Holby City (series 22)


The twenty-second series of the British medical drama television series Holby City began on BBC One on 7 January 2020 in the United Kingdom. The series consists of 52 episodes. Jane Wallbank is the series producer, and Simon Harper is the executive producer. The series features an episode dedicated to Holocaust Memorial Day, a topical last-minute insert about the COVID-19 pandemic and a COVID-19-themed episode. Production for the drama was suspended between March and July 2020 due to the pandemic, and the show went on a two-month transmission hiatus on 14 April 2020, following the broadcast of episode 14. Fifteen regular cast members reprised their roles from the previous series and three actors depart during the series. Guy Self returns for a short stint and Raf di Lucca appears in a single episode, having been previously killed-off. The series also features the introduction of the show's first regular transgender character, Louis McGerry, and a guest appearance for actor and television personality John Barrowman as Drew Nicholson-Heath.

Episodes


Production

The series commenced on 7 January 2020 on BBC One and normally airs on Tuesday nights, although episode 9 was originally broadcast on a Wednesday evening. Episode 11 was postponed by a week due to an extended news bulletin on the COVID-19 outbreak. Simon Harper continues his role as the executive producer of the show, and Jane Wallbank serves as the series producer for the series. The series consists of 52 episodes. A winter trailer for the show's upcoming storylines was released on 4 December 2019. This series includes an episode dedicated to Holocaust Memorial Day featuring the characters of Sacha and Essie. Producers were asked by the BBC to create an episode for the occasion and they scripted it in August. The episode was broadcast as the fourth episode in the series. Holby City producers created two topical inserts for episodes 10 and 11 in March 2020, referencing the COVID-19 outbreak. A show spokesperson confirmed that the scenes were specially filmed a week prior to broadcast rather than the typical filming schedule months in advance.
The drama's upcoming storylines were previewed in a trailer released on 6 March 2020. Stories include cancer diagnoses for Essie and Fletch. Harper praised the "heartbreaking" and "wonderful" performances of Wragg and Walkinshaw, and explained that the story would follow the pair " this huge, bonding thing in common but such a different experience of it." Wragg also commented on the plot, "Throughout their journeys, Essie and Fletch discover their worst fears, their lost opportunities and what futures they need to make plans for."
It was announced on 18 March 2020 that production had been suspended on Holby City and other BBC Studios continuing dramas in light of new government guidelines following the COVID-19 pandemic. A BBC Studios statement confirmed that there would be no impact on the immediate broadcast of episodes, but the "long-term ramifications are still unclear". Despite this, it was announced on 9 April 2020 that the drama would be going on an extended hiatus on 14 April, following the broadcast of episode 14. Following its broadcast, it was confirmed that the show would return in July 2020. However, on 19 May 2020, it was announced that Holby City would return to broadcast on 2 June 2020. To aid hospitals during the outbreak, Holby City donated their on-set ventilators, which are fully operational, to the NHS Nightingale Hospital. On the donation, Harper commented, "We are only too happy to help out and do what we can for the courageous and selfless real life medics." They also donated personal protective equipment and other hospital equipment to the NHS.
Production resumed on Holby City in July 2020 with strict protocols enforced to maintain the safety of the cast and crew. Additionally, the social distancing measures enforced by the British government were adhered to. Filming for the series recommenced on 27 July and episodes were temporarily reduced to 40 minutes in length. Producers made the pandemic a recurring theme throughout the rest of the series, beginning with a special episode focusing on how the hospital staff, led by Max, deal with the pandemic. Kate Oates, the head of continuing drama at BBC Studios, expressed her delight at welcoming back the "exceptional cast and crew". She added, "We have some gripping stories to tell as we explore how the lives of our characters have been irrevocably changed since the start of the pandemic - and how our heroes battle against the odds, come what may."

Cast

The series began with 15 roles receiving star billing. Jo Martin portrays Max McGerry, a consultant in neurosurgery and the acting chief executive officer of Holby City Hospital, the show's setting. Hugh Quarshie stars as Ric Griffin, the hospital's medical director and a consultant general surgeon on the Acute Assessment Unit. Alex Walkinshaw stars as Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher, the director of nursing services. Catherine Russell plays Serena Campbell, the clinical lead of the AAU and a consultant general surgeon. Marcus Griffiths acts as Xavier "Zav" Duval, a general surgical registrar on the unit, and Nic Jackman features as Cameron Dunn, a general surgical CT1 doctor. Jaye Jacobs appears as Donna Jackson, the unit's senior staff nurse. Bob Barrett continues his role as Sacha Levy, a consultant general surgeon and the clinical lead of the general surgery ward, Keller. David Ames portrays Dominic Copeland, Keller ward's general surgical registrar. Kaye Wragg plays staff nurse Essie Di Lucca on the ward. Dawn Steele features as Ange Godard, a consultant general surgeon and the clinical lead of the Young Adult Unit, who later becomes the clinical lead of the AAU. Ramin Karimloo appears as Kian Madani, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and the clinical lead of the cardiothoracic surgery ward, Darwin. Rosie Marcel features in the series as Jac Naylor, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, and later, the co-clinical lead of the ward. Amy Lennox stars as Chloe Godard, a cardiothoracic registrar. Belinda Owusu portrays Nicky McKendrick, a cardiothoracic CT1 doctor. Additionally, the semi-regular cast contains Jules Robertson, Darcey Burke, Julia Deakin and Charlie Condou who star as porter Jason Haynes, Jac's daughter Emma Naylor-Maconie, Dominic's adoptive mother Carole Copeland, and locum consultant general surgeon Ben Sherwood, respectively.
Russell's departure from the drama after seven years was confirmed on 30 October 2019, and Serena's exit airs at the beginning of the series. Harper expressed his sadness at the departure, but wished the actress the best for the future and thanked her for her "unique, drily witty and passionate" performance as Serena. The character departs in episode 3. Condou's guest stint as Ben ends in episode 11 at the conclusion of his coming out story. Condou explained that Ben leaves after deciding to "spend a bit of time trying to figure out who he is." Writers opted to kill-off Zav in episode 14 as part of a story creating Cameron as a villainous character. Griffiths was pleased with his "memorable" exit story and thought it formed a "wicked, really awesome arc" to his character. Wragg departs the show during the series at the conclusion of Essie's cancer story.
Guy Henry returns to his role as Henrik Hanssen, a consultant general surgeon, during this series, having taken a break in the previous series. Henry confirmed that he had returned for a longer stint and Hanssen returns in the seventh episode as part of a story involving Carole. The return of actor John Michie in the role of consultant neurosurgeon Guy Self was announced on 6 March 2020. Guy returns following the privatisation of Darwin ward by external company Kestrel, which Guy has shares in. Harper expressed his delight at the character's return, promising that he would "sow trouble and strife" and create tension with Ric. The character returns in episode 13. On 9 July 2020, it was announced that Joe McFadden had reprised his role as Raf di Lucca for a single episode. The character was killed-off in a nineteenth series episode and appears as a vision to Essie during her terminal cancer story. McFadden explained that Raf returns to guide Essie in a "touching" episode. A show spokesperon told the Daily Mirror that the appearance would be "emotional" and "incredibly moving".
Tyler Luke Cunningham joined the cast as Louis McGerry, the son of Max, in episode 12. Louis, like Cunningham, is transgender and his introduction coincided with Trans Day of Visibility. Initially appearing in a recurring role, Cunningham joined the show's regular cast in episode 15 as Louis begins employment at the hospital as a staff nurse.
The series features several recurring characters, and numerous guest stars. Wallbank confirmed in an August 2019 interview that two cast members from Holby City sister show Casualty: Jason Durr and Shaheen Jafargholi would appear during this series for guest appearances. Marty appears in a story with his cousin, Kian, and David appears in a story about nursing. Jafargholi's appearance features in episode two. Durr filmed his appearances in December 2019, and he appears in episodes 12 and 13. Nicky features prominently in the series as part of a "big, gritty, topical" story exploring her personal struggles. As part of the story, actress Cathy Murphy was cast to portray Nicky's mother, Tracey McKendrick, in a recurring capacity from episode 3. She continues to appear in the series until episode 21 when Nicky disowns her. Tracey's blackmailer, Steve Connor, was also introduced for the beginning of the story, appearing in two episodes. Towards the end of Murphy's guest stint, Lynn Hunter was cast to portray Tracey's friend, Brenda Connolly. She appears in three episodes culminating in her character's death.
Susan Engel reprised her guest role as Sacha's great aunt, Maria Edelman, in episode 4, having last appeared in series 19. She appears in the Holocaust Memorial Day episode. Following this, David Horovitch reprised his role as Rabbi Stein, the rabbi at Sacha's synagogue, having also previously appeared in a series 19 episode. As part of a story about Kian, Phoenix Bates, the son of Kian's dead girlfriend, Bea Kaminski, was introduced. He appears in episodes 17 and 22. Episode 18 features the appearance of Fletch's daughter, Evie Fletcher, who is now portrayed by Phoebe French. Macey Chipping previously played the character across four series. Having previously appeared in the last series, Sophie Harkness reprised her role as Frankie Rendell in episode 23 as part of Essie's terminal cancer story. John Barrowman was cast in a one-episode guest role as Drew Nicholson-Heath, a consultant and "renowned global recruiter" who shares a backstory with Ange. Barrowman expressed his delight at appearing in the drama and commented, "My character Drew brings a new flavour to the show and I look forward to his return soon. Surgery will never be the same again." Drew appears in episode 23 and Barrowman suggested that the character could appear in future episodes. Amanda Mealing, who portrays Connie Beauchamp in Casualty and formerly in Holby City, told Elaine Reilly of What's on TV that she would make a crossover appearance in the series to "visit the old gang again".

Main characters