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Kian (Ramin Karimloo) returns to Darwin Ward, determined to make amends with Jac (Rosie Marcel).
But when forgiveness doesn’t come easy, Kian goes into self-destruct mode - with almost fatal consequences.
A broken Essie (Kaye Wragg) searches for her purpose, but where will she find the answer she seeks?
Ric (Hugh Quarshie) suspects Guy (John Michie) has fallen off the wagon and sets out to stop him working at Holby, once and for all.
BBC
1. Essie searches for her purpose
Struggling to process the fact that she's living on borrowed time, a broken Essie desperately tries to search for a purpose to her tragic fate.
Determined to find a reason as to why her life is being cut so tragically short, Essie ends up finding hope in a very unexpected place...
2. Raf returns from the dead...sort of
As Essie's sad story takes centre stage again next week, viewers will see another slight break from Holby house style when she's visited by a ghost from her past – her late husband Raf.
Joe McFadden has reprised his role Raf, who was killed off in a shocking story back in 2017, for next week's special episode.
But in case you're wondering, Holby isn't stretching the realms of reality too much here as Raf will simply be appearing as figment of Essie's imagination in moving scenes that will leave her reevaluating the decisions she's made so far.
With Essie desperately searching for answers, Raf's reappearance tenderly inspires her to focus on love, not hate or anger, for the remainder of her life. Warning: you'll need the tissues for this one.
3. Kian is back...
After fleeing Holby unexpectedly last month, Kian returns next week – keen to pick up where he left off, with his colleagues, Phoenix and even Jac. Hmm, something tells us this isn't going to go well.
Sure enough, Kian quickly learns that this is going to be no easy task and immediately terrible after learning of Nicky's heart attack.
Phoenix is the next person on Kian's catch-up list, but the conversation turns tense when the grieving teenager questions why Kian hasn't been returning any of his messages.
After his difficult conversation with Phoenix, there is still one more person Kian needs to see. And this one could be the toughest of them all.
4. ...And he wants to make amends with Jac
Kian should know by now that Jac was never going to fall back into his arms that easily, but he's still under the misguided impression that their friendship is salvageable when he waltzes back onto the wards next week.
With Jac in no mood to forgive him for fleeing – or for his unsupportive behaviour prior to his exit – Kian is hurt by her cold words and contemplates leaving again.
5. Kian suffers a horrifying attack
When forgiveness from Jac doesn't come easy, Kian goes into self- destruct mode, with almost fatal consequences.
With Jac refusing to give him another chance, Kian needs an outlet for his anger – and Bea's son Phoenix takes the bait.
Acutely aware of just how much Phoenix is still struggling with his mum Bea's death, Kian deliberately winds the teenager up, and receives a brutal beating as a result.
Kian is left with horrifying injuries following his attack by Phoenix, but will he be okay?
6. Ric pursues a personal vendetta
Suspecting that Guy has fallen off the wagon, Ric sets out on a one-man mission to stop him working at Holby, once and for all.
Viewers will know that there is no blood loss between these two, meaning that Guy's return was always going to ruffle Ric's feathers.
However, with Guy promising sobriety, could Ric be barking up the wrong tree here? Or is he bang on the money?
7. Essie makes an announcement
Emboldened by Raf's words from beyond the grave, Essie decides it's time to face up to what is happening and bravely gathers the team.
With everyone together, Essie then explains that her cancer has become untreatable and that she's now only having palliative care going forwards, leaving her friends and colleagues devastated. Will the Holby hospital ever be the same again?
Holby City airs these scenes on Tuesday, July 21 at 8pm on BBC One.
Digital Spy