Paul Bradley, from 8x04 (2005-)

• Jac Naylor, General Surgical Registrar, Keller

portrayed by Rosie Marcel, from 8x06 (2005-)

• Sam Strachan, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Tom Chambers, from 8x12 (2006-)

• Joseph Byrne, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Luke Roberts, from 8x12 (2006-)

• Lord Byrne, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, St. Luke's Private Hospital

portrayed by Ronald Pickup, from 8x12 to; 8x20; 8x24; 8x34; 8x37; from 9x01 (2006-)

• Kyla Tyson, Acting Sister, AAU (prev. Staff Nurse, Keller)

portrayed by Rakie Ayola, from 8x17 (2006-)

Impending cast changes

Departing

• Diane Lloyd, General Surgical Registrar, Keller

portrayed by Patricia Potter, from 4x39 to 8x37; from 9x01 to 9x36 (2002-2007)

Joining

• Faye Morton, Staff Nurse, Darwin

portrayed by Patsy Kensit from 9x?? (2006-) (Delayed - Expected January 2007)

• Maria Kendall, Medical Student, Various

portrayed by Phoebe Thomas from 9x06 (2006-)

• Daniel Clifford, Consultant General Surgeon, Keller

portrayed by Peter Wingfield, from 9x06 (2006-)

• Maddy Young, Senior House Officer, Darwin

portrayed by Nadine Lewington from 9x11 (2007-)

Returning

There are no returning characters to the show.

Upcoming guest-stars

(Cast from Casualty)

Kip Gamblin. Season 9, Episode 6: The Unforgiven, as Greg Fallon, Paramedic

Jane Hazlegrove. Season 9, Episode 6: The Unforgiven, as Kathleen 'Dixie' Dixon, Paramedic

Original cast

The following characters starred in the first series, which began on January 12th 1999.They are listed by arrival date.

• Anton Meyer, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Darwin

portrayed by George Irving, from 1x01 to 4x46 (1999-2002)

• Nick Jordan, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin (later Consultant General Surgeon, Keller)

portrayed by Michael French, from 1x01 to 2x14, from 8x19 to 8x37 (1999-2000, 2005-2006)

• Kirstie Collins, Cardiological Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Dawn McDaniel, from 1x01 to 3x06 (1999-2000)

• Muriel McKendrick, Consultant Cardiologist, Darwin

portrayed by Phyllis Logan, from 1x01 to 1x09 (1999)

• Jasmine Hopkins, Staff Nurse, Darwin (later Nurse Practitioner, Keller; Junior Ward Sister, Otter)

portrayed by Angela Griffin, from 1x01 to 3x30 (1999-2001)

• Julie Fitzjohn, Staff Nurse (later Ward Sister), Darwin

portrayed by Nicola Stephenson, from 1x01 to 3x29 (1999-2001)

• Ray Sykes, Staff Nurse, Darwin

portrayed by Ian Curtis, from 1x01 to 2x16 (1999-2000)

• Ellie Sharpe, Theatre Sister, Darwin

portrayed by Julie Saunders, from 1x01 to 1x06 (1999)

• Paul Ripley, Ward Clerk, Darwin

portrayed by Luke Mably, from 1x01 to 1x03 (1999)

• Victoria Merrick, PRHO, Darwin (later Paediatrics SHO, Otter)

portrayed by Lisa Faulkner, from 1x02 to 3x26 (1999-2001)

• Karen Newburn, Ward Sister, Darwin

portrayed by Sarah Preston, from 1x03 to 2x16 (1999-2000)

Former cast

The following characters formerly appeared on the show regularly. They are ordered in departure date.

Not included on this list: original cast, current cast, returning cast

• Mike Barratt, Consultant 

portrayed by Clive Mantle, from 2x05 to 3x30 (1999-2001)

• Liam Evans, Staff Nurse, Darwin/Keller

portrayed by Adrian Lewis Morgan

• Tash Bandara, General Surgical Registrar, Keller

portrayed by Thusitha Jayasundera, from 2x05 to 4x37 (1999-2002)

• Keri McGrath, Paediatrics Outreach Nurse, Otter

portrayed by Anna Mountford, from 3x02 to 4x41 (2000-2002)

• Janice Taylor, Senior Consultant Paediatrician, Otter

portrayed by Siobhan Redmond, from 3x02 to 4x44 (2000-2002)

• Sam Kennedy, SHO, Darwin

portrayed by Collette Brown, from 3x19 to 4x44 (2001-2002)

• Steve Waring, Charge Nurse, AAU (prev. Otter)

portrayed by Peter de Jersey, from 3x01 to 5x31 (2000-2003)

• Danny Shaughnessy, Health Care Assistant, Darwin/Otter

portrayed by Jeremy Edwards, from 2x01 to 5x32 (1999-2003)

• Ben Saunders, Midwife, Maternity

portrayed by David Paisley, from 4x17 to 5x29 (2002-2003)

• Alex Adams, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Jeremy Sheffield, from 3x01 to 4x45; from 5x20 to 5x45 (2000-2002, 2003)

• Sandy Harper, Staff Nurse, Darwin

portrayed by Laura Sadler, from 3x01 to 5x48 (2000-2003)

• Stan Ashleigh, Health Care Assistant, Darwin/Keller

portrayed by Paul Shane, from 3x11 to 4x20; 6x02 (2001-2002, 2003)

• Nic Yorke, Health Care Assistant, Darwin/Keller

portrayed by Liam Garrigan, from 5x36 to 6x13 (2003)

• Kelly Yorke, Staff Nurse, Keller

portrayed by Rachel Leskovac, from 5x39 to 6x17 (2003-2004)

• Kath Fox (prev. Shaughnessy), Ward Sister, Keller

portrayed by Jan Pearson, from 2x05 to 6x26 (1999-2004)

• Tom Campbell-Gore, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon (prev. Clinical Director; sometime Locum), Darwin

portrayed by Denis Lawson, from 4x45 to 5x43 from 6x09 to 6x33 (2002-2004)

• Ed Keating, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Rocky Marshall, from 4x45 to 6x33 (2002-2004)

• Alistair Taylor, Locum Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, Darwin

portrayed by Dominic Jephcott, 3x15; from 4x01 to 4x44; 6x01; 7x11 (2001-2002, 2003, 2004)

• Rosie Sattar, Midwife, Maternity

portrayed by Kim Vithana, from 5x32 to 7x13 (2003-2005)

• Will Curtis, Cardiothoracic Surgical Registrar, Darwin

portrayed by Noah Huntley, from 6x29 to 7x25 (2004-2005)

• Carlos Fashola, Plastic Surgeon

portrayed by David Bedella, from 6x42 to 7x07; 7x34 (2004, 2005)

• Sean Thompson, SHO, AAU

portrayed by Chinna Wodu, from 7x06 to 7x43 (2004-2005)

• Lisa Fox, Clinical Matron, Keller (prev. Ward Sister; Staff Nurse, AAU; Midwife, Maternity)

portrayed by Luisa Bradshaw-White, from 4x13 to 7x48 (2001-2005)

• Prof. Zubin Khan, Consultant Anaesthetist; Head of ITU

portrayed by Art Malik, from 5x37 to 7x51 (2003-2005)

• Mubbs Hussein, Obstetrics Registrar, Maternity

portrayed by Ian Aspinall, from 4x08 to 7x52 (2001-2005)

• Owen Davis, Consultant Obstetrician, Maternity

portrayed by Mark Moraghan, from 4x03 to 8x10 (2001-2005)

• Justin Fuller, Physiotherapist, AAU

portrayed by Ben Richards, from 8x23 to 8x37 (2006)

• Michael Beauchamp, Chairman of the Board (Acting),

portrayed by Anthony Calf, from 7x27 to 7x52, 8x41 (2005, 2006)

• Mickie Hendrie, Staff Nurse, Keller (prev. Midwife, Maternity)

portrayed by Kelly Adams, from 6x24 to 8x47 (2004-2006)

• Bradley Hume, Assistant General Manager

portrayed by Scott Adkins, from 8x32 to 8x52 (2006-)

• Ric Griffin, Consultant General Surgeon; Head of General Surgery 

portrayed by Hugh Quarshie, from 4x01 to 9x04 (2001-2006)

• Tricia Williams, Staff Nurse, Darwin (prev. Shop Assistant)

portrayed by Sharon Maughan, from 5x27 to 9x06 (2003-2006)

Episode list

The following is a list of episodes up to the end of series 3. From the start of series 4 Holby City became an all-year-round soap.

Season lne, 1999

1. E1 (12 Jan 99} : Whose Heart Is It Anyway? (Pilot Episode)

2. E2 (19 Jan 99) : Happy Families

3. E3 (26 Jan 99) : Kill Or Cure

4. E4 (2 Feb 99) : Love and Death

5. E5 (9 Feb 99) : Never Judge a Book

6. E6 (16 Feb 99) : Brave Heart

7. E7 (23 Feb 99) : Take me With You

8. E8 (2 Mar 99) : Staying Alive (Part 1)

9. E9 (9 Mar 99) : Staying Alive (Part 2)

Season two, 1999 to 2000

1. E1 (25 Nov 99) : Search for the Hero

2. E2 (2 Dec 99) : Puppy Love

3. E3 (9 Dec 99) : Destination Unknown

4. E4 (16 Dec 99) : You Can Choose Your Friends

5. E5 (23 Dec 99) : Knife Edge

6. E6 (30 Dec 99) : Tidings of Comfort and Joy

7. E7 (7 Jan 00) : Chasing the Dragon

8. E8 (13 Jan 00) : A Marriage of Convenience

9. E9 (20 Jan 00) : A Life Worth Saving

10. E10 (27 Jan 00) : Staying Out

11. E11 (3 Feb 00) : Trust

12. E12 (10 Feb 00) : Faith

13. E13 (17 Feb 00) : Letting Go

14. E14 (24 Feb 00) : Dispossessed

15. E15 (2 Mar 00) : Taking it on the Chin

16. E16 (9 Mar 00) : Into the Woods

Season three, 2000 to 2001

1. E1 (5 Oct 00) : The Deep End

2. E2(12 Oct 00) : Too Much Too Young

3. E3 (19 Oct 00) : The Right Thing

4. E4 (9 Nov 00) : First Impressions

5. E5 (16 Nov 00) : Against All Odds

6. E6 (23 Nov 00) : Moving On

7. E7 (30 Nov 00) : The Trouble with the Truth

8. E8 (14 Dec 00) : A Christmas Carol (Part 1)

9. E9 (21 Dec 00): A Christmas Carol (Part 2)

10. E10 (28 Dec 00) : Anyone Who Had a Heart

11. E11(16 Jan 01) : Extra Time

12. E12 (23 Jan 01): Runaway

13. E13 (30 Jan 01) : Choices

14. E14 (6 Feb 01) : Night Shift

15. E15 (13 Feb 01) : Winner Takes All

16. E16 (20 Feb 01) : Silent Witness

17. E17 (27 Feb 01) : Tip of the Iceberg

18. E18 (6 Mar 01) : Borrowed Time

19. E19 (20 Mar 01) : Private Lives, Public Faces

20. E20 (27 Mar 01) : Family Ties

21. E21 (3 Apr 01) : Snakes and Ladders

22. E22 (10 Apr 01) : A Change is Gonna Come

23. E23 (17 Apr 01) : Going Gently

24. E24 (24 Apr 01) : Release

25. E25 (1 May 01) : I'm not in Love

26. E26 (8 May 01) : Getting Even

27. E27 (15 May 01) : The Mourning After

28. E28 (22 May 01) : New Beginnings

29. E29 (29 May 01) : Hearts and Flowers

30. E30 (5 Jun 01) : The Road Less Travelled

External links

• Holby.tv fan website

• Holby & Casualty Forum

• Holby City - UK TV Schedules and Episode Guide

Citations

1. Present Characters (PHP). holby.tv Database.

2. Holby City, Series 1 (PHP). holby.tv Database.

3. Past Characters (PHP). holby.tv Database.

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC, sometimes also known as the Beeb or Auntie) is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world, founded in 1922. It produces programmes and information services, broadcasting on television, radio, and the Internet. The motto of the BBC is Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation.

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