View Full Version : Doctors
fraggle1961
18-01-2010, 18:50
Has there ever been a spoiler for this programme? I can't be the only person to watch it!! I'm worried about Jimmi:(
There was not enough interest for a thread on Doctors. I watch it when I can, usually only on a Friday because I finish work early. Have been off sick for a few days and hope that this storyline ends soon, fooking ridiculous, Jimmy phoning Julia instead of police when he had the chance. :wall: But I gather that it will come to an end at the end of this week.
hey does anyone watch this? I need to start watching this for uni, and am a bit lost with the storylines. what's going on with all the characters and stuff?
Debbie Meadows
24-02-2010, 12:33
I love this show i usually watch it on i player
some of the storylines currently are Zara is not really Zara her real name is Alex Grey and is under a false name 2 get revenge for her dad who's in prison shes sleeping with the son of the finance directer of a company her dad and this guy used to run together. Their was a fire and 1 person died and Ales' dad got the blame and got 10 years when it was the other guys fault. She's now balckmailing Daniel into sleeping with the mans wifeto wreck thier marriage. (Goes on I Know)
Lilly the one whos always in black is about to foster a troubled teenager alone
Charlies the one with the white hair was recently being a right pratt recently by making innapproapriate remarks over all the female staff but the girls got their revenge.
Simon is the (one with glasses don't know how else to desctibe him) he's ay and recently went on a date set up unknowingly ny his friend Cherry (blonde nurse) but was a disaster (not exactly interesting I know)
Cherry's also recently had a big storyline when she found out her boyfriend Scott was a drug dealer. he died after overdosing on Heroine
Karen whos the receptionist was recently held hostage by her son Jacks' 'mate' Lewis at the uni where he attends. Lewis was shot dead after Jacks dad Rob the copper stormed in and the police marks men shot lewis dead. Lewis also shot his lectuere
Hope this helps its just some of whats been going on recently and i know some of it goes on but thats just me!!
That is quite a good description, Debbie :)
Jimmy, one of the doctors was also held hostage by a brother and sister, they drugged him all the time and chained him to the radiator or bed. The sister wanted to sleep with him to have a baby. Ran nearly 3 weeks, I think, with this storyline before Jimmy was found
Debbie Meadows
24-02-2010, 15:56
Had too much time on my hands I think lol
Former Emmerdale star Alyson Spiro has landed a guest part on BBC daytime drama Doctors.
The actress, who played the Yorkshire soap's Sarah Sugden between 1994 and 2000, is filming her one-off appearance this week for an episode due to air in July.
Spiro is taking on the role of Gill Ferry, the daughter of an elderly Alzheimer's sufferer named Lorna Robson. Lorna is introduced to the serial as a neighbour of regular character Julia Parsons (Diane Keen).
As previously revealed, veteran actress Susannah York is also filming with Doctors this week in the role of Lorna.
The pair's episode, titled 'Gibberish', is due to be screened on Monday, July 12 on BBC One. It will see Julia becoming embroiled in the lives of Gill and Lorna after making a shock discovery.
Doctors is celebrating its tenth anniversary this week and has been marking the occasion with Decade of Doctors, a five-part series of behind-the-scenes shows.
Former Coronation Street star Madhav Sharma is to appear on BBC medical drama Doctors for a guest part.
The actor, who played Dev Alahan's businessman acquaintance Prem Mandal on the Weatherfield soap in 2008, recently finished filming a two-episode stint at the Doctors set.
In instalments which air in May and June, Sharma will be seen in the role of Ravi Choudhry, a former colleague of regular character Dr. Heston Carter (Owen Brennan).
Heston's latest story begins when Ravi and Hugo, another one of his old friends, turn up out of the blue to remind him that it is his turn to host an annual get-together.
Later, Cherry Malone (Sophie Abelson) volunteers herself as co-host for the event and the night itself sees her struggling under the pressure to create a good impression.
Sharma's two episodes are due to be screened on Thursday, May 20 and Friday, June 4 respectively.
Doctors celebrates its tenth anniversary this week and has been marking the milestone with Decade of Doctors, a five-part series of behind-the-scenes shows.
Earlier this week, DS revealed that former Cutting It star Annette Badland, veteran actress Susannah York and ex-Emmerdale regular Alyson Spiro will also be seen in guest parts later this year.
DS
Former Holby City star Mark Moraghan is to make a one-off appearance on BBC medical drama Doctors.
The actor, best known for playing Holby General's Owen Davies between 2001 and 2005, will be seen in the role of Tony Mullen, a patient of Dr Heston Carter (Owen Brenman).
In a forthcoming episode, Tony arrives at the Mill with wife Sandy (Julia Dalkin) and is told that their chances of having a baby are slim. The couple's struggle to conceive stems back to a childhood accident which saw Sandy being hit by a car.
The instalment, titled 'Past Tense', is scheduled to air on Tuesday, June 1 and will explore how the pair's problems leave Tony in a bitter and angry state.
As well as his Holby role, Moraghan has previously starred in Brookside and Dream Team.
Doctors has been celebrating its tenth anniversary this week. Over the past five days, DS has exclusively revealed the castings of Annette Badland, Susannah York, Alyson Spiro and Madhav Sharma in other guest roles on the serial.
The cast and crew of daytime soap Doctors fear that the show could become a casualty of the BBC Trust's network-wide drama review, according to a report.
Last week, it was revealed that the BBC's flagship serials - including EastEnders, Casualty and Holby City - are to receive a value-for-money assessment as part of the Trust's published work plan for 2010 and 2011.
According to The Mirror today, the news has left the Doctors team feeling pessimistic over the programme's future because the Trust could decide to cut back on the number of BBC medical dramas.
The newspaper quotes a show executive as saying: "We're preparing to find ourselves on the chopping block. Three long-running shows with a similar audience, themes and storylines are up for review and Doctors is probably the weakest link in terms of ratings."
Doctors last month celebrated its 10th anniversary and continues to be a strong performer for BBC One's daytime schedule, regularly winning its timeslot and attracting consistent audience numbers.
Responding to today's reports, a Doctors spokesperson told DS: "We welcome the forthcoming review into the BBC's continuing drama. It's an opportunity to highlight creative programming that attracts a large and dedicated audience on a regular basis.
"EastEnders, Holby, Casualty and Doctors tackle a variety of social issues and have won many awards. Not only are they key programmes in the BBC One schedule, but they also provide a training ground for developing and nurturing diverse new talent on and off screen."
Meanwhile, a source close to the show this morning told DS: "It's all speculation at the minute. The Trust's review isn't about axing shows, it's about ensuring they're value for money. Doctors airs 234 episodes a year and we're currently filming nine episodes at any one time, so we're confident that the Trust's review will highlight that."
Jessie Wallace
14-04-2010, 13:20
Man if the BBC cut anything else they'll be nothing left to watch except repeats.
They've axed so many good drama's and then just repeat show like New Tricks which i do like but i don't need it repeated coz they've axed all the other good shows! soooo annoying.
They better not axe Doctors its a great show.
Digital Spy's Producer Season continues with an exclusive interview with Doctors' long-standing series producer Peter Lloyd. The BBC daytime soap scooped two trophies at this year's British Soap Awards - Ami Metcalf (Sapphire Cox) as 'Best Dramatic Performance For A Young Actor Or Actress' and Jan Pearson and Chris Walker (Karen and Rob Hollins) for 'Best On-Screen Partnership'. Here, Peter teases about what's to come over the next few months in the fictional Birmingham suburb of Letherbridge and reveals which series regular is to bow out in the summer.
Will Dr Lily Hassan ever be returning? Was her exit always planned?
"You never know! We did feel that we'd reached the end of Lily's story with Sapphire and wanted to give the character a positive 'out'. But I thought Lily was a successful character who provided a great contrast to the others in the gang."
How do you feel about bringing Christopher Timothy's Dr Brendan McGuire back, even if it's only for one episode?
"I don't know why we'd do that unless there was a very good reason. The show has moved on a great deal since Chris was with us so I don't think anyone would want the character back just out of nostalgia. But if it's motivated, if it has an impact on our characters and makes sense dramatically, then never say never. Actually, we are bringing back another face from the past later in the year which will make a lot of people happy, but I'm going keep you guessing on that one!"
If Julia can forgive and forget with regard to everyone else, why can't she do so for Daniel? Will we ever see Julia's attitude towards Daniel change? Does Julia secretly fancy Daniel?
"It's interesting, isn't it? I love the dynamic between these two - I have my own theories, so do Di and Matt but we've yet to answer the question, maybe we will, maybe we won't. Something is going to happen between them in September which might shed some light on this."
Are there any new arrivals or departures you can tell us about?
"We will be saying goodbye to Michelle in the summer. Donnaleigh has been with us for just over four years now and feels it's time to spread her wings and try something new in her career, which is understandable since she's been here virtually from drama school. She's got a great exit story which I'm very excited about which I think will be very popular with viewers. We'll also be getting a new female doctor called Elaine who will have a new take on the surgery and will be very interesting to have around."
What does the future hold for Michelle?
"A huge challenge that's going to test her physically and mentally. It's heart-breaking and heart-warming and a radical life change for her, I can't wait for the viewers to see what happens in the summer because I'm really excited about what we're doing with her."
The tenth birthday celebration of Doctors was very short and not as good as fans expected - why didn't you push the boat out?
"Money, in a word. As everyone knows, all our budget goes into the programmes, we just don't have the resources to do something huge. Daytime were great in making the mini documentaries, but I understand people wanting more."
Is Seán Gleeson still going to direct for Doctors in the future?
"I'm sure we will see him again, we enjoyed what he did with his last episodes, so keep an eye on the listings in the future…"
What have you planned for the Hollinses as a family?
"Karen's going to be changing career, kind of, and so is Rob, later in the year. Jack and Imogen both have a little growing up to do, and Michelle's story is going to have quite an impact on them. Plus, it's time Imogen had a proper boyfriend and Jack buckled down and did some proper work! This family have been so successful, you can pretty much throw anything at them, including their recent Soap Award! Towards the end of the year, I'm throwing them a really doozy..."
Can viewers expect a 'happily ever after' for Daniel and Zara?
"Well, that would be far too easy, wouldn't it? They're just too alike, too contrary, it's always going to be a rocky road for them, but that's what makes it so much fun with these two. They do try to be in a 'normal relationship' and the results are hilarious, they even go on a conventional date – bowling! But things are slowly going to even out for Daniel as he gets to see his daughter regularly and he feels a bit more stable in life. Inevitably that's all going to come crashing down later, but stay posted for that one..."
Is Charlie hiding any dark secrets? If so, can you give us any clues?
"Oh yes. Just when you think you know Charlie, something else crops up. Our writers have loved writing for him, because he's one of those characters who'll happily say that wrong thing and be completely unapologetic about it. But of course he has a sinister side and that's going to come out more and more – his treatment of the female members of the team is an indication, so is his increasing homophobia towards Simon. How dark can he get? Very! Keep watching!"
Any update on a BBC Three repeat slot or a weekend omnibus?
"No is the short answer! There aren't any plans for either, but do remember that Doctors is repeated every day on the BBC HD Channel at 6.30pm and of course you can always catch up with us on BBC iPlayer."
And also on the cards...
§ Julia starts to crumble, but what could be causing it? Is she just getting too old?
§ Life starts to take a turn for the better for Jimmi - about time, say viewers!
§ What happens when Daniel finds out about Zara’s early menopause?
§ Heston starts behaving controversially - and gets us all in trouble.
§ We really need to keep an eye on Simon...
§ ... and Ruth faces her biggest challenge so far.
Doctors star Donnaleigh Bailey is to bow out from the BBC daytime soap later this year, it has been announced.
The actress, who has played senior practice nurse Michelle Corrigan since 2006, will leave the medical drama in the summer following a poignant final storyline for her character.
Speaking to DS, Doctors' series producer Peter Lloyd confirmed: "Donnaleigh has been with us for just over four years now and feels it's time to spread her wings and try something new in her career, which is understandable since she's been here virtually from drama school.
"She's got a great exit story which I'm very excited about which I think will be very popular with viewers."
Asked what the future holds for Michelle, he replied: "A huge challenge that's going to test her physically and mentally. It's heart-breaking and heart-warming and a radical life change for her, I can't wait for the viewers to see what happens in the summer because I'm really excited about what we're doing with her."
Although best known for her Doctors role, Bailey has previously had guest parts in Holby City and Crossroads.
Donnaleigh Bailey has revealed why she decided to quit Doctors after playing Michelle Corrigan for four years.
Doctors' series producer Peter Lloyd confirmed to DS in June that the actress would bow out in a poignant storyline.
Bailey told What's On TV: "It was the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but I'd reached a point in my life and my career where I just wanted to embrace new things.
"It was hard because I'd got this job straight out of drama school, but I thought I should start to take some risks while I'm still young enough."
She admitted that the nurse had had a bumpy few years in the fictional Birmingham suburb of Letherbridge, but Michelle's decision to leave was the right one.
"100 per cent [it was right]! I really wanted to see Michelle grow up and stop being selfish," she said. "Michelle often acts without thinking, but there's no room for error in what she's doing now, she has to think before she acts. It's a great exit!"
She added: "It's been a bumpy journey sometimes with all her ups and down, but she's been a great character to play."
Bailey's final scenes in the BBC daytime soap will air next Friday, August 13.
I shall miss her, like her character a lot :(
http://i2.cdnds.net/10/15/M/soaps_doctors_michelle_corrigan.jpg
Donnaleigh Bailey bows out of Doctors this week after four years in the role of senior practice nurse Michelle Corrigan. With Michelle's 30th birthday on the way, she stuns her colleagues and loved ones by revealing that she's made a life-changing decision and will be leaving Letherbridge behind. Meanwhile, in real life, Donnaleigh is keen to spread her wings and pursue new projects. Digital Spy recently caught up with the actress to find out about this week's episodes and what the future holds for her.
Why did you decide to leave Doctors?
"Doctors was a fantastic opportunity for me to receive as a young actor - I joined the show practically on the back of leaving drama school. I learned so much about continuing drama and acting for television and I was there for a long time - but it got to the point where I just wanted to try new things and explore new opportunities."
Having been with the show for four years, was it a difficult decision?
"It was a really difficult decision because they're like a family, but I still see everyone and I go and visit them on set. But I just wanted to try new things - try theatre, different types of television and explore new opportunities while I was still young enough to embrace them."
We heard back in June that you'd be leaving - but how long ago did you make the decision?
"This is something that I've been thinking about for a long time - I told the producers that I wanted to leave back in October. And I'd been thinking about it around this time last year - whether I wanted to sign another year's contract, because it was coming up to renewal time and I wasn't sure whether I wanted to do a full year. I just spoke to the team and told them I was thinking about leaving and obviously we were all upset, because I love Michelle and I love Doctors. But they've all been very, very supportive and understood that, as a young actor, I wanted to try new opportunities while I could. I still visit them and they're there if I need them for advice."
The full circumstances surrounding Michelle's exit are being kept secret - but were you pleased with how she was written out?
"Oh, it was fantastic - one of the best pieces of serial that I've had during my time at Doctors. I think it's a fantastic thing for Michelle - it's a life-changing decision that she makes, it shows her to be a bit more grown-up and selfless and to put other people first. I think what it shows is the core element of Michelle - that she's a really good nurse and she cares about her patients. Sometimes we don't see that because she's so bolshy and so gregarious, so I think it was a great way to bring her full circle. The way she does it isn't always necessarily the best way, but Michelle really wants to help people, and I think that really comes across in my leaving serial."
What was it like to film the recent scenes which saw Michelle working with injured soldiers?
"The soldiers storyline was a fantastic opportunity for me and a really great thing that Doctors chose to do. We're a fictional surgery set in the West Midlands, and wounded soldiers that come back from Afghanistan come to a hostel in the West Midlands, so I think that it's something we should have touched upon before and I think it's great that we've done so now. I know that the producer had wanted to for a while. Of course we had to handle it delicately and sensitively, and I definitely think that we did. But I don't think we're making any bold statements on the war or anything like that - I think we're just highlighting the fantastic quality of the nursing staff in the military, and also what these chaps do for our country on a daily basis. From the feedback I'm seeing from the fans, people seem to have really enjoyed it. I loved every second of it."
We see this week that Michelle's mother Vera is reluctant for her to leave Letherbridge - why is that?
"I think that Michelle and Vera have a very strained relationship after the whole Adam fiasco. I think that Michelle still feels a lot of resentment towards her mother and they have their issues. Their relationship will always be slightly strained, but I think that any mother will have concerns for their child. Vera and Michelle are like two peas in a pod and they're very, very similar. Vera's reluctant for Michelle to leave Letherbridge because she wants the best for her."
And Michelle is also saying goodbye to a love interest, Louis…
"Yeah! I'd said to the producer, 'Please get me a nice chap - it's about time she had a good guy in her life!' She'd had her half-brother and all sorts! But Ian Virgo, who plays Louis, is someone who I knew anyway, so it was great working with somebody who I knew well. And Louis is everything Michelle has ever wanted, and more! He's fantastic - he's sexy, he's funny, he's full of banter, and he really, really loves her. But I guess it's just that she feels this is something she has to do now, otherwise she'll always regret it. I think Michelle thinks that if it's meant to be, it'll still happen. If he's meant to be with her, he'll still be there for her."
Did you get emotional on your last day?
"Oh my God, the tears you see on that last day are all real! There's a scene where Michelle's birthday is coming and she thinks everyone has forgotten about it and she's deciding to leave The Mill that day. But they surprise her with a cake, and that was my scene saying goodbye to the gang. Everyone's tears were real - the actors were coming up to me and saying goodbye as their characters, but they were definitely saying goodbye as the actors as well. I was heartbroken and it was so sad! It was a very, very, very emotional day. I cried from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep!"
What have you been up to since leaving Doctors?
"I've just finished doing a new writing season at the Birmingham Rep theatre, which was brilliant and scary - because obviously I don't get another take if I mess up! I can't go, 'Please can we do it again?', I've just got to do it! That was fantastic and a really great way for me to get into something new. It was weird because I didn't have my long-time friends around me, and it was a new thing to embark upon. But obviously I did theatre and television before Doctors, so it was just great to use the old skills. Now it's just about taking time to figure out what I want to do and where I'm going next. I really want to do more theatre, but I also want to do some comedy. It's so exciting that there's so many opportunities out there, so we'll see what comes up."
What were your favourite storylines during your four years with Doctors?
"This final one, definitely - my exit storyline is one of the best things I've done. I've loved working with Donna, who plays Vera - all the family stuff has been great. Also, the whole Adam and Ruth storyline - Selina Chilton is one of the most talented actresses I've ever worked with, it was a real honour and a pleasure to work with her and she's one of my dearest and best friends now. But I've had some great 'story of the day' plots as well. I can only think of my time on Doctors fondly. I've been really lucky to have been given such great storylines constantly. I've never been bored."
Some viewers were angry with Michelle at the time of Ruth's breakdown because they thought Michelle was treating her too harshly - what did you make of that?
"I'm aware of Digital Spy's forum boards and when that was all happening, sometimes I'd go on and have a look. I could see that there was a real backlash against Michelle. That was difficult for me to understand as an actor, because to play a character I have to love her, despite all her faults. But I totally understood what they were saying. I cling on to the fact that Michelle is a good nurse, so it was surprising that, as a nurse, she couldn't accept the fact that Ruth had a mental illness and wasn't well.
"I think the way the story developed was fantastic - there's no drama and there's nothing interesting if Michelle forgave her straight away. Michelle had to take a real journey to get to the point of forgiveness and to ask for forgiveness from Ruth herself. She should have handled it better, but I think Michelle had just been overwhelmed by the whole situation - the trust that she'd had in her best friend was taken away and she had a proper identity crisis. She was overwhelmed by her own emotions, her own grief, her father dying, everything. She'd hit breaking point and was at her lowest ebb. The fact that viewers were so evoked by Michelle's response showed that the writers and I were doing a good job in provoking a reaction. I hope people have forgiven her now!"
Are there any particular cast members who you're keen to keep in touch with?
"Oh, all of them! Diane Keen and Adrian Lewis Morgan are dear friends to me. I know everyone says this, but Doctors was one of the nicest places for me to work in my entire life. It was a great way for me to start my career. There's a great cast and crew. Names that I'd mention off the top of my head would be people I worked with more closely - people like Sophie Abelson and Selina Chilton. Charlie Clemmow is one of my best friends. It's such a small cast so we're always together and I love all of them to bits. We still have drinks at the pub every Thursday. I miss them all dearly, but I think we'll be friends forever regardless."
Would you appear in another soap?
"Oh yeah, of course! I think soap actors are some of the hardest-working actors in the business. Actors work hard generally, but for soap actors, the turnaround is so quick with learning your scripts and performing them. Especially on Doctors - it was so fast. I think the storylines on all the soaps are great - this year especially. I'd love to work on another soap. Corrie would be great - it's one of my favourites!"
You're in the running for 'Best Daytime Star' at the Inside Soap Awards this year - what do you think your chances are?
"Well I'm up against not only great actors from Doctors, but also well-loved names and faces from Home and Away and Neighbours. We'll see. I mean, all I can do is keep my fingers crossed, but it'd be a fantastic way to end my time on Doctors, and I'd obviously be extremely grateful to those who've supported me on this great journey that I've had. It's a really nice night to just dress up and see old friends and faces - not only from my show, but friends that I have on other television shows. I'm so flattered and thankful to be nominated."
When you work on a show like Doctors, do you gain a greater respect for people who work in the medical profession?
"Oh yeah, definitely! I've always had a respect for nurses and doctors, but from playing a nurse, I got to spend a day with a senior practice nurse in a surgery. It was great watching them - they're all so dedicated to what they do. But then, when I got the Housman storyline and had to work with military nurses and saw how they work, it totally overwhelmed me. I got to spend the day on a military ward here in Birmingham and saw that what people do there is exceptional. I just think they're fantastic. I do a lot of things for the charity Help For Heroes and have nothing but respect for the military in general."
Did Doctors change much over the four years you were in the show?
"Well, there are more episodes now, which is great - it means the show is on more and gets seen by more people. But I think the basic structure of Doctors hasn't changed. The 'story of the day' and serial plots are always of a high standard. Because you have the 'story of the day', you can tune in and tune out and perhaps never watch it again, or continue to watch it. I think that's great. What I love about Doctors is that it's always evolving - we're in HD now, and when I first joined the show it had single camera days, which they don't do anymore. I think Doctors will continue to grow and continue to be loved by its fans. I think it's a great show to work on."
And finally, Doctors has a very loyal following - is there anything you'd like to say to the people who have tuned in and supported you over the years?
"Just thank you for watching Doctors and continuing to support Michelle through her ups and downs! I know it's been quite a turbulent journey that she's had, and sometimes she hasn't been liked and sometimes she has been - and sometimes she hasn't shown her best. But I think at her core, she's a great nurse and a great character, and I really hope that you've seen her grow up and develop. Especially with this exit storyline - I really hope that it shows her grow up into a more thoughtful and selfless woman. I think it's great that the fans are so supportive and loyal to the show. We're very aware of our following and our fanbase, and so I send lots of love, thanks and gratitude."
Doctors actress Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh has revealed details of a "dramatic" upcoming storyline.
Dermot-Walsh, who plays Doctor Zara Carmichael in the soap, admitted that she is excited by a future plotline between her character and fellow GP Daniel Granger, played by Matthew Chambers.
Speaking at the Inside Soap Awards, she told Digital Spy: "There's a fantastic five-part story coming up in the next few weeks involving my character and Daniel.
"I don't want to give everything away, but something terrible happens to Daniel's baby daughter and Zara steps in to help. It's all very dramatic!"
She added: "It's nice to be the good guy for a change. Normally Zara plays the baddie and for once she gets to play the heroine, which makes a nice change for me!"
Actor Chris Walker, who stars as police sergeant Rob Hollins, also teased an upcoming story with his wife Karen.
"There's a big, big storyline between Rob and Karen," he revealed. "It's huge, in fact! No-one leaves the show, but it gets close to that."
Both storylines are due to air before Christmas.
Daniel Granger faces every parent's worst nightmare on Doctors next week when his young daughter Izzie goes missing. The dramatic incident occurs after the GP takes his eyes off the 2-year-old for just a moment while they are out shopping with his partner Zara. In the aftermath of her disappearance, a police investigation is launched and Daniel's colleagues rally round him - but initial efforts to find Izzie prove devastatingly fruitless. Meanwhile, viewers will see that Izzie has been abducted by a family who now wish to raise her as their own - but will this ever come to light? We recently chatted to Daniel's portrayer Matthew Chambers to hear more about the storyline, which plays out over the course of five consecutive episodes.
How did you feel when you first heard that you'd be part of this big storyline and special week of Doctors?
"When I first heard about it, I was very excited. I also felt flattered because there are several regulars here now, and so to be one of the actors who's part of a five-parter is an honour. So I was very excited and I couldn't wait to get my teeth into it!"
Would you say that Daniel is at fault for Izzie's disappearance, or is it something that could happen to anyone?
"Well, I have children and I know how quickly they can disappear sometimes. I guess it is something that could happen to anyone, but I think in this particular instance, Daniel has got to take the blame because he's the adult in charge and he takes his eye off the ball for a moment. That's all these things take - just a moment, and suddenly your life can change forever."
Daniel shows a real angry side after Izzie goes missing - can you tell us a bit more about that?
"In situations like this, it's difficult to imagine how oneself would react, but during filming I tried to put what I know of Daniel into that situation. When I was imagining what he was feeling, I felt that his anger came from the helplessness - the fact that there was nothing he could do. He's normally somebody who can talk his way out of something, or phone somebody, or raise a few grand if he needs it. He can do all those things, but suddenly he's presented with a situation in which he has absolutely no control and feels utterly helpless. I think that's where his anger was rooted. Daniel can be a dangerous guy in terms of when he's threatened, and I think we're all capable of being all things - it's just a question of degrees and where certain situations can lead you, particularly when they're out of your control."
What else happens in the aftermath of Izzie's disappearance?
"Well, I can tell you that at the end of the first episode of the week, although Daniel and Zara don't know, we do see that Izzie is well and seemingly being well looked after. There's absolutely no way that the writers or the BBC want to dupe the viewer into believing for a moment that Izzie is not being treated well. So that's at the end of the first episode. But like I said, obviously Daniel and Zara don't know that and are very much in the dark about what's going on."
What happens next?
"Over the course of the next few episodes, there's heavy police involvement, at times we see Daniel's exasperation at how little he feels is going on, and it's a fine line of how far does oneself get involved in a situation like this to find one's child? Does one leave it to the police, even when one thinks that they're not doing as they should be? So it's a real quest on the part of the police and Daniel and Zara as they try to find Isobel. We also see the emotional rollercoaster that comes with that - the agony, the pain and the joy at the slightest of leads. It's a real journey for Daniel and Zara. It's also a fantastic journey for Lisa as she comes back into contact with Daniel and we see the dynamic that's kicked up because of that. We all hope it's going to be very exciting."
Daniel and Zara's relationship seems to come under real strain as the week progresses - why is that?
"I think it's inevitable in this kind of situation that everything becomes strained. You turn on each other at times - again, because of those feelings of helplessness. We tend to turn on people that we love in times of stress. Daniel and Zara have a great understanding of each other, and they have a love for each other, which most of the time they can't tell each other about! We do see them work together well as a team and separately in their efforts to find Izzie, but inevitably with Lisa in the picture, things come to a head. Without wanting to give too much away, tensions are high. The stakes are high in this situation and so people do things that they might not otherwise do…"
As the investigation continues, Daniel starts being viewed as a potential suspect in the case - how does he react to that?
"He's in utter disbelief. I don't think he even computes it. If he was standing outside the situation, I think he'd be able to see why, but because he's in it - and because Isobel is his daughter and he cares for her so deeply - he can't compute it. It's another way in which a very angry side of Daniel rears its head."
Daniel also finds his dark history broadcast on the news as the media attention increases - what does he make of that?
"I suppose he reacts in the way that anyone would react if the seedier parts of their past were exposed! I think he's very saddened by it, because it's detracting from the important thing, which is about Isobel. Of course, Daniel knows that her disappearance has nothing to do with him, and he thinks that putting him in a bad light is contrary to the benefit of the investigation."
Was this quite a challenging storyline to be involved in?
"Yes - I think that, as an actor, anything with high emotion is challenging because, of course, you want it to be believable. That's a very, very big part of our work - to make what we're doing seem believable. So anything with high emotion is more risky ground for actors. Of course, there are many who love the drama - the term 'drama queen' ain't there for nothing! For this storyline, it's a journey. You can't suddenly break down all the time in floods of tears - there's elements of light and shade. If something terrible happens to you, you don't sob every moment of the day - there are moments when you're more reflective. Choosing those moments can be a great challenge for actors."
What kind of impact do you want this story to have?
"I think that, in terms of the show, it's yet another fantastic storyline. We see Doctors' ability to not shy away from the very tragic subjects in life. They tackle those subjects head-on and they highlight them, and they hopefully help people who have been in similar situations. I'm not a moral compass or anything like that, but I just think that Doctors does a great job of highlighting very important subjects and issues - and confronting them so that they can be talked about. I think that's very important."
If they manage to get Izzie back safe and well, do you think Lisa would struggle to trust Daniel with her again after this, or will she be understanding?
"I think it will be very difficult for her to trust him. He hasn't exactly had a shining past with her, so I think this will further deepen any lack of trust she may have had for him. I think it'll be very hard for him to gain her trust. But let's see how she reacts - because people in these kind of situations react very differently and strange things happen!"
What's Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh, who plays Zara, like to work with?
"Elisabeth is, first and foremost, in my opinion a wonderful actor. She's great fun and she brings a level of professionalism to the working day which is refreshing. But she still joins in with the banter and she's a good, fun person to be around. She's great to work with."
There's been quite a change in Daniel since Izzie was introduced to the show - will that be a permanent change, or will he slip back to his old ways eventually?
"Never say never! Who knows? I think the great thing with Daniel is that he is volatile, but now he is trying to do the right thing since Izzie came along. He's trying to lead a better life and trying to make better decisions. I think he's doing all of those things, but the great thing about Daniel is that he finds himself in situations where he just makes bad decisions. I guess that makes him fun to watch and very fun to play! I think he's one of those men who finds commitment a bit of a dirty word with regard to relationships with women, but I think that his lynchpin, focal point and reason for being is now Isobel."
The scenes between Daniel and Jimmi have proved popular on our forum - can we expect to see more of those two together?
"I hope so! I think the writers can see when two actors have a little bit of chemistry, and I hope that they would then try to steer us together a little bit more often, because Adrian Lewis Morgan is a great actor to work with and lots of fun. It's a challenge working with him, and I mean that in a very positive way. He makes you work and he makes you think about what you're doing in terms of performance. It's not in a demanding way, but working with him is great and I really hope that we have more to do together in the future."
Julia seems to treat Daniel more harshly than she does the other characters - do you have any theories on why that is?
"Diane Keen and I have always had a bit of a giggle about that! I think Julia likes him and sees him as a bit of a wayward lad, but one who's very good at his job. I think she's quite forgiving of him, even though it comes out in a way where it seems she's heavy-handed with him - and in some respects quite mumsy or like a headteacher! I think it's because she likes him and wants the best for him - and thinks the best way to get the best out of him is to be very strict. It certainly keeps him in check and lets him know that he can't muck about! Remember that he has a very chequered past with her - he stole money from her when she extended the olive branch of a job to him and he had nowhere to go. He really does owe her a lot."
Finally, are you happy at Doctors and will you be staying for the foreseeable future?
"I'm very happy at Doctors and I always have been. I like the place, I like the people, and at the end of the day, I'm doing what I want to do - I'm acting, I've got a job and I feel very lucky. As to how long I'll be here, I couldn't say - who knows what's going to happen in the future and whether the show would want me to stay? We'll just have to wait and see. But I know that I'm categorically at Doctors until December, so on screen that takes me up to March. I know that I'm there for sure until then, but beyond that, I don't know!"
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Comedienne and former EastEnders star Josie Lawrence is to make a guest appearance in Doctors next week.
The actress will be seen in the one-off role of Katrina Kidd in Tuesday's episode of the BBC daytime drama, which wrapped up a week-long child kidnap plot today.
Katrina is regular character Ruth Pearce's former school music teacher. The pair are to come face-to-face unexpectedly when Katrina pays a visit to the Campus Surgery in the hope of obtaining some mood stabilisers.
As Ruth (Selina Chilton) catches up with her old tutor, it emerges that Katrina is feeling nervous as she is preparing to audition for one of Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's TV talent shows.
Soon afterwards, Katrina invites her ex-pupil along for some moral support as she rehearses for her audition - but whether she has what it takes for West End success remains to be seen.
Lawrence bowed out from the role of Manda Best in EastEnders earlier this year. She is also well-known for her work on Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
BBC soap Doctors is to celebrate its 2,000th episode with an hour-long special which will see a deadly virus unleashed at The Mill, it has been announced.
The milestone edition of the daytime show will feature Peak Practice star Simon Shepherd and Dad's Army actor Ian Lavender as guest artistes on a dramatic day for the fictional health centre.
Shepherd takes on the role of virologist George Liston, who is approached for help by Simon Bond (David Sturzaker) as The Mill's staff learn that someone inside is infected with a potentially fatal virus.
Meanwhile, Lavender plays retired brigadier Rowland Beckley, who is among the patients who get caught up in the chaos at The Mill as it goes into lockdown.
The storyline will see regular character Cherry Malone (Sophie Abelsen) exposed to the virus before developing a worrying rash. As events reach a climax and the pressure mounts, The Mill's staff face a race against time to save Cherry and track down the source of the virus.
Speaking of the dramatic instalment, Doctors' executive producer Will Trotter commented: "It's wonderful that Doctors has reached its 2,000th episode, and is celebrating by having this hour-long episode featuring all of our regular Doctors cast and some wonderful well-known guest stars joining us to mark this milestone.
"Doctors is a homegrown award-winning British drama for BBC One Daytime and we look forward to the next 2,000 episodes!"
BBC Daytime's controller Liam Keelan added: "Doctors continues to attract stellar British actors and consistently has relevant, challenging and thought-provoking storylines - I'm delighted we've been able to commission this special anniversary episode."
Doctors' 2,000th episode - titled 'Quarantine' - is currently being filmed in and around Birmingham and will air on Wednesday, February 16, 2011.
Doctors' series producer Peter Lloyd has said that he wants the BBC daytime soap to have greater diversity in its cast.
In an interview, the show boss confessed that the programme needs to provide a more accurate representation of what life would be like at a health centre in the Midlands.
Speaking to Inside Soap, Lloyd explained: "Since the departure of Michelle, our cast is all white. That's something we will address as soon as possible, because it's not a realistic situation to have, either within the NHS or in the city of Birmingham."
He continued: "I'd also like to have a female character who is 'anti-glamour'. In saying that, I mean a woman who's normal and lumpy like the rest of us. At our last story conference, we asked people to come up with suggestions for a new regular and some great stuff came out of that."
Lloyd also revealed more details about Doctors' forthcoming 2,000th episode, which will see a deadly virus unleashed at The Mill.
He said: "It's going to be very exciting. A deadly virus will strike at the surgery and we hope to do a helicopter stunt. We're filming it at the moment, as long as the weather holds. We saved up some of our budget for the chopper! We'll have some special make-up effects as well, which will be very creepy."
Wednesday 16 February
1.45-2.45pm BBC ONE
www.bbc.co.uk/doctors
Feature
Julia (Diane Keen) is first to hear about the code blue situation
As Doctors celebrates its 2,000th episode, Ian Lavender and Simon Shepherd guest star in a special hour-long episode of the award-winning continuing drama, which sees the Mill surgery under lockdown as a deadly virus is unleashed.
A woman, Charlotte, collapses in a hotel conference room with a mysterious rash. She later wakes in an isolation tent. When asked by Elliot Taylorman, the scientist investigating the virus, if she's been in contact with anyone else and if so where they are, Charlotte says only "the Mill" before she passes out.
At the Mill, as practice manager Julia takes a call to say they have a "code blue" situation, nurse Cherry is trying to take blood from an obstreperous young woman called Vic and Dr Jimmi Clay is trying to pacify a paranoid ex-prisoner, Michael. Julia is sure it is a drill but can't take any risks, so asks receptionist Karen to call everyone to make sure staff and patients stay where they are. Dr Heston Carter is with Rowland Beckley, an ex-brigadier who is quite happy to sit and wait, while Dr Zara Carmichael's patient, Mrs Potter, gets worked up about the offers she's missing at the supermarket.
George Liston, a virologist based at the University, is called to see the woman who has collapsed; but although he clearly recognises Charlotte's condition, he claims not to.
While tensions mount as the staff and patients locked inside the Mill deal with the pressure of the situation, it becomes a race against time to try to track down the source of the virus.
When Cherry develops a rash that indicates she has the virus, Dr Simon Bond goes to see George Liston for help. George is adamant there is no cure, but Simon manages to get him to reveal the medication that might save her. But will Simon be able to persuade Jimmi to break the lockdown and get the medication to Cherry in time?
Quarantine features guest stars Ian Lavender as Rowland Beckley, Simon Shepherd as George Liston, Verity Hewlett as Charlotte, Simon Chandler as Elliot Taylorman, Daisy Head as Victoria Liston, Fraser James as Michael Buchan and Carol MacReady as Mrs Potter. Julia is played by Diane Keen, Cherry by Sophie Abelson, Jimmi by Adrian Lewis Morgan, Karen by Jan Pearson, Heston by Owen Brenman, Zara by Elisabeth Dermot Walsh and Simon by David Sturzaker.
The Hollins family continue to take centre stage in next week's Doctors episodes as Karen's emotional baby storyline continues.
Having made a final decision to go through with a termination in yesterday's edition of the BBC medical drama, Karen informs Jack and Imogen of her news on Monday.
While the pair both want to support their mum, neither seems keen to accompany her to the appointment, and in the end it's Rob who's at Karen's side at the clinic as she takes the pills that will end her pregnancy.
Later, back at home, Karen is distraught as Rob, Jack and Imogen all try to act normal. Making it clear how she really feels with an emotional outburst, Karen declares that she will now always have to mourn on the day that the baby should have been born - August 23.
When the pills finally take their effect and it's all over, emotional scenes follow as Karen breaks down and Rob tries to comfort her. However, the next day, it becomes apparent that the strain has become too much - Karen takes off her wedding ring and it seems that her marriage could be over.
Karen leaves the family home for a few days, and it's left to Jack to talk to his father - but is it too late for discussions and have the Hollins clan been torn apart for good?
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BBC One's popular daytime drama Doctors reaches another milestone on Wednesday afternoon as the show broadcasts its 2,000th episode. To mark the occasion, a dramatic hour-long special of the programme will see a deadly virus unleashed at The Mill, causing chaos at the health centre and putting lives in jeopardy. DS recently gave the programme's longest-serving cast member Diane Keen (Julia Parsons) a call to hear more about what is in store.
What can Doctors fans expect from the 2,000th episode?
"Oh, wow - everything they wouldn't be expecting, really! It's way out there and it's really good. A regular Doctors fan will be riveted because it's got so much in it that they're not used to and they haven't come to expect from Doctors. It's extraordinary. I watched the episode recently at a cast screening and I thought it was amazing."
What can you tell us about the storyline?
"A potentially fatal virus is unleashed at The Mill, but it's all about what happens because of that and how each person is individually affected by that on all levels. It's all about how the staff at The Mill deal with it because they're locked in with the virus and they can't get out! I can't give too much away, but it's all about how they deal with what's going on and what happens to each of them as a result."
How does Julia react to the situation?
"Well, obviously Julia is the practice manager, so she takes control as Julia always does. However, something happens and then things go wrong… Again, I can't give too much away! (laughs)"
Was there an air of excitement around the set when you were filming this milestone for the show?
"There was! But with it being shot the way it was, and because there was so much packed into the episode, we tended to film in isolation - very much like the storyline in the episode. So I didn't tend to see the others doing their stuff - but then I wouldn't, because they weren't interacting with Julia. Many of the characters end up isolated in their various offices and in various other places in the building. So it was really strange - this extraordinary thing was being made, but you only really saw your immediate part."
It must have been nice to watch the finished product at the cast screening, then!
"Yeah, exactly - it was fantastic to see it all together. Obviously I knew the story because I'd read the script, but to see it all put together was fantastic and amazing. When you think what we do on a very small, limited budget on this show, to watch something like that come out is quite mind-blowing, really. It's great that we can turn out drama of this quality."
Were you glad to get the hour-long slot for the 2,000th episode?
"Yeah, definitely - it needed an hour to do the story justice. But when I watched it, it got to the end and I thought, 'Ah, no!' - because I wanted more. I wanted it to go on. You know when you go to a movie and it ends and you go, 'Oh, I wish it was about 20 minutes longer'? It was like that. It didn't feel like an hour at all, it just rips along."
What do you think is the secret of Doctors' success?
"Oh gosh, if I knew that, I'd be a multi-millionaire, making programmes all over the world and coining it in! (laughs) I do think that one of the main ingredients for it is that it always has excellent actors in it - all of the guest stars who come up to do Doctors are wonderful. It's very difficult for them because they hit the ground running, and at the beginning they look like startled rabbits in the headlights as we work very, very fast. But they come in and they turn out these wonderful performances and they're a joy to work with. I think that's true of the regular cast members as well - I think every single person in this show is the most consummate actor. You have to have that about you, because there's no time for rehearsal, so it has to be instinctive and you have to be terribly disciplined. But at the same time, we have such a laugh on set."
Do you think there's anything else that has made it so popular?
"From the public's point of view, it's the fact that we do have a serial element to it because of the regulars, but also that every single day is a complete story featuring the guest artists with a beginning, a middle and an end. So even if you haven't always caught up with the regulars, you do get a little mini-drama every day. I don't think anyone else does that, so we're crossing two boundaries by having a serial show and a complete drama within it every day."
Who have been your favourite guest artists to work with?
"Oh gosh, I've been here so long that it's hard to answer. We've had some wonderful, wonderful people - we've had Brian Blessed and many other extraordinary people who I'd watched for many years and admired. I also had a wonderful, wonderful episode with Eric Sykes - he was brilliant, and that was mainly him, myself and Christopher Timothy. I also enjoyed working with Richard Briers. It's just a joy to work with these people. It's also quite odd, because you work away here on the set, and eventually everyone seems to turn up to work with you, which is nice!"
As Julia is the longest-serving character, why do you think she's become so popular?
"I don't know - is she popular? If she is, I'm glad she is! I think with Julia, there's an element where you don't always know what you're going to get. People probably don't remember it, but I often think about a wonderful episode that I did with Barbara Dickson. She was lovely to work with and it was a brilliant storyline for me. Her and Julia were old friends, and as young girls in their early 20s, they were rock chicks following the rock bands around and were groupies, for want of a better word. So that tells you a lot about Julia's background - she was absolutely a wild child. I think she still has that wild streak in her, so whenever there's an opportunity in an episode - a party or if we go to a club - I let that come out in her. Also, although Julia is a stickler for work - and quite rightly so - she's got a heart of gold if anybody needs anything. So there's all those different levels to Julia that you get to see, and maybe that's why people like her. Maybe there's a bit of that in all of us!"
Doctors is known for its serious drama storylines but also for being slightly surreal sometimes, with dream and fantasy sequences. How do the cast feel about the more experimental episodes?
"Bewildered, sometimes! Sometimes they work and we generally feel that they often don't. But Doctors is also not afraid to touch on very controversial subjects - I don't think there's anything that Doctors wouldn't tackle, because I think we've had just about everything. We'll pick up on anything - but that's life and that's drama, and drama is life!"
The recent storyline featuring Julia and Charlie had a really strong reaction on our forum…
"Did it? I've also had a lot of reaction from the public about it. As I go about my life, people come up and they've spoken to me about it. I think they were angry with Charlie. It was a terrible thing for him to do in the situation that Julia was in - a very, very bad thing. But the viewers were also desperately concerned and worried about Julia herself, who had by that point descended into another place and really had lost it. So I think they really felt the injustice of it all - Julia was completely unable to defend herself as she didn't know how to, and I think that's one thing that did come across when people spoke to me."
Many Doctors fans think that the show doesn't always get the recognition that it deserves. Do you feel the same way?
"Very strongly, yes - I think the whole cast do. I don't know why that is, because we've delivered episodes that are every bit as good as the evening shows have delivered. I do feel that Doctors is good enough to be in an evening slot. I don't know why we're ignored, to be honest. We're not always ignored and we have had more attention than we did when I first joined the show. But as a cast, we do feel somewhat slighted and insulted by that when we think about the work that we put in and the quality of the work that's delivered. But hey, I suppose that's just showbusiness!"
Doctors also has a strong international following…
"Yes, the extraordinary thing is that we're huge all over the world! I travel a lot, and everywhere you go, people say, 'Oh, Doctors! You're in Doctors!' I mean, Dubai, Zambia - you name it, they watch Doctors! They're avid watchers. Admittedly, some of them are three years behind the British broadcasts - but it's extraordinary when you move around the world and see that this show is going out in so many different countries, and has huge fanbases in them. Here in the UK, we get shown once at 1.45pm and I understand we also get shown later on HD, which doesn't do us an awful lot of good at the moment because so few people have HD.
"But in Dubai it's shown twice a day - including in the evening at 8.30pm - and there's also a two-hour omnibus at the weekend - and yet here it's not, in its home country. I don't know why that is, but it's people who sit in offices who make these decisions."
We asked for questions on our forum, and one thing people were wondering was why Julia always seems to treat Daniel more harshly than the other doctors…
"I think she's coming round to him now - but let's face it, he did ask for it. He behaved very, very badly in the beginning and was always lying and cheating. Julia gave him more than one chance against her better judgement - firstly because she was so fond of Joe and did it for him, and secondly because she saw that Daniel was capable of being an extremely good doctor. I think the reason that she is - or was - harsh with him is because he could have absolutely wiped out her business and closed her surgery down if what he was doing got out. So of course she's harsh - she didn't trust him. But I think now she feels like she can trust him much more because he has settled down and having his little girl has made him much calmer and more reliable. And she's actually made him a partner, so that shows how much she does trust him."
Would you like to see Julia find love again?
"I would in a way, yes - of course I would. I think she was absolutely crazy to let the character played by Ray Fearon go - he said that he loved her and wanted to marry her, but Julia said, 'I don't think so' and I just thought, 'Stupid woman! How many times is someone going to say that to you?' But the writers decided that it wasn't to be! She doesn't have much luck in one way or another, does she really? She even went out with a chief of police who tried to strangle her - that's not very good! (laughs) She married the wrong man twice! I think it would be lovely for her to meet someone, find love again and have a life outside the surgery."
Is there anything else that you'd like to see from Julia?
"With the Lyme disease storyline, we saw her granddaughter and her son - I'd like to see her get closer to her son Patrick. And I'd like to see more of her with her little granddaughter, which we are doing more of. Their last encounter was horrific because Julia left her at the zoo because she was ill, but it would be nice to see more of that part of her life. All we ever really see of Julia is that she goes to PCT meetings, or she's filing, or she's telling off someone, or sticking her nose into somebody else's business! She sorts out people's lives really well, but there's got to be more to Julia's life than that, I think."
Finally, are you happy at Doctors and likely to stay for the foreseeable future?
"Oh gosh, yes! I'm very happy at Doctors. I think there's a lot more to Julia that we haven't explored yet - you always want to take a character further if you can. Every job has its ups and downs and you have your good days and your bad days - we do work fast and sometimes it can get frustrating when you can't do your job to the best of your ability because there just isn't time. But that goes for anyone on the show - the other actors and anybody on the unit - and it's probably true for any production these days, the way our industry is now. It's just a little bit faster than most on this show. But it's a very happy place to be - we're a big family and we have a lot of laughs!"
Former Hollyoaks star Sonny Flood makes a guest appearance in Doctors next week, appearing as the grandson of an elderly patient.
The actor, who played Josh Ashworth on Channel 4's teen soap, takes on the role of suspicious character Jez Field in next Monday's episode of the BBC medical drama.
Jez's storyline begins when his grandfather Fred pays a visit to his doctor Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers) and asks for a repeat prescription of painkillers.
Later, Fred makes a return visit and claims to have lost his prescription, meaning that a reluctant Daniel is forced to print out another one. However, events take a twist when a pharmacist calls Daniel to report that two identical prescriptions have been brought in for 'F Field'.
Following the discovery, Daniel heads out to quiz Fred but his suspicions are soon directed at Jez when he spots him hanging around outside The Mill.
When Daniel decides that Jez must be stealing prescriptions for his own purposes, he confronts him and a group of his dodgy-looking friends - leading to a showdown. However, whether Jez really has done anything wrong remains to be seen.
Flood starred on Hollyoaks for nearly five years, but his character was written out of the soap in mid-2010 as part of a shake-up instigated by then-producer Paul Marquess.
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
DS
After more than two years playing Doctors' Heston Carter, actor Owen Brenman recently went behind the camera to direct for the first time, taking the helm of a trio of episodes which will air over the next three days. Prior to his work going on screen this week, Owen recently chatted to DS about making the transition from actor to director and what it's like to play Heston.
What made you decide to do some directing for Doctors?
"It's the first time that I've done any directing for television, but I've always been interested in it and it's very rare that an actor would get an opportunity like this. But Doctors had a precedent for it because Christopher Timothy did it years ago when he was a regular, and I remember that when I did a guest role on the show in 2003, I chatted to him about the directing and he'd loved it. After that chat, I made a mental note and I thought, 'Gosh, if I'm ever a regular in Doctors, I would love to do that'. It took quite a long time, though - I was in the show for a year before I even asked them, and then it took another year and a half before they let me. But I've always been interested in that side of it, as well as the acting itself."
Did it take a while to learn the ropes before you started work on the episodes?
"Well, I've always been the sort of actor who sits and watches what other people are doing because I'm interested in it. Also, I spent a year asking questions, being in edit suites and looking at the decisions that different directors were making on things. So I think I was quite well-prepared. As well as that, on other TV jobs I'd done like One Foot In The Grave and stuff like that, I've always been interested in the whole process rather than just my role as the actor. So it kind of came naturally, although it was the hardest work that I've ever done in my life - I've never worked so hard. But I loved it!"
How did the experience of directing compare to what you'd expected it to be?
"As actors on the show, we see the directors working very long hours and not having enough time, because we shoot about 12 minutes of finished product a day, so we're a very fast show and you realise that there's never enough time to do things as well as you'd like to do them. You end up having to think on your feet and I quite like that - it's hard work, but I felt quite prepared for it."
Did it feel slightly strange to be directing colleagues who you'd worked with for a long time?
"I had to be a bit careful, but they were really very nice to me. I thought that it was one thing directing guest artists who you bring in for one episode, but if you're directing your fellow regulars, you'll be back working alongside them in a couple of weeks - so I didn't want to upset anybody, and I'm glad to say that I didn't! They were very nice to me and they were also very much on the money - I didn't have to do much directing with them."
In total, how long did it take to film your three episodes?
"Well, you're allocated about five weeks. Seven days of that is the actual shooting, but most of the work is before that stage, where you're casting, looking at locations, maybe making adjustments to scripts - as well as a short period of editing afterwards. It was great - I had a lovely producer and a lovely camera crew who were very nice to me. This sounds corny, but the thing about Doctors is that it's a very happy ship and it's a very nice collaborative atmosphere. The regular directors were very generous with their time when I would discuss things with them before we started filming. I'm an actor coming along saying, 'I want to have a go at directing', and they could easily have said, 'Well, who does he think he is, thinking he can do this?' But they were very generous and I appreciate that."
Storyline-wise, what can we expect from your three episodes?
"One of them is about two sisters who are jealous for their father's attention, but he's got a fatal disease and one of the daughters is his actual child, while the other is adopted - although she doesn't know that and there's a reveal about it. So that's the one on Monday, called 'Jealous Girl'. Tuesday's episode, 'Relax and Rejuvenate', is Julia going to a spa and meeting an old friend - she's convinced that she's a bitch and wants to avoid her, but then she changes her mind during the course of the day at the spa - although later there's a sting in the tail! And then the third one, 'Dare to Bare', has '80s elements to it with '80s music threaded throughout it. We see the Hollins family getting ready for an '80s party, so they're all dressed up in '80s gear, but it all goes horribly wrong! So the episodes are quite varied, really."
Working alongside the writers, was there much room to put your own stamp on the episodes?
"Well, you get given the scripts and I'm not there at the commissioning stage - you just get presented with the scripts. But if there's a scene that I think was maybe a bit too long or a little bit wordy or something, I might suggest to the producer that it could be trimmed a bit. So my job was more fine-tuning rather than altering the substance of it. At Doctors, they're quite good with letting you put your own mark on it in that way."
What did you think of the episodes when you watched them back?
"With some of them, I think, 'Oh, that's not bad!' and I'm pleased with them, but there were also bits that I thought I'd do differently if I had the chance to do it again. But that's inevitable given that I'm a first-time director. The feedback I got was that I'd done a good job, and I think they're not bad. I really enjoyed it and I'd love to do it again. They're going to let me do some more directing later this year, which is great!"
Would you like to see Heston find love again?
"Yeah, or at least try to! I do feel that Heston has been a bit of a loose cannon without anybody around, and everybody else having relationships. So I would, yes! I like it when he has a strong woman, so I liked it when he had Lily to play opposite, and there was also another doctor called Diana. I like it when he has a feisty woman to interact with. I also liked it when Anita Carey was playing Vivien, the receptionist - we didn't have a romantic relationship but there was an interesting tension there between two bossy characters. Although I think he was more bossy then than he is now!"
Do you miss working with Seeta, who played Lily?
"Yeah, I think there was a nice dynamic there. I do miss Heston being in a relationship and I think it would be nice to have that strand. I'm looking at it from an acting point of view, because I think it makes the character more interesting."
Who are your favourite people to work with at Doctors?
"How do I answer that question without upsetting somebody I don't mention? (Laughs) I like working with them all. For me, I just like it when there's an interesting story or something nice to get your teeth into, so it doesn't really depend so much on who the actors are, but rather the story and the dialogue. For example, we've just got two new characters who've only just started and who won't be on air for several months. I've been doing some scenes with them, and Heston's laying down the law a bit, in a friendly but firm way!
"I quite like it when Heston is decisive and authoritative - probably slightly more than when he's the buffoon, although sometimes I quite like the buffoon! I like it when he has strong things to do, even if he makes mistakes, and I think it's more interesting when he's being single-minded about something."
Last December, the Doctors fans on our forum voted Heston as their favourite male character - why do you think he's so popular?
"That's very nice to hear - what good taste they have! (Laughs) I think the way they conceived the character, before they even cast me, was that there's a lot going on with him - he's this rather pompous surgeon who's had to become a doctor, which is perceived as going down in the world in medical terms. I think that they write nicely for him, he's not like any of the other characters, he's like a fish out of water in some ways, and I think they can do a lot with him. They can do the day-to-day medical stuff, but they can also go off, explore his past and explore some slightly more upper middle-class storylines, which suit him.
"I think Heston is an interesting character and I think they've made him more interesting as time has gone on, because when I first arrived, I was more like a sitcom character because I suppose my background was more sitcom. But I think what happened is that they humanised the character and they put some tragedy into his life, because there's a story with his ex-wife Christina and losing his son. Also, the writers respond to what they see - they throw a lot of stuff at you, and when they watch it back, they see what works and then they develop that. It's a two-way process."
Is Heston a person who you'd be friends with in real life?
"Oh, it's an interesting question - I don't know! I think initially I'd look at him and think that he's a pompous prat! But if I got to know him, I might realise that there's a bit more to him than what you may think."
What have been your favourite storylines from your time at Doctors?
"One of them is a storyline that I did recently which hasn't been out yet, so I can't talk about it! I also liked the stuff with Lily and I liked the stuff with Heston's ex-wife Christine. Often, I'm more into individual episodes than a long storyline, and I just like working with interesting directors and interesting scripts. Sometimes a 'story of the day', rather than a long serial, can be really fun to do - I really enjoy that."
What do you think of the experimental elements that Doctors episodes sometimes have?
"I quite like that about Doctors. Some work better than others and some will appeal to some viewers more than others. But I like the fact that Doctors takes the work seriously, but it doesn't take itself too seriously. So you can have a jokey episode and then you can have a very serious episode. I don't think the other soaps do that as much - they tend to stick to the party line, while Doctors has a long-running serial but can also have a bit of fun at the same time."
Finally, are you happy at Doctors and likely to stay for the foreseeable future?
"Yes, I've been in the business long enough to know that this is a very good job and I'm not always thinking that the grass must be greener somewhere else. I really enjoy this job and for the foreseeable future, I am definitely staying. It's a nice place to work, and I know everyone will say that, but it really is. I have to pinch myself every now and then!"
Doctors has had another big year with hard-hitting storylines including Julia's experience with Lyme disease, Izzie's abduction and Karen's emotional abortion plot. The show also celebrated its 2,000th episode with a dramatic hour-long special in February, while viewers have been introduced to new characters Kevin, Freya and Mrs Tembe. Peter Lloyd recently had a chat with us about recent storylines and future plans for the popular BBC daytime drama.
It's been another big year for Doctors with some very well-received storylines! What do you think the highlights have been?
"There's so much to choose from, which is always a good sign. The Simon suicide story worked really well - although there was something of a mixed reception to 'The Living Gaylights'! - and David gave an extraordinary performance, I felt. Finding a great actor in Chris Reilly to play Ed was a highlight, as well as our new characters. Mrs Tembe established herself immediately and it's now difficult to imagine the place without her, 'marmite' character though she may be.
"The Karen abortion storyline was a heavy hitter and struck a lot of chords with our audience, going on the response we had, as did the Lyme disease story for Julia. This last took us by surprise, but people appreciated that we'd highlighted the condition and from the correspondence, Julia got off pretty lightly compared to many others. As an aside, this story also gave me an opportunity to write an episode myself, something I rarely have time for - that was a personal highlight for me!
"And then we have the Cherry/Jimmi courtship, Imogen's shoplifting, the 2000th episode, the phenomenon that is 'Zaniel' and the introduction of Freya and Kevin. Looking back, it's pretty amazing how much we've done with these wonderful characters and I'm very proud of the team for making it work so well."
In the past few years, Doctors has usually picked up one or two prizes at the Soap Awards but this year, the show went away empty-handed. Was that a disappointment?
"It's always disappointing of course, because we'd like some recognition. We accept that we're never going to win an audience prize since the differences in audience size and profile means it's very difficult to compete. So naturally we target the jury prizes, but it all depends who's on the jury in any given year. Many are soap magazine journalists who spend all their time running stories on the big three shows and don't necessarily watch Doctors regularly, so we're at a disadvantage from the start.
"And there is something to be said for the fact that, strictly speaking we're not a soap - we're a continuing drama with a soap element, so that can prove troublesome for us. We were very hopeful that David Sturzaker would be a strong candidate for 'Best Newcomer', but sadly he'd been in the show too long to qualify - it did feel like we couldn't catch a break this year! Ultimately it was a case of being stoical and enjoying the party…"
We ask this question every year, but in light of The Weakest Link finishing next year, is there any chance that Doctors could take a spot in the teatime schedule? Or get another evening repeat slot or omnibus?
"And as every year, my answer is the same - I don't know of any plans at all. Seriously, there could be conversations going on in the corridors of power in TV Centre right now, but we're unaware of them. But who knows, if we survive the BBC cuts, maybe they'll give us a repeat on BBC Two at 6.30pm (Hint Hint)! The people in charge do listen to viewers, so if you have strong feelings, feel free to get in touch with them."
Doctors is now regularly featured on This Morning's soap slot and we've had interviews appearing on Digital Spy more frequently. Do you feel like the show is getting a bit more attention and recognition lately?
"Not without a lot of hard work. We don't have a team of publicists like the other shows do, our publicist works on a hundred other shows, so sometimes it's a bit like wading through treacle. But we're trying our level best to get the show some recognition - improving the website, setting up a Twitter feed etc. We've got the Freya/Kevin documentary now and we're hoping to do more later in the year. And it's down to Elisabeth Dermot Walsh that we're on This Morning - she had a little chat with Phil Schofield!"
The 'Carousel' week and the hour-long 'Quarantine' episode had a great reaction from viewers. Are there any plans for more 'special' episodes like this in the coming weeks and months?
"Very much so, though I don't want to give too much away. The neat answer is that there will be a birth, a marriage and a death, though who's involved is a secret for now. We do have a very dramatic story coming out in the autumn which I hope is going to blow people's socks off."
Are there any other arrivals, departures or returns that you can tell us about, or is the cast looking pretty stable at the moment?
"It's pretty stable, I would say, but you never know what's going to happen. We do have a new receptionist starting in August who's going to rattle some cages. And a face from the past does come back at a crucial time - observant viewers will have already guessed who that is, I'm sure."
Out of the characters who have left in the past year, who do you think the show misses the most?
"See my blog on this! Of course we miss them - Simon, Ruth and Michelle were all popular characters, though to be honest, we invest so much time and effort into our characters that it's unusual if we don't miss them. But I'm pleased with the current make-up of the cast, I think we've got a pretty good cross-section - Kevin and Freya have really helped to even things out."
Since Michelle left, Cherry has been the only nurse in the cast. Are there any plans to bring in a new nurse character?
"We retain some flexibility here - Karen's HCA work involves some nursing, she has a story with Roy Hudd coming up but things can always change. There will be a new nurse after Christmas, but she's coming for a specific story. We don't feel we need someone permanent at the moment - remember that Michelle was the only speaking nurse for a couple of years before Cherry came along."
Often the 'story of the day' plots will focus on a character and an 'old friend' of theirs, and there's a long-running joke on our forum that we must have been introduced to hundreds of Julia's 'old friends' over the years! Is there a danger of the 'story of the day' strands becoming a bit too formulaic in that sense?
"It's a very good point, one that we're very much aware of. We're always trying to find new ways into stories. But the reason is simply necessity. We have a very small cast of characters and because of the workload, each of them must be able to carry stories of the day, or they have less value than those that can. With doctors, nurses and cops, this is easy, but for admin staff and the Hollins kids, this proves tricky as the fans have identified. Karen working part time as an HCA has helped, but improvements can always be made and the work on that continues.
"Perhaps there is a danger that things become formulaic, but that's the challenge to our writers. And Doctors is a formula. One where we cut corners all the time for dramatic purposes - doctors don't do housecalls, you can't get an immediate appointment, test results aren't that fast, etc etc. We know, and trust the audience know too, that 'reality' can sometimes get in the way of a good story…"
Can you tell us a bit about what's in store for the new characters Freya and Kevin? Are they all they appear, or could they have secrets?
"Can I just point out here that the title of their first episode, 'The Asian and the Lesbian' was deliberately misleading. This may give you some indication as to where we're going with them. Of course they both have interesting pasts, and interesting futures - we design characters pre-loaded with areas to explore. They're both proving to be interesting and viable candidates for the permanent post, we'll just have to see who makes it…"
Daniel and Zara remain a very popular pairing! Can you tell us anything about what's in store for them in the coming months?
"Well, you can see the signs already. Are they ready for parenthood? Is Zara trying to conceive because it's her last chance or because she really wants a child? And if she has one, will she regret it? If she gets pregnant, how will she behave? Daniel makes a great play of being experienced in all this, but that's a bit of a con… the possibilities are endless with these two and you can bet we're going to be having a lot of fun with them."
What does the future hold for the Hollins family?
"A disgraced daughter doing community service for shoplifting is Rob Hollins's worst nightmare. He's so appalled that the daughter he thought he had brought up to be a decent, honest citizen has lied so often. He's taking it very personally, something that needs some examination. Meanwhile, Jack is going to be spreading his wings and taking some opportunities to explore the world of crime - he's going to prove to be another pain in the neck for poor Rob. For Karen, it's about trying to keep the family united and enemies at bay, but later on in the series, she's going to have some extremely good news that could change everything for her…"
Heston is another popular character, so is there any interesting stuff on the horizon for him?
"I will admit, we've neglected Heston a little this year and we were concerned that he was becoming too sad. He'd lost his mojo a little. So things are going to be looking up for him as he joins Letherbridge Light Opera and meets a new lady friend. This will take us into a very big story around Christmas that I hope is going to keep everyone gripped."
Can you give us any other teasers on what's ahead in the coming months?
"You'll notice Daniel disappears for a while in October - this is because Matt Chambers will be directing a block of episodes. They transmit the same month so look out for his debut. He's currently in pre-production, hunting for locations and auditioning actors as well as slipping into Daniel's slick suits for a couple of scenes with Elisabeth. And there's a camera crew following him round for a behind the scenes documentary. Busy man!
"Heston as KoKo in the Mikado is a treat, as is Freya as an octopus. Look out for paintballing, nude modelling, zorbing, Mrs T sings, Elaine gets another disastrous boyfriend (what is her problem?!), Julia's family begins to fracture, Kevin ends up in jail, Imogen becomes a Misfit, Jack dices with death, Zara and Daniel face the police, and as for Cherry and Jimmi - things are going to get very dark indeed. All this and Brian Blessed returns!"
Former Coronation Street actress Susie Blake has landed a guest role in Doctors, Digital Spy can confirm.
The actress played Bev Unwin from 2003 until her departure from the Street in December 2006. Blake will play Sheila Barlett in an episode of the BBC drama due to air later this year.
Dr Kevin's (Simon Rivers) suspicions are raised when he sees that Sheila has bruises on his body. His assumption that she is a domestic violence victim leads to the discovery that her husband is responsible for the injuries, however, it is not in the way Kevin believes.
Blake's guest appearance at Mill Health Centre will be broadcast in the autumn.
The 61-year-old actress, who went on to appear in West End musical Wicked after leaving Coronation Street, featured on the BBC's Let's Dance For Sport Relief earlier this year.
Doctors' warring Hollins family finally reach a turning point later this month as Rob realises that it's time to forgive Immie for her recent behaviour.
Next week's episodes begin with Karen (Jan Pearson) arguing with her daughter over job options, before Immie's luck changes when she lands a position helping out at The Mill under Lauren's guidance.
Later in the week, Karen forces Rob (Chris Walker) into attending a solo therapy session with Elaine and it's not long before he opens up over his history with abusive father Billy Hollins (guest star Ralph Ineson).
When speaking about his troubled past helps him to better understand why he's been treating Immie (Charlie Clemmow) so harshly, Rob finds himself softening towards his daughter. Later, Immie accompanies Rob to get some fish and chips for the family and he doesn't reject her when she slips his hand into his.
Also next week, an insecure Cherry accuses Jimmi of checking Lauren out before suggesting that he'd still be with Eva if she was still alive. Feeling he can do nothing right, Jimmi warns that he can't spend the rest of his life reassuring Cherry.
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Doctors' Cherry Malone makes shocking decisions in next week's episodes as she tells Jimmi Clay that they're over for good - before threatening to quit her job at The Mill.
In the aftermath of discovering that she's been lied to over Eva, Cherry (Sophie Abelson) realises that she cannot forgive and forget - vowing that she and Jimmi have no future together following the deception.
After Cherry hands in her resignation to Julia, everyone tries to convince her to stay, while Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) begs her to give their relationship another chance.
Ultimately, Cherry decides to delay resigning and take some time off instead, bidding a tearful farewell to her friends and colleagues. When will she be back? And have she and Jimmi really reached the point of no return?
Meanwhile, Elaine (Janet Dibley) is left humiliated as Harrison's pregnant wife Fiona barges in on her final family therapy session with the Hollins clan. As she receives an earful over her affair, Elaine is shocked by how much Harrison has been hiding from her.
Also next week, Julia gets fed up of the partners giving her the run-around, Lauren's bullying ways continue as she makes fun of Immie's appearance in front of Kevin, while Zara gets caught up with two sisters who get their bag mixed up with a Government aide's.
Doctors star Charlie Clemmow has revealed that her character's current bullying storyline is close to her heart.
Clemmow plays Imogen Hollins in the BBC One show, a character who is currently facing taunts from colleague Lauren Porter while working at The Mill Health Centre.
Clemmow told the Daily Star Sunday: "The storyline is close to my heart because I was on the end of some nasty bulling at secondary school.
"But thankfully it didn't become too serious because I spoke out and my parents got involved to stop it before it escalated.
"I hope this storyline will show bullying victims they don't need to suffer in silence."
Clemmow has been nominated for 'Best Daytime Star' at this year's Inside Soap Awards.
Doctors's Jimmi Clay finds himself with a tough decision to make in next week's episodes when Eva Moore returns to his life.
Back for the Harcourt debrief, Eva (Angela Lonsdale) is keen to reacquaint herself with Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) and romantic sparks fly - leaving Cherry feeling threatened.
However, when Jimmi decides that it's actually Cherry (Sophie Abelson) who he wants to be with, will she be willing to give him another chance?
Meanwhile, Julia finds herself embroiled in drama at work as she tries to shield Lauren from Kevin while he's in a jealous rage. She also teams up with Elaine and Karen to strip off for a good cause!
Elsewhere, Harrison tries to win Elaine back, while Brian Blessed makes a guest appearance as Dominic Duvall.
Doctors launches a dark new storyline next week as bitchy newcomer Lauren Porter is murdered in a shocking plot twist.
Lauren (Alexis Peterman) carries on causing trouble at The Mill in forthcoming episodes - continuing to bully Imogen, scheming against returnee Mrs Tembe and clashing with Karen when she's finally confronted over her antics.
The show's new villain also winds up Kevin (Simon Rivers) at work, but it's Harrison (James Larkin) who she really upsets when she gleefully admits that she has been cheating on him.
In the aftermath of his fatal attack, Harrison embarks on a plan to frame the murder on a serial killer called The Scraper who's currently at large. But with Lauren having so many enemies, could it be that someone else will get the blame for this?
Doctors' Kevin Tyler is quizzed by police next week when he finds himself under suspicion of murdering Lauren Porter.
Viewers are about to see Lauren get killed by Harrison (James Larkin), but her body isn't found until next Monday when Julia and Mrs Tembe become worried and pay a visit to her home.
While Harrison ends up being called in to deal with his own crime scene, Kevin (Simon Rivers) is shocked to hear about the death of his on-off girlfriend.
However, the real surprise for Kevin comes when the police decide that he may have been responsible and bring him in to be questioned. Will he be able to clear his name?
Elsewhere, Harrison is hoping to pin the crime on a serial killer nicknamed The Scraper who's at large. However, when The Scraper is caught and interviewed, Harrison worries that his plan may fall apart.
Also next week, Daniel (Matthew Chambers) lies about the last time he saw Lauren and is cagey with Zara.
Elsewhere, life for the Doctors regulars takes new twists early next month as the police are determined to discover who killed Lauren Porter.
Although Harrison initially hopes to pin his crime on a local serial killer nicknamed The Scraper, his plan proves futile when the authorities receive proof that the twisted murderer wasn't responsible.
As scrutiny turns to other suspects in the case, Daniel is taken in for questioning and is forced to admit what he's been hiding from the police - he gave Lauren a lift home on the night of her death.
Additionally, with evidence that Lauren was planning a sexual harassment case against Daniel, it's clear that there's history between the pair.
In a further twist, Jack Hollins is also hauled in for questioning when Rob lets slip that he knew Lauren.
With suspicion at fever pitch, could an innocent party find themselves being wrongly blamed for Harrison's crime, or will the truth come out?
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fraggle1961
06-10-2011, 14:31
the present storyline is so ridiculous I might stop watching the programme!! Since when does a pathologist have so much input to a case? Iasked OH who was a police officer and he reckons they make it up to make a good story, well I find it daft and irritating, so it could possibly be "bye bye doctors"
the present storyline is so ridiculous I might stop watching the programme!! Since when does a pathologist have so much input to a case? Iasked OH who was a police officer and he reckons they make it up to make a good story, well I find it daft and irritating, so it could possibly be "bye bye doctors"
That is the reason I stopped watching around 6 months ago, it just got too daft for my liking. Not missing it at all
Coming up in Doctors, Kevin proves to be an unlikely source of support for Zara when she fears she is losing her baby.
While the pair are working together at The Campus, Zara (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) suddenly starts suffering pains and begins to fear that something is seriously wrong.
When Kevin (Simon Rivers) finds Zara bent double in pain on the stairs, she reveals that she is pregnant and bleeding, so he takes her straight to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.
To Zara's great relief, everything is fine following the scare and she later hugs Kevin, thanking him for being there for her. With all being well, their main concern becomes suffering Julia's (Diane Keen) wrath for leaving The Campus unattended…
These scenes air on Wednesday, October 19 and Thursday, October 20 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors' Heston Carter embarks on a new romance next week as he heads off for a date with health visitor Marina.
In the aftermath of the university's re-enactment trial, Heston (Owen Brenman) is initially nervous when Marina suggests that they could go out - and ultimately decides to turn her down. However, he later relents following some advice from Freya and arranges a date with Marina after all.
Although the pair's evening together doesn't go entirely to plan, Heston seems to have impressed Marina (Marian McLoughlin) as she plants a big kiss on him…
Also next week, Cherry (Sophie Abelson) finds her dream house, but the estate agent warns her and Jimmi that the vendor is away and wants a quick sale. Put on the spot, Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) claims that they have already sold their house.
While Cherry is shocked, Jimmi tells her that they'll just have to get a sale sorted ASAP!
Doctors star Lu Corfield has revealed that viewers can expect to learn more about her on-screen character Freya Wilson in the coming months.
Freya has been appearing on the BBC One drama since May, when she was introduced alongside fellow newcomer Kevin Tyler (Simon Rivers).
Corfield told Diva Magazine of her alter ego's future: "On screen, up until now, Freya has been seen as a reactor and an accomplice - pushing along other characters' storylines.
"This month, that changes in a big way. The scripts start to focus on finding out who she really is - underneath all of those checked shirts."
The actress said that yesterday's episode 'Parts and Fitters', which saw Cherry discover Freya's relationship with male 'friend' Bobbie, was "the start of a major storyline for Freya".
Corfield continued: "Between now and February, a lot will be revealed about Freya. Kevin helps to unravel a thread exposed in 'Parts and Fitters', Cherry and Freya hit some turbulence and I've just started filming with someone who is going to turn Freya's life upside down."
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
fraggle1961
28-11-2011, 15:04
what is wrong with karen's voice? the more intense the plot the squeakier her voice gets. today when she was with her two kids I thought she would explose! seriously, has she got a medical problem or is this just the way she talks, so irritating.
Doctors favourite Zara Carmichael begins an exciting new chapter of her life next week as she welcomes the arrival of a baby boy.
Zara panics as she goes into premature labour at The Mill in a week's time, and with her partner Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers) unreachable, some of her colleagues are forced to step in and oversee the delivery of her child - who she later names Joe.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, who plays Zara, to hear about the storyline and what's to come for her on Doctors in the next few weeks.
How did you prepare for Zara's labour scenes?
"It was very daunting, really - especially as we know that so many people watching Doctors are people who are staying at home with their children. It will be fresh in their memories, so I didn't want to do it wrong! But of course, when you start researching, you discover that it's different for every woman - and if you ask people about giving birth, everybody will say something different.
"I've been preparing for it for a long time, though, as it's what my character has wanted ever since she came into the show. That was nearly three years ago, so to finally get the thing that I've played her as wanting for so long was quite emotional to shoot."
What goes through Zara's mind during the labour?
"She's completely hysterical. She's such a control freak, but in this situation, everything is out of her control. That doesn't make Zara happy at all, so she's way out of her comfort zone in every way. She would have liked it to be in hospital - preferably, she would have liked to have been the doctor in charge of her own labour! (Laughs) But of course that's impossible.
"In the event, Daniel isn't even there, she's not in a hospital, and some of her least favourite people are present! It's all extremely undignified, with not a hint of glamour or ease. So it's not what she would have preferred at all."
How does Zara feel about Daniel not being there?
"When she goes into labour, she's absolutely frantic to get hold of him, and most of her labour cries are Daniel's name. She's in despair that he's not there. But of course, when the baby is coming, the baby is coming - so she just has to get on with it!"
Cherry is there with Zara while she's in labour. What's the atmosphere like between the two of them?
"It is extraordinary, because Zara often treats Cherry so badly. Occasionally, Cherry gets her claws out and fights back, but usually she just shakes her head and shrugs it off when Zara is so rude to her.
"Just prior to the labour, Zara goes on Cherry's hen night and they have a huge row - and Zara nearly spoils the whole thing. So at this point, they really are on the least friendly terms that they could ever be. But I think the labour brings them together. I'm not sure how long that will last, though!"
What do you think of Zara and Daniel calling the baby Joe?
"I think it's really appropriate, because Daniel's father figure was Doctor Joe Fenton, who was on the show for years and was the patriarch of Doctors for a long time. So that's a very significant name for Daniel, and I think it's very loving of Zara that she doesn't insist on calling the baby something like Lysander or Demetrius - as she'd teased him that she would!"
Zara struggles with not being able to hold the baby, doesn't she?
"Yes, the baby is premature so he goes into an incubator - and that must be heartbreaking, because just when she most wants to touch her baby, comfort him and look after him, she can't. I think Zara worries about how that's going to affect her bonding with the child. She's really wanted a baby, but she's not naturally maternal - or she doesn't think she is, anyway. So that's a terrible worry for her."
How will Zara cope with motherhood?
"Well, we know that Zara is a tremendous control freak - and I suppose that's in her favour in terms of being organised, but against her in terms of the natural chaos of having a baby in your life! So I can't imagine her with baby sick down her designer jackets, but I'm sure it's coming!"
How will parenthood affect Daniel and Zara's relationship?
"Well, we can only hope that it keeps them together. They love each other very much, but they're a pair of tinkers! They both have pasts, they're both naughty, they'll both lie without batting an eyelid to get themselves out of trouble, and they've both been quite immoral in the past. They also fight so easily, so I think they've been given a new extraordinary subject to fight about!"
Have you enjoyed working with babies on set in the past few months?
"It's been amazing. We've had three or four different sets of twins playing Joe, so that's six or eight different babies. I hope the audience don't spot the difference! On any one given day, you'd have one set of twins, and then if one doesn't want to play, they can be whisked away for a cuddle with their real mummy. But for me playing Zara, I suppose it's very misleading about motherhood - because if the baby cries, someone just whisks him away and replaces him with one that isn't crying!"
Zara and Daniel's relationship has a loyal following among the Doctors fans. Is it flattering to have that support?
"Yes, it's just wonderful that people like them as a couple. They're both not afraid to behave badly, and yet the public seem to enjoy them and enjoy their relationship. I think that's because they have a true connection - I do think they're meant to be together.
"And the Twitter followers are so supportive and wonderful. Because of the nature of Twitter, you get instant feedback from an episode after broadcast. It's really touching. Over the last year, I've also had lots of letters from people who are trying to have babies or going through IVF, or have sadly lost children. Doctors is an entertainment show, but I think people like that we're portraying big issues as well."
Are you sticking around on Doctors for the foreseeable future?
"I am, yes! I love it. I feel very lucky to be here, and the best part is playing such a fun character, who is so contradictory and has so many different facets. I really enjoy playing someone who so readily behaves appallingly!"
Will we see Zara on maternity leave for a while, or does she head back to work quite quickly?
"Well, that's the thing - I think she tries to go back too soon! It's absolutely her right to want to stay as a career woman while being a mother, but we all know how difficult that is. And typical Zara - she just goes charging in and tries to do that far too soon. So she's just heading for trouble, really."
Now that she has the baby, could we see Zara's father Jed again?
"Oh gosh, I don't know about that. In the storyline, he lives in Weston-super-Mare, and so far he hasn't even made an appearance to visit the baby! I presume she might have taken the baby to see him, or it might have happened on a weekend off-screen. We haven't seen Paul Shelley, who plays Jed, in Letherbridge for a long time."
Do you prefer playing Zara's bitchier moments or her more vulnerable side?
"Well, nothing beats a good putdown line or a bitchy comment! We have some brilliant writers, so Zara does get the last laugh so often. But that makes it all the more enjoyable when she doesn't get the last laugh and ends up with egg on her face. That only really works if she's had a few weeks of really getting away with everything, and then when it all goes wrong for her, she simply can't believe it!
"Equally with her vulnerable moments - I think they really work when there are fewer of them, because then they're more of a surprise. We see her hard exterior, but then we know that in private, she's just like the rest of us and is full of doubts and fears."
Would you be friends with Zara in real life?
"I don't think so! I really love playing her as it's great fun, but she is such a cow sometimes and I think I'd find that hard to forgive. She can be so grumpy and so selfish, so I think I'd find her exhausting!"
What's it like to work with Matthew Chambers?
"He's great fun and we have a great working relationship. I'm very lucky, because we spend so much time together and we do so many scenes together.
"Matthew has taught me the art of banter! I can be rather serious and I never used to really join in with banter, because I was concentrating! I'm not saying that my concentration has diminished, but he has taught me everything I know - and I'm afraid that he's now often on the sharp end of my banter! So now I say, 'It's your fault - you've created a monster because you've taught me how to do it!'"
Do you enjoy working with Jan Pearson too?
"Yes, she's an absolute delight. She's absolutely warm, funny and so clever - she's such a clever actress. There isn't a scene that she does that she doesn't bring a whole different dimension to, which perhaps you didn't even notice in the script. She's tremendous fun to work with, and our characters also rub each other up the wrong way, so we have great fun doing that."
We know that you're very passionate about Doctors deserving a higher profile - and even campaigned for it to be featured on This Morning!
"Yes, I was a bit cheeky when I did a photoshoot for the British Soap Awards with Phillip Schofield! We were standing next to each other to be photographed, so I said, 'Now that I've got you right here, why don't you have us on Soapbox?!' (Laughs)
"I said to Phil that as we're both daytime shows, we must have the same demographic of viewers, and we regularly get more viewers than This Morning. I had done my research, so it was true! And then the very next day, he raised it at a script meeting, and we have been on a bit since then.
"So onwards with that, I think. It was somebody on Twitter who said that Doctors is one of television's best-kept secrets. And I think we wish that we weren't a secret."
We're trying to include the show a bit more on Digital Spy too!
"That's wonderful. I do sometimes have a look at the forums, as it's so interesting to see the feedback of how the episodes are going, and whether people are enjoying the storylines and the characters. People seem to get very passionate about it when they're debating with each other, so I do like dropping in for a little look at that."
Would you like to see Doctors get an evening repeat slot?
"We would love it, I think! I don't know what the official party line is, but why not? So many people tell me that they watch it, but they'll say it was because they were on maternity leave, working from home for a week, or feeling ill or something like that! I do know that there is a big fraction of people who record Doctors, and when they get home, they'll watch it. So how much better would it be if the show was just there for them when they got home from work?"
Doctors often has great guest stars for its 'story of the day' plots. Is there anyone who you'd love to come in and do an episode?
"Oh gosh, there's so many people! I'd love it if June Brown from EastEnders could drop into Letherbridge - that would be amazing. Maybe Dot could just drop in as a patient and I could tell her to give up cigarettes!"
Across the whole of your acting career, which roles have been your favourites?
"It's in my nature to feel very loyal to what I'm doing in the present, because I embrace it so wholeheartedly. But doing a Poirot was great fun - and it's been repeated a couple of times recently, so I've had quite a few messages about it. That's reminded me of that job and how fun it was.
"I must say that David Suchet was so wonderful to work with. It was great to meet someone who I so believed was the character. David is so innately Poirot, and I'd watched him being Poirot for so many years. So when I did the scenes with him it didn't feel like I was working with David at all, instead it was like working with a funny little Belgian detective!"
Are there any other shows you wish you could be a part of?
"Well, my absolute ultimate would have been The West Wing, which is no more. That show absolutely delighted and thrilled me - the writing, the characters and the relationships. So to have been on that would have been amazing!"
Doctors regular Cherry Malone gets the happy day she's been waiting for next week as she ties the knot with partner Jimmi Clay.
Cherry is thrilled as she finally exchanges her vows with Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) on Tuesday, but in the build-up to the wedding, she has to contend with an eventful hen night and supporting Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) when she goes into labour at work!
Digital Spy recently caught up with Sophie Abelson, who plays Cherry, to hear about what's in store.
What was it like to film Cherry's wedding episode?
"It was quite exciting, especially in the build-up to the wedding, because it actually felt like I was getting married in real life! I had dress fittings and trials for hair and make-up, so it was all of the things that you have when you're planning a real wedding.
"Filming the actual ceremony also felt quite real, as all of my colleagues were there to watch and they're good friends of mine in real life. It was a really fun day at work."
What can we expect from the scenes that are coming up?
"The wedding episode is a big one for the show, and there is such a build-up to the big day as well. You'll see that it's also closely intertwined with Zara's storyline. So for Cherry, Jimmi, Zara and Daniel, there are some big episodes coming up. I'm really glad that Doctors went all-out with these storylines for the two couples, as they've definitely given them their full virtue.
"I've seen the wedding episode and I think it all pays off. It was all filmed out on location in a big castle, and it was a lovely venue - the grounds were beautiful. It's quite glorious!"
Soap actors often say that on-screen weddings can be quite tiring due to the long filming days. Was that the case here?
"Well, here at Doctors, we film so fast because we have so little time. It's hardly ever the case that we're waiting around between scenes. Ian Barber, who directed the episode, was so well-organised - and so were all of our crew.
"The whole team worked together really well, so when it got to the actual day of filming, it all ran quite smoothly. But I have to admit, by the end of the day, I was a little bit bored of the big heavy dress!"
Did you have any input into Cherry's choice of dress?
"I really trust our wardrobe department, so I always leave it to them. If I started getting involved, I'd probably choose something that was to my taste - which is quite different to Cherry's! It was better to keep it out of my hands, so we could stay true to the character.
"The viewers will also see that there's two dresses involved in the storyline. The dress that Cherry has chosen doesn't end up being the one that she wears on the day…"
We've seen Cherry get very stressed about the wedding!
"She's a pain in the backside, isn't she? She is bridezilla, and she just seems to get worse and worse. I think it's because it's something that she's been dreaming about ever since she was a kid. So she's been getting a bit carried away about the whole thing.
"However, everything that happens in the build-up to the wedding ends up putting things into perspective for Cherry. Once she gets involved in Zara's situation, she gets a wake-up call about what's important and what's not. When it comes to the wedding day, bridezilla has been washed away."
What can you tell us about Cherry helping to deliver Zara's baby on the day before the wedding?
"Well, if Zara could choose any one person to be there while she's giving birth, I think Cherry would be at the bottom of the list! But Cherry is the only person in the whole surgery who's there to help her, so that provides a lot of comedy and a lot of drama too.
"It's very interesting, because in the build-up to Zara going into labour, Cherry's hen night takes place and three years of tension that she's had with Zara comes to a head. Something happens on that hen night which causes the animosity between them to explode. So it'll be interesting to see what happens when Cherry is having to help Zara through the labour."
Do you enjoy filming those rivalry scenes between Cherry and Zara?
"I love it! It's great, because the characters are so different - they're at opposite ends of the spectrum. There have been a few moments where they've softened towards each other, but those haven't lasted for very long! Once they've been through the labour scenes, we'll have to wait and see whether it changes their relationship."
Cherry and Jimmi have had their ups and downs, but do you think they've put their dramas behind them now?
"Well, this is soapland and I don't think any couple can ever be totally comfortable! There always has to be some room for drama. When it comes to the wedding and the build-up to it, a lot of the drama is going on with other characters, but for Cherry and Jimmi it's a happy day and everything runs quite smoothly.
"However, we have to remember that the two characters are very different, and I know there are mixed opinions over whether they're well-matched or not. Those underlying tensions are always going to be there and will creep up from time to time…"
How are you finding life at Doctors in general?
"I really enjoy it. It's such a nice family atmosphere here. Other soaps have 50 or 60 cast members, but there's a only a small group of us here, so there's no competition. On other soaps, people are probably fighting for storylines, but we don't have that because we all get our fair share and each year there'll usually be one big thing that happens to us. I've learned so much from Doctors."
There's been a lot of tension between Cherry and Freya lately. Can they get their friendship back on track?
"It's such a shame because they had such a good friendship! In my opinion, Cherry's response to Freya recently has been very juvenile. Cherry lived with Simon and she's not homophobic in any way, but she's always had a big issue when it comes to people lying to her. She can't abide it, so I think that's what the main problem has been. But I think we might see her come round."
Would you be friends with Cherry in real life?
"I don't think I would! Isn't that terrible? I think she does have some good traits and a good heart, but if I'm honest, I think I'd find her quite irritating in real life! I don't think she's horrible or a nasty person, though."
Before Doctors, you'd mainly done theatre work. Have you enjoyed making the transition to the fast-paced soap world?
"Absolutely. My CV is mainly theatre-based, and I really enjoy the thrill of live stage work. But this has been such a different experience, and I do love the way that TV is so different every single day. I like taking one character on a journey. Before joining Doctors, I'd only done a few little bits of TV, so it took me a little while to be at ease in front of the camera. I've really benefited from the experience."
Do you think Doctors deserves a bit more attention or a new timeslot?
"I think we all get frustrated that we're not recognised, because we know we're just as good as any of the other soaps. But, at the same time, you have to question whether Doctors would still be the same show if it was as mainstream as the others.
"The fact that we've got our little slot in the daytime and take such a big percentage of the audience is a good thing. So while it is sometimes a shame not to get more publicity, I'd be worried that Doctors would change if it moved to another slot."
Do you get much attention from Doctors fans when you're out and about?
"It's a nice balance. I don't get so much that it becomes annoying, but every now and again, there'll be someone coming up to say hello. I think I've got quite a different style to Cherry - I'm not quite so pink and fluffy, and I'm more of a 'black jeans and jumper' kind of girl! So I don't get approached all that often, but it's always nice when someone does. It's sometimes easy to forget that we're being watched by two million viewers a day on average."
Are there any actors who you'd love to see join Doctors for a 'story of the day' plot?
"Well, I have to say, I've worked with such a great range of actors that I think I've been lucky enough! Maybe George Clooney? (Laughs) Perhaps they can talk to his agent and sort it out, or am I being unrealistic?!"
What have your favourite storylines been during your time on the show?
"Well, there was the big Scott story, which was the first one I had when I joined the show. That was great, because it brought extra layers and depth to Cherry's character. I also loved the episode where Jimmi saved Cherry from the water, as we filmed it at Pinewood Studios, which was very exciting! I've have some fantastic storylines."
Former Emmerdale and Hollyoaks star James Sutton makes a guest appearance on Doctors next week, taking on the role of squatter Jed Miller.
Jed, his girlfriend Meera and acquaintance Gary all descend on the Hollins family's new house in Kingsvale after Karen (Jan Pearson) accidentally leaves a window open in the build-up to the big move.
At first, the trio settle in well, but things soon go wrong when a furious Rob (Chris Walker) finds out what's going on and turns up to deal with the situation.
With Rob on their case, tensions rise between the group of squatters and it transpires that a police officer is the last person Jed would like to see - as he's a wanted man!
Meanwhile, it also becomes apparent that Jed and Gary have a complicated history and dramatic scenes follow as the two men go head-to-head…
Sutton bowed out from his role as Emmerdale's Ryan Lamb last year and has since been cast in a number of other projects.
Along with Doctors, the 29-year-old recently filmed an episode of ITV1's Scott & Bailey, and he also has an ongoing role in the next series of Sky Living's supernatural drama Bedlam, starring alongside ex-EastEnders actress Lacey Turner.
Sutton's guest appearance in Doctors airs on Friday, March 9 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors regular Heston Carter has dramatic scenes on the way next week as he finally stands up to his abusive partner Marina Bonnaire.
Heston has suffered violence at the hands of Marina on a number of occasions over the past few months, but has stuck by her in the desperate hope that she will change her ways.
However, Heston will soon reach breaking point as Marina lashes out once again - which leads to him losing his temper and ending their relationship for good.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Owen Brenman, who plays Heston, to hear his thoughts on the hard-hitting storyline.
What has the Heston and Marina story been like to film?
"Although it was an upsetting and traumatic storyline for Heston, it was great to do it from an acting point of view. It put my character into a position that he hadn't been in before, and it was exciting because we don't often see stories like this on television. Marian McLoughlin, who played Marina, was great to work with and that also made a huge difference."
What can we expect from the next few episodes?
"Marina's abuse gets a lot nastier, and Heston ends up quite broken because of it. That was challenging to do, but it's always nice to be taken out of your comfort zone."
Why has Heston stuck with Marina through all the violence?
"When the Doctors team were trying to work out the storyline, one of the senior producers told me this was their worry - why would Heston put up with it for so long? But I said that I could understand that, because he's been unlucky in his past relationships and therefore he's desperate for this one to succeed. That means that Heston has put up with a lot of rubbish that other people may not have done."
Can you tell us about the build-up to Heston dumping Marina in the coming days?
"By this point, Marina has been very cruel and very violent, but she's also a very disturbed character. Heston has been trying to help her for so long, but he finally just grabs her and throws her up against the wall.
"It's the first time that Marina has had that done to her, and she's quite shocked by it. Heston tells Marina how her mistreatment has affected him, and she's genuinely very scared herself. Heston raises his hand, hits the wall just a few inches away from her face, and throws Marina out."
What happens next?
"Heston becomes very depressed. He stays up all night, and then he goes into work the following day covered in blood and everyone is stunned. Heston goes into Julia's office and, very matter-of-factly, tells her what's happened. He's quite ashamed that he's been lying for so long, as he's made a formal complaint against Kevin after he became suspicious. You'll see him apologise, and it's a real low point for Heston."
Has the story been getting a good response from viewers?
"Yes, the reaction that I've been getting on Twitter and on the street has been very positive. A woman who lives nearby even came knocking on my door the other day, because she'd been on holiday and Doctors hadn't recorded properly. She was desperate to know what had happened to Heston and Marina! That's a good sign and hopefully shows that it's working.
"There must be lots of people out there who are in the same position as Heston, but I imagine they're quite reluctant to own up to it. That happens to Heston, too, as when his colleagues find out the truth, he's very reluctant to talk about it."
A domestic violence storyline where a woman is abusing a man is rare for soap. Do you think Doctors deserves praise for tackling this?
"I think it does, yes. When you've got a programme that's on five days a week, I suppose it's difficult to come up with new storylines, but this seems quite new as I can't really remember any other soaps doing a story like this. But I suppose if the other soaps like it, they might start doing it as well!"
Even with Marina gone, will Heston's experience affect him for a while?
"Yes, he starts reacting differently to certain situations - for example, he gets burgled at one point and behaves badly. I can't say too much, but you'll see him get into some legal trouble because of his actions in trying to defend himself, as he oversteps the mark. I think the audience will be on his side, but he makes bad decisions because of what he's been through with Marina."
Could Heston ever get together with Mrs Tembe?
"Well, I get on very well with Lorna Laidlaw, who plays Mrs Tembe. I think it would be quite interesting, and I think the writers get a lot of comedy from those two characters. Heston seems oblivious to it, but I think Mrs Tembe has a deep respect for Heston and his old-fashioned outlook on life. There is a bond between them, but whether they'd ever be a couple, I don't know."
You've done some more directing for Doctors recently, haven't you?
"Yes, I've directed three more episodes which will be airing at the end of March. It was fantastic and very hard work. It was particularly difficult for me, because during my first week of preparation for directing, I was also filming the end of the Marina storyline every single day. But it's great to use a different part of my brain and work with actors in a different way. I hope to do more of it in the future."
What's the best thing about working on Doctors? And do you ever miss the stage?
"Yes, I do miss the stage as it's great to perform in front of a live audience. But the best thing about working on Doctors is that the people are so nice, and you also get an opportunity to play a wide range of storylines - from comedy to quite tragic material. A lot of actors don't get that, as often in this business you can get typecast in a certain kind of role. So I love the variety at Doctors."
Do you have fond memories of your time working on One Foot in the Grave?
"Yes, I loved working in the BBC TV Centre, which I hear is going to be closed, so it's almost like it's from another era. It was very different to filming on Doctors as it was a lot more intense - you didn't do anything for a few months, but then you all turned up and had to be funny at the drop of a hat.
"They were a nice bunch and I'm still in touch with Doreen Mantle, who played Mrs Warboys. Every now and again I speak to Richard Wilson too, and I'm also in contact with the writer David Renwick."
Do you ever wear bow ties like Heston?
"I don't, but maybe I should! I remember once I was sitting outside having lunch in Birmingham, and later on I read a tweet that said, 'Spotted Owen Brenman in town - not wearing a bow tie!' Maybe I should take a leaf out of Heston's book and dress a bit smarter!"
Doctors' Freya Wilson has a busy few months ahead on screen as her new romance with Mandy Marquez takes centre stage.
Fans have already seen the early days of Freya's new relationship, but the story gathers pace next week when Mandy joins The Mill and is added to the regular cast.
With romance and major troubles at work on the way for Freya, Digital Spy recently chatted to Lu Corfield - who plays her - to hear all about it.
You've been filming on Doctors for a year now. How would you sum up your time on the show so far?
"It's been an absolute rollercoaster! The speed and the amount that we cram in means that it's not like anything else that I've ever done before, but it's also the happiest show that I've ever worked on. It will sound like a cliché, but everyone in the whole team really gets on. I've never experienced such a team effort.
"It's great to be working with a bunch of regulars that I adore, but also to have a fresh turnover of guest artists. Working on Doctors means that you have a fresh face every day, and that makes you up your game as well."
How do you view the character of Freya?
"Freya is a complete prat, but I've grown to love her more and more over the year. She started off as somebody who at any opportunity would stand on her soapbox and scream about women's rights, feminism and the liberation movement! She still does, but she's toned it down a little bit. Freya's also become more of a 3D character, especially now that her girlfriend Mandy has been brought in. It's just lovely to play her."
Freya seems to be getting bigger storylines now, doesn't she?
"Yes. When she first started, she was a feeder for lots of 'stories of the day' or other character's storylines, which is fair enough and the viewers have got to know her by watching her on the sidelines. But now she's really been given her own time.
"The two main ways that you get to know Freya are through her relationship with Kevin and her relationship with Mandy. Although the romance with Mandy is just starting to air now, we've already shot another three months of it, so it's got a massive development ahead."
What's your take on the Freya and Kevin relationship?
"I started at the same time as Simon Rivers, who plays Kevin, and we've gone on a massive journey together, both on screen and off. I love their relationship, because it started off with them fighting like cat and dog, but now there's such a fondness between them. Their default setting is to always snap at each other, but they care about each other a lot and they'll always look out for each other.
"The triangle we now have of Mandy, Kevin and Freya is glorious. You'll see that Mandy doesn't know quite where to place herself. Freya is saying that she's with Mandy and everything's fine, but there's still such a pull towards Kevin, which she's not very good at hiding!"
Does playing a bisexual character come with any pressure?
"I don't feel pressure, I feel genuinely privileged. It's not something that's just new for Doctors or daytime, it's new for soaps in general. Soaps tend to be quite supportive when it comes to introducing a regular gay or lesbian character, but to actually explore an area that isn't as clear-cut or straightforward is amazing.
"I'm bisexual in real life and very proud to be, so when I found out this was the way that Freya was going to go, I felt that I had a massive responsibility. The writers have been brilliant and I've gone to them with suggestions. Together we've hopefully made Freya's bisexuality a part of who she is, rather than letting it define her."
Freya and Mandy are already living together. Is there a danger that their relationship is progressing too quickly?
"I think there is, especially because Freya is useless when it comes to relationships. She's absolutely petrified, because she's convinced that it's going to go wrong. We've seen in the past that she's just not used to being treated well.
"Mandy moving in is actually the best thing that could have happened to her in the long-run, but there will be times when Freya manages to mess things up quite wonderfully! All I'll say is that it doesn't run smoothly, but Doctors storylines never do!"
Mandy is a new regular character for Doctors. What else can we expect from her?
"Mandy is a fantastic character. She's very honest, she's very upfront and she's good for Freya. Freya will hesitate and not make decisions quickly, while Mandy is straight-down-the-line and she doesn't overcomplicate things. As far as Mandy's concerned, she just wants to be with Freya and they'll see if it works. Freya is seeing a lot of neon warning signs flashing before her eyes, while Mandy is skipping down the street happily with rose-tinted glasses."
There's an interesting episode coming up involving Freya, Mandy and a radio interview, isn't there?
"Yes, Freya is given a chance to talk about her blog on Letherbridge FM, but the interview doesn't quite go according to plan! The interviewer is a bit of a bitchy character, and she really hones in on Freya and her bisexuality, saying, 'How can you be decisive about anything in your life if you can't make up your mind between men and women?'
"But Mandy actually bursts into the interview and sticks up for Freya. For Mandy to come to her rescue like that shows what kind of an influence she's going to have on Freya over the next few months. She's there to support her and she's there to love her. If anybody's going to mess it up, it's not Mandy!"
Danielle Henry is playing the role of Mandy. Are you enjoying working with her?
"Absolutely. We've worked together before on a show called Candy Cabs, so when I knew they were considering Dan for the part of Mandy, I was really excited and wasn't very subtle with how thrilled I would be if she did get cast! Danielle is wonderful to act with on screen, she's natural and she plays Mandy wonderfully. She's an absolute delight."
Freya also has a big career setback on the way…
"Yes, Freya flunks her exams! She's been competing with Kevin for the same job at The Mill over the past year, and the post goes to Kevin. This is a massive setback for Freya. She has to take two steps back, reassess her life and think about why she failed.
"The episode where Freya fails is a really special one, because she expects Kevin to come in, laud it over her and be insensitive. But that's not Kevin's reaction at all - he's gutted for her and his support completely throws Freya. It's quite a heartbreaking episode, because Freya has both Mandy and Kevin supporting her - two people who she loves very dearly. It raises some questions for her, let's just say that!"
Has Freya let her blog get in the way of her studies?
"She's obsessed! When she fails her exams, you'd think she would realise that she needs to stop doing everything else and concentrate on retaking them. Instead, she becomes more fixated on the blog! Freya uses it as a complete distraction, because she's not getting praise and adoration at work, but she gets it from her online followers.
"Freya's blog is going to cause some big problems, and not just in terms of her not working hard enough as a GP. Something we've shot quite recently is what happens when she meets one of her followers. I'll just leave it there…"
Diane Keen is to leave BBC One's Doctors, it has been confirmed.
The long-serving soap actress, who has played practice manager Julia Parsons for almost a decade, will bow out of the programme next month.
Keen told What's on TV: "It's been a heck of a ride and a huge learning curve. There are so many people I'm going to miss. But we will always keep in touch.
"Julia has had a tough time over the years, but she has always come through with grace and humour. While she doesn't suffer fools, she does have a heart of gold and a great sense of humour. So whatever happens, here's to Julia's future happiness!"
Julia has recently embarked on a romance with garage owner Martin Millar, but will reportedly be offered a new job away from Letherbridge.
It is currently unclear whether she will depart with Martin or leave with a broken heart.
Keen, who joined Doctors in 2003, will leave the show on May 18.
Doctors added newcomer Mandy Marquez to its regular cast at the beginning of the year - shaking up life for established character Freya Wilson.
Viewers have seen Mandy and Freya (Lu Corfield) fall for each other over the past few months, but it's been far from plain sailing for the pair thanks to Freya's insecurities and indecisiveness.
Digital Spy recently chatted to actress Danielle Henry, who plays Mandy, to hear about life at Doctors and more...
How are you settling in at Doctors?
"It's going really well! I had some preconceptions when I first joined, because I'd appeared on the show as a guest artist in 2005. I could remember how quickly they all worked, so I thought it would be quite a stressful environment because the cast and crew haven't got a lot of time.
"But it turned out that it's just the opposite of that - everyone is so chilled out. Everyone keeps their head down and gets on with the job - it's a show where everyone mucks in. I'm really, really loving being here."
How welcoming have the cast been?
"Really welcoming - it's like a real family here. That includes the crew and the producers too. I've never worked anywhere before where the producers' doors are always open for you to have a chat. It's really friendly and there's no stuffy hierarchy here."
As you've worked with Lu Corfield before, was it nice to have a familiar face on set?
"Definitely - she's been an absolutely massive help as I've been settling in. We were friends before I joined Doctors, so it was really odd when I came in to play her girlfriend. As much as I was looking forward to working with Lu again, it's a really strange situation to kiss one of your mates!
"Lu is just amazing, though - she's the sort of actress who makes you raise your game in a scene. I'm so chuffed that she's been nominated for 'Best Newcomer' at the British Soap Awards, because she really, really deserves it."
How do you describe Mandy to people?
"Mandy has more confidence in her personal life than she does with her career, so she's the opposite of Freya in that respect. She has a big circle of friends, she's very outgoing, and she doesn't really care what people think about her. Mandy is also very moral - she feels strongly about things and she's not frightened to express that in her personal life.
"However, when it comes to Mandy's work life, she's much less confident - so it's a really weird contrast! She's quite hesitant when it comes to making decisions and she's never quite sure that she's doing the right thing. Mandy is in awe of Freya, because Freya is very confident in her work and able to take charge of things as a doctor."
What kind of a reaction have you had from playing Mandy so far?
"I'm quite new to Twitter, but I've been noticing a lot of the great comments that Lu gets. I've also had some really positive feedback from people who really like Mandy and Freya together. I think Doctors have done a really good job of making the sexuality of the two characters quite incidental. They've created quite a realistic relationship between two women on television, and I don't think that happens very often.
"The feedback we're getting is that people are liking the relationship, which is really nice as often you're not sure what the reaction will be. We have a daytime slot and there aren't that many gay characters on television, but the feedback has been really, really positive."
As Doctors is working hard to positively represent a same-sex relationship on screen, does that come with any pressure?
"Only because I think it's very important that we make the portrayal really realistic. As a black actress, I remember when I was younger and there just weren't many black faces on television. So I think it's important that we remember we could be representing gay people, bisexual people or people who are confused.
"It's not over the top and it doesn't stick to stereotypes - I think Doctors have done a really good job of that so far. As I've said, I think Mandy and Freya's sexuality is just incidental a lot of the time - they're just two people who have a lot in common and really love each other. At the core of it, that's the most important thing."
Mandy and Freya's relationship seems to have progressed quite quickly. Is that a good thing?
"I think it is, as they know that their feelings are the real deal. Neither of them are game players, so once they met, everything felt right and they didn't see any reason to be hanging about. They've cracked on and put their hearts first, and that's the thing they have in common."
Could the spark between Freya and Kevin cause a problem in the future?
"I think that potentially could. There's a bit of a love-hate relationship between Freya and Kevin, so there is some jealousy from Mandy's point of view. She tries to keep it hidden most of the time, but I think you can never fully keep something like that under wraps! So as the story starts unfolding, there could be some problems..."
Mandy's had to support Freya through a lot of troubles recently, hasn't she?
"Yes, Freya is the classic example of the road to hell being paved with good intentions! Freya is always trying to do the right thing, but she manages to mess it up. My sister even phoned me the other day and asked, 'Why does Freya keep doing such stupid things?!'
"It's never intentional from Freya, but she can get carried away. Mandy's really aware of that side of Freya's personality, and as much as she finds it attractive, she also worries that Freya doesn't seem to consider the outcome of things!"
We've seen that Mandy is featuring in quite a few 'story of the day' plots. Can you name any that we should be looking out for?
"I've got a really nice story coming up with Mandy and an athlete who finds out she has breast cancer. It centres around her decision on whether she's going to undergo treatment or not, because her cancer is developing quite quickly. As Mandy used to be really interested in athletics, this lady is an idol of hers. To get the chance to help this woman is a really big thing for Mandy and you'll see an interesting relationship between them."
Who from the cast have you particularly bonded with?
"I think myself and Lu will be friends for life. Simon Rivers is so silly, so I think we're quite similar as we like to mess about sometimes - we've got a bit of a brother-sister relationship now! Charlie Clemmow is a really good friend of mine and we actually live together now in Birmingham. And Sophie Abelson is one of the nicest people on the planet. I've got quite a lot of scenes with Sophie at the moment involving one of her storylines."
Are you looking forward to the Soap Awards?
"I'm a bit rubbish with the red carpet side of things - I never know what to say! It's weird because the last time I was there, I was in Emmerdale, so it'll be a bit strange sitting with the Doctors crew this year!
"The thing about the Soap Awards is that it's just a bit of fun, really. You can't take it too seriously, but I couldn't wish to be there with a nicer bunch of people. I haven't been at Doctors for a huge amount of time, but I'm already quite protective over the show and I'm really pleased to say that I'm part of the cast!"
"EastEnders, Holby, Casualty and Doctors tackle a variety of social issues and have won many awards. Not only are they key programmes in the BBC One schedule, but they also provide a training ground for developing and nurturing diverse new talent on and off screen."
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Ian Kelsey has been cast as the upcoming new practice manager in BBC One soap Doctors.
The former Emmerdale and Casualty actor will replace the outgoing Diane Keen, who will leave the soap after nearly 10 years next week.
Kelsey will play confident, divorced ex-army captain Howard Bellamy, who is said to have a highly different and strict outlook on working life in comparison to Keen's Julia Parsons.
The actor said: "Diane Keen has left some big shoes for me to fill, so it's lucky I have size 13 feet!
"The producers and writers have created a gem of a character for me to play in Howard, so it's great to go to work every day and be able to sink your teeth into the next scenario Howard finds himself tackling…and it being Doctors that could be anything!"
Julia will be involved in a car crash with love interest Martin Millar later this week, leaving viewers to wonder whether they will survive the accident or not.
Series producers Peter Lloyd and Mike Hobson added: "We're so sorry to see Di go. After a wonderful run as Julia she has been an unwavering support and advocate for the show and we wish her the best of luck in her next projects."
Kelsey will make his first appearance as Howard Bellamy in Doctors on Monday, May 28.
Doctors bids farewell to its longest-serving cast member next week as Diane Keen bows out from her role as Julia Parsons after nine years.
Show bosses are keeping firm details of Julia's exit under wraps, but her final week on BBC One's daytime soap sees her involved in a terrifying car crash with new love interest Martin Millar (Miles Anderson) - leaving fans to wonder whether the pair will live or die.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Diane to hear about her decision to leave Doctors and her future plans.
How are you feeling now that your time at Doctors has come to an end?
"I'm okay now, but I was very sad to begin with! I filmed my final scenes a while ago, so now I'm excited about the future and playing different parts. That's what actors want - to play lots of different roles - so I'm looking forward to that.
"I'm also having a great time, because I'm catching up with my friends and my family. Being at home is lovely - I think I spent about three weeks catching up on my sleep!"
As it was your choice to leave, how difficult was it to make that decision?
"It was hard, it really was. It took me about two years to make the decision, but eventually I thought that I'd probably taken Julia as far as I could. Lots of different things could happen to her, but I knew her inside out in terms of her character and who she is. So I decided that it was time to move on and do some other projects."
The Doctors cast and crew threw a big leaving party for you, didn't they?
"Yes, it was fantastic. They were so wonderful to me and I was overwhelmed, as there was a lot of love in that room.
"I also loved the fact that I was in one place with them all, perhaps for the first time ever! We don't often get together like that, with all the crew and the office people being there. It was just so wonderful and such a great evening. They were very, very sweet to me."
Looking back over your time at Doctors, do any particular storylines stand out?
"There's lots and lots of storylines which were interesting, but I think one of them was probably the Lyme disease story, where Julia was so ill. That was an amazing storyline, because there was such a wide spectrum of emotions to play.
"I also liked playing the storylines with Julia's family, because it was another side to her that you didn't often see. You'd often see Julia in the office or going out with the girls to the Icon bar, so it was business as usual for Julia - her career seemed to be her life. So when something different came up, it was always great for me to sink my teeth into it."
Will you carry on watching Doctors?
"Oh yes, absolutely. I record it and I never miss an episode. I've always done that - even when I was in the show. It was always interesting to watch because what goes out on screen has usually been filmed two or three months before.
"Also, some of our guest artists are phenomenal - we're so lucky to have had so many good people. And that's not just the well-known people, as some of the young actors who have just come from drama school have been amazing and it's a great honour and privilege to work with them."
Would you appear on another soap?
"Absolutely - why not? They write great parts. Generally speaking, the writing on soaps these days is of such a high quality. You also get great directors and you're working with good people. As I say, I want to play other roles, so if it's a part that I want to play, it doesn't matter what the project is."
As we've seen Julia find love with Martin, do you think they're a good match?
"I think they could be, but she's got to chill out a bit more. She's fighting it all the way, because she's had so many disastrous relationships in her life, so now she tends to take the negative point of view towards how something will turn out.
"Martin's really great because he won't take any nonsense and he's not taking no for an answer. He's forcing Julia to really give it a shot, and she needs that. She's obviously very attracted to him, too, so they could be very good together."
What was Julia's car crash like to film?
"It was phenomenal. We filmed it on a mad, stormy, windy, rainy day. The weather was horrendous, which made things a lot more difficult for everybody when it came to filming. But it was amazing, and in the end the scenes looked incredible because of that. It was very exciting for everybody, as we don't often get to do stunts like that on Doctors."
Do you think The Mill's staff will soldier on without Julia?
"Of course they will soldier on. She runs a very tight ship, so everything's in place and everybody's aware of how things are done. Everybody knows what is needed and required to make it a good practice, so of course they'll manage it."
How would you like Julia to be remembered by Doctors fans in years to come?
"As a great businesswoman with a huge sense of humour, who has an enormous vulnerable streak in her which makes her human. I think she's been a likeable character!"
Doctors enters a new era next week as Howard Bellamy takes over the post of practice manager at The Mill, succeeding Julia Parsons following her recent departure.
Played by former Emmerdale and Casualty star Ian Kelsey, Howard is a former military man who looks set to ruffle feathers at work as he aims to get the practice through an upcoming reaccreditation.
Digital Spy recently chatted to Ian about joining Doctors and what fans can expect from Howard.
How are you settling in at Doctors?
"I'm settling in really well. It's a lovely environment to work in, with a great cast and crew. It's quite easy to settle into something when it's such a laugh to work on!
"I'm really enjoying it because I just love being on a TV set - I prefer it much more to stage work. There's great banter between the cast and crew all day long. It's just a load of old mates thrown in a studio with lights and cameras, and everyone cracks on and has a laugh."
How did the part come about?
"I went to an audition and was given three scenes which were very, very different from each other. As I was looking at the scenes and working on them, I could see that each one showed a different side of Howard.
"That made it a gem to audition for, because if you get something like this, you can really go for it. He's such an extreme of a character, so I just went for it in the casting and obviously it worked!"
Was it easy to adjust to the fast-paced soap world again?
"I found the line-learning hard at first, but it's just about having a positive mental attitude. If you approach it and you think, 'I can't learn it', then you never will! But I know that I've done this sort of work before and I can do it.
"When I first started, I was looking round and could see that everybody was up to speed with their short-term memory, which you need to develop for a job like this. It's like any muscle in your body - if you haven't used it for a while, it goes slack. So it took about a month for me to get up to speed."
Diane Keen became a bit of a legend among Doctors fans after nine years as Julia. Is there any pressure when it comes to taking over from her?
"I don't think I realised just how much of a legend she actually was until I started speaking to more and more people about the role! (Laughs) But you do quickly realise that quite a lot of stories go through the practice manager. They are big shoes to fill, but hopefully I can do it."
What can you tell us about Howard and his background?
"The thing with Doctors is that it could change as time goes on! What I know at the moment is that Howard is ex-military - he went in and worked his way up to becoming an officer. Then he came out and went straight into the NHS.
"He's now decided that he wants to get his hands mucky and that's why he wants to be the practice manager at The Mill. He wants to try his hand at leadership again, so he comes in and starts to lead everybody like they're part of his old military unit - which is quite hilarious!"
The Mill is also facing a reaccreditation, isn't it?
"Yeah, and that's a big reason behind why Howard comes in - he basically emotionally blackmails the staff! Howard has worked for the board of accreditation, so he knows how to get a practice through the test.
"He lets the partners know that he is the man for the job and can get them through this. So even though he may not have been first choice, they have no choice but to hire him…"
Does he have any new ideas for the practice?
"It's just little things like organising and coming up with better ideas. He comes in with a stiff rod and he's barking orders, so he's putting his mark on the practice already - just by how he's running it.
"It's a strange old situation, because the partners own the practice and they're hiring somebody like Howard to keep them in check. They're hiring someone to tell them off, basically!"
Does Howard have better relationships with some staff members than others?
"Well, I've spoken to a real-life practice manager and she said, 'You have to manage and manipulate every different doctor in a different way - your relationship with every doctor is different'. That's also happened in Howard's relationships with the characters, which is quite interesting. Each different character has a different relationship with Howard, which is brilliant for me as an actor, because it means that I can bounce off people differently.
"A lot of the characters are a bit unsure about him. They don't know whether they like him, whether they don't like him, whether they look up to him, whether they look down on him. There's loads of different angles and routes to go down with Howard."
Do you still have fond memories of your time on Emmerdale?
"Yes - very, very fond memories. It was one of the best times of my life on that show as it was my first big break. I don't miss it as such, because I'm doing the same type of work on Doctors with fast-moving, fast-paced acting.
"In the end, it was time for me to move on and I'm glad I did, but it's lovely to look back on Emmerdale with very fond memories. I've got loads of photos from the days I spent on set, and it was nice to bump into everybody at the Soap Awards recently!"
Two Doctors regulars will be left fighting for their lives in one of the soap's biggest cliffhangers of the year so far.
We recently teased that there is a huge episode on the way before Doctors has a three-week summer break, and more details have now emerged of the drama in store.
Freya Wilson (Lu Corfield) and Kevin Tyler (Simon Rivers) will be the two characters left in serious danger in the episode, which airs later this month.
Freya faces the sack at work when Kevin reports her to their new boss Howard Bellamy for jeopardising an important drugs trial.
Magazine reports have revealed that Freya is livid when she discovers that Kevin is failing to support her in his discussions with Howard over the situation.
Keen to confront Kevin about this, Freya heads round to see him at the home of his latest girlfriend Michaela. However, when she arrives, she's horrified to see that the place is on fire.
Freya doesn't hesitate in rushing in to save Kevin, but both are left in mortal peril. While we can't say too much else yet, there's a shock ending to the episode which is sure to make the three-week break agonising for fans!
Doctors airs this episode on Monday, June 18 at 1.45pm on BBC One. Our full spoiler for this edition will go live in the Doctors section next Saturday (June 9).
Doctors star Elisabeth Dermot Walsh has announced that she is now mum to a baby boy.
The actress, who plays Zara Carmichael on BBC One's daytime soap, gave birth to her son Bertie last month.
Writing on Twitter today (June 8), she commented: "So, it's about time we shared the love - am delighted to announce we welcomed our son, beautiful Bertie, to the world on 23/05/12! #Delirious XX."
She added: "THANK YOU to every one of you who sent congratulations and good wishes, we were very touched by your kind words. HAPPY FRIDAY to you all!"
Dermot Walsh had confirmed the news of her pregnancy in late April during a live television appearance on This Morning.
Doctors fans also saw Zara welcome the arrival of a baby boy in February.
TaintedLove
08-06-2012, 18:28
That`s excellent news. I`m glad Mum and baby are doing well.
Welcome to the world Bertie.
Doctors adds a new face to its regular cast later this month as actress Vineeta Rishi joins the daytime soap.
Rishi has landed the role of Jas Kheller, who secures a job at The Mill following a successful interview in an upcoming episode.
With Howard and Heston quizzing candidates, they are disappointed when the answers they receive are identically bland - which makes it difficult to differentiate between the applicants.
However, when Jas turns up, her honest replies are refreshing and she immediately becomes Howard's top choice. As Heston concurs, Jas is overjoyed with her success.
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Jas's only disappointment is that the role is a part-time one. Struggling with her finances, she is in desperate need of something more permanent.
Viewers will also learn that Jas already knows established character Kevin Tyler (Simon Rivers), as they were friends at medical school.
Impressed by Jas's hard work on her first day and knowing that she needs some help, Kevin agrees that she can stay at his place for a while until she sorts out her financial situation. Will Jas fare well at The Mill?
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Doctors airs Jas's first scenes on Tuesday, August 21 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors star Simon Rivers has promised that there is a big Christmas storyline ahead for his character Kevin Tyler.
The actor, who joined the BBC One soap last year, revealed that show bosses are planning to delve into Kevin's background in the build-up to the festive season.
Doctors producer Peter Lloyd previously teased Kevin's next big story back in July, explaining that he would have to "examine his identity, how important his race is to him and what that could mean for his future".
Speaking to Digital Spy about the upcoming plot, Rivers commented: "We've already started filming it. I don't want to spoil too much, but let's just say that his past catches up with him in a big way!
"Kevin's identity is going to be thrown totally into chaos. The big story arc for me at Christmas will be exploring all of this. Kevin is someone who only knows half of his family, so his journey now is going to be getting to know the things that he's never known growing up as a kid and exploring his culture.
"He thinks of himself as very British and he's adamant that he's not Asian, so that storyline's going to come through a lot more now."
Rivers also confessed that he does not believe Kevin is well-suited to work colleague Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh), despite fans noticing a chemistry between the pair.
He said: "I think Zara is way out of Kevin's league, but I'm sure that he would love to have something more with her. It's quite nice having that banter with Zara - they like to tease and play along with each other, without crossing the lines. But who knows?
"I suppose it's up to the writers to write it. It would be interesting to see what would happen, but I don't really think if they got together they would be a great couple or work very well. It'd be interesting to play, though!"
Rivers is up for the 'Best Daytime Star' prize at next month's Inside Soap Awards.
Doctors viewers are in for a treat when a special week of Red Button episodes feature the return of murderer Harrison Kellor (James Larkin), much to the distress of Dr. Elaine Cassidy (Janet Dibley).
When Harrison changes his plea for Lauren’s murder to not guilty, a chain of events are set in motion which sees Alex Redmond (Stuart Laing) asking for Elaine’s help. Discovering that Alex’s wife went missing after an affair with Harrison, Elaine is forced to consider that he may have killed other women too.
Plagued by phone calls from Harrison in prison, will Elaine be able to confront her former lover and resist his charms?
Mike Hobson, Series Producer, says: “Lauren’s murder was one of Doctors’ most popular storylines and this Red Button event picks up on one of the show’s most chilling villains, building across the week to a dramatic conclusion.”
Starting on Monday 17 September, viewers will be able to follow the storyline through the regular daytime episodes of Doctors on BBC One and press red straight afterwards to continue Elaine’s story.
Red Button episodes will also be available on the Doctors website.
Doctors viewers are in for a treat when a special week of Red Button episodes feature the return of murderer Harrison Kellor (James Larkin), much to the distress of Dr. Elaine Cassidy (Janet Dibley).
When Harrison changes his plea for Lauren’s murder to not guilty, a chain of events are set in motion which sees Alex Redmond (Stuart Laing) asking for Elaine’s help. Discovering that Alex’s wife went missing after an affair with Harrison, Elaine is forced to consider that he may have killed other women too.
Plagued by phone calls from Harrison in prison, will Elaine be able to confront her former lover and resist his charms?
Mike Hobson, Series Producer, says: “Lauren’s murder was one of Doctors’ most popular storylines and this Red Button event picks up on one of the show’s most chilling villains, building across the week to a dramatic conclusion.”
Starting on Monday 17 September, viewers will be able to follow the storyline through the regular daytime episodes of Doctors on BBC One and press red straight afterwards to continue Elaine’s story.
Red Button episodes will also be available on the Doctors website.
Following some reader questions from Doctors fans regarding the future of certain characters, we can confirm that there are a handful of departures ahead later this month.
Nicolas Woodman, who plays Jack Hollins, makes his final appearance on the soap on Friday, September 21. The actor's on-screen sister Charlie Clemmow (Imogen) then leaves in the following episode on Monday, September 24.
The news probably won't be a huge surprise as our recent Doctors producer interview hinted at a possible "empty nest" for Rob and Karen, while there has been speculation among viewers over Jack and Imogen's future for a few weeks.
Charlie has already confirmed her next project, playing the role of Ela in the play Charley's Aunt at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. The production opens later this month.
Meanwhile, Janet Dibley's character Elaine will also be leaving on September 24 in the conclusion to Harrison's return storyline.
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors airs Charlie Clemmow's final scenes early next week as she bows out from the role of Imogen Hollins.
Having been through various dramas during her three-year stint on the show, Imogen departs screens on a happy note as she leaves Letherbridge to go to art college.
In real life, Charlie is saying goodbye to Doctors of her own accord and is already in rehearsals for her next project, portraying Ela in Charley's Aunt at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.
We recently caught up with Charlie to hear the story behind her exit and her future plans.
Why did you decide to leave Doctors?
"I'd always mentally put a three-year timeframe on my time at Doctors, so I went to the producers in December and they were really lovely about my decision to leave. They asked me to stay filming until June, as that would allow Imogen to go off to art school in September. That was really nice, because I felt like I was a part of what was going to happen to Imogen, and I was kept in the know from the start.
"Once I made the decision to leave, I started auditioning - and my first audition was actually for Charley's Aunt, which I'm working on now.
"I think I felt like I needed to challenge myself differently again. I trained classically at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but I haven't done theatre for a very long time. I wanted to get back on the stage, and I had my heart set on doing something old - so I was really lucky that my first audition was for a period farce."
Were you pleased that Imogen was given a happy ending, or would you have preferred her to go out with a bang?
"I'm really happy with the way Imogen is leaving. I think it's the best thing for 'Team Hollins', because it's been the most incredible journey for the family. Doctors has never really had a full family with teenagers in it before, and I feel like the viewers really welcomed us into their homes. To have destroyed that would have been tragic, especially as they've already been through so much anyway over the past three years!
"Although a dramatic exit storyline can be interesting for the viewers, I think Doctors has already offered that with the fire, Freya dying and the separation of Daniel and Zara. There's enough turmoil going on! It's hard enough for Karen to deal with her children leaving, without it getting any worse than that!"
How do you think Doctors will cope with so many characters leaving at once?
"I think they'll recover brilliantly as usual. It's just unfortunate timing, really, because a lot of people's mental time limits just happened to tie in together. There's no other reason than that. Doctors have always supported the actor, and they've been very accommodating to everybody. I know that they've stayed true to every character in terms of their departure storylines.
"Also, the casting department at Doctors is brilliant - every single regular they bring in is so great to work with. You've seen already that they've brought in Ian Kelsey as Howard and he's brilliant, so there'll be more of that kind of thing to come. There's more new, exciting characters on the way."
Would you reprise the role of Imogen for guest appearances?
"I think that's a possibility - never say never. Obviously my main intention is to move on and experience different things, but I certainly miss everyone at Doctors very much. They've already said to me, 'Would you come back for certain events and the student holidays?'
"So there's always a door open, which is lovely. If it came up, it'd definitely be very hard to turn down!"
Were there any tears shed on your final day on set, or did you keep your composure?
"I didn't keep my composure at all! It was such a difficult last few weeks - it wasn't just the last day. I'd thrown my whole heart into the show, and Imogen had been so exciting and interesting to play. Once it started to sink in that it was coming to an end, I felt very emotional. I did cry quite a bit actually!
"I was monitoring things like the last time I had a scene with just me and Jan [Pearson], or just me and Nic [Woodman]. I really tried to soak it up, make the most of it and enjoy it."
What will you miss the most and least about working on Doctors?
"I'll really miss the car journeys I had with my fellow Hollins cast members in the mornings. We might have 18 scenes ahead of us and all sorts of things going on in different stories, so we'd know that it was the start of a really tough day. We'd all sit there and get ready for the day together, and I feel so grateful that I had those times.
"It's the teamwork - the whole crew and the whole cast. When you're together, you feel like a real unit. We wouldn't have got through it if we didn't have that, and it started to feel like the Hollins were a real family. We didn't have to try any more, it was effortless and there genuinely was a real bond between us.
"What I'll miss the least is probably bleaching my hair! The other thing it's important to remember is that a lot of people have to make sacrifices at Doctors. Because it's such a fast-running and low-budget show, every single person has to make a sacrifice in terms of their work every single day. There isn't necessarily time to rehearse, or nail it and get it brilliant. That's a hard condition to work under when you believe in telling the truth about something."
Does any particular storyline stand out as your favourite?
"When we filmed the abortion storyline, I learned an awful lot from Jan Pearson. She is an absolute pro, and she literally dragged us all kicking and screaming through that story. I've never seen someone just so good at what they do, so I enjoyed every moment of that, even though it was completely heartbreaking.
"For Imogen, that culminated in one of my favourite episodes to film - 'Pavlova's Dogs', where she was sick on herself and singing on the toilet! I always remember that was the day the family got back together, and it was one of my favourite scripts. It really marked a very proud moment at the end of a difficult story. So that I think is probably the most memorable."
Are there any others?
"Imogen's shoplifting storyline ended with 'Daddy's Girl' which was another big episode for me. I filmed that storyline all in one go - the stealing, the homelessness and the falling out with Rob.
"It was a really intense and exhausting couple of months, and I got a two-week holiday at the end of it. I went away and it literally took me days to switch off - it was all going through my head constantly!
"'Daddy's Girl' aired while I was away, and I had loads of lovely messages afterwards. I think if you can touch people who have been through something similar, which it seems that we did, then you have to feel very honoured and proud of the scriptwriters and the team behind you."
What can you tell us about Charley's Aunt?
"It's a comedy, it's a farce and it's very entertaining. I don't want to give too much of the story away, because I hope that people will come to see it without knowing too much of what is coming next.
"But I am a very small cog in a very talented machine. I'm playing a 17-year-old orphan girl, who gets taken under the wing of Jane Asher's character Donna Lucia and brought back to England. She's in love with a man who is played by Mathew Horne. He's dressed in drag in the play, so I arrive to find this old woman and unbeknownst to me, it's the man that I love beneath the wig!
"In terms of everyone else, there's a lot of running around and ridiculousness. It's really fun and very entertaining."
How are the rehearsals going ahead of opening night on Thursday (September 20)?
"The rehearsals have been fantastic. It couldn't be more different from what I was doing before - I've got a whole script to work with and we can tweak different moments every day, trying to make it better and seeing how far we can push ourselves. Losing the Brummie accent has been quite interesting! I don't have a Birmingham accent like Imogen does, but having done it for three years, I do slip into it quite often!
"Like I say, I'm a small cog in an experienced cast. I've been able to sit in a room and learn from people who have done this so often and so well. I couldn't have been luckier to literally go out and audition for one job, get the part and have it be exactly what I was looking for."
Will your Doctors friends be coming to see the play?
"I hope so! I spoke to Matt Chambers the other day and he'll be coming soon. Nic Woodman, Jan Pearson, Chris Walker and Danielle Henry will too. Some of them will even come and see it more than once, if I'm lucky! After previews, the show will start to change, as it's such a busy play and hopefully it'll keep getting better as we find our feet.
"But I've told the Doctors cast not to all come together! I don't want a whole row full of Doctors people, because it's quite an intimate space and you can see the audience sometimes. I'm notorious for getting the giggles on set, so I really don't want to get back into the habit of that!"
Would you appear in another soap in the future?
"That's a tricky one, because I feel like the reason that I left Doctors was not to repeat old ground. In terms of what I've learned and the skills, Doctors has offered me the best grounding. If I were to do something ongoing like another soap, then it would have to be a part that was very different and offer me a very different challenge.
"But the difficulty is that those programmes are producing some fantastic work at the moment. I guess it just depends on what it was, who it was and how long for! Ideally I'll be trying to diversify my work and choose some very different roles that maybe don't last as long."
Doctors airs Charlie Clemmow's final scenes early next week as she bows out from the role of Imogen Hollins.
Having been through various dramas during her three-year stint on the show, Imogen departs screens on a happy note as she leaves Letherbridge to go to art college.
In real life, Charlie is saying goodbye to Doctors of her own accord and is already in rehearsals for her next project, portraying Ela in Charley's Aunt at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London.
We recently caught up with Charlie to hear the story behind her exit and her future plans.
Why did you decide to leave Doctors?
"I'd always mentally put a three-year timeframe on my time at Doctors, so I went to the producers in December and they were really lovely about my decision to leave. They asked me to stay filming until June, as that would allow Imogen to go off to art school in September. That was really nice, because I felt like I was a part of what was going to happen to Imogen, and I was kept in the know from the start.
"Once I made the decision to leave, I started auditioning - and my first audition was actually for Charley's Aunt, which I'm working on now.
"I think I felt like I needed to challenge myself differently again. I trained classically at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, but I haven't done theatre for a very long time. I wanted to get back on the stage, and I had my heart set on doing something old - so I was really lucky that my first audition was for a period farce."
Were you pleased that Imogen was given a happy ending, or would you have preferred her to go out with a bang?
"I'm really happy with the way Imogen is leaving. I think it's the best thing for 'Team Hollins', because it's been the most incredible journey for the family. Doctors has never really had a full family with teenagers in it before, and I feel like the viewers really welcomed us into their homes. To have destroyed that would have been tragic, especially as they've already been through so much anyway over the past three years!
"Although a dramatic exit storyline can be interesting for the viewers, I think Doctors has already offered that with the fire, Freya dying and the separation of Daniel and Zara. There's enough turmoil going on! It's hard enough for Karen to deal with her children leaving, without it getting any worse than that!"
How do you think Doctors will cope with so many characters leaving at once?
"I think they'll recover brilliantly as usual. It's just unfortunate timing, really, because a lot of people's mental time limits just happened to tie in together. There's no other reason than that. Doctors have always supported the actor, and they've been very accommodating to everybody. I know that they've stayed true to every character in terms of their departure storylines.
"Also, the casting department at Doctors is brilliant - every single regular they bring in is so great to work with. You've seen already that they've brought in Ian Kelsey as Howard and he's brilliant, so there'll be more of that kind of thing to come. There's more new, exciting characters on the way."
Would you reprise the role of Imogen for guest appearances?
"I think that's a possibility - never say never. Obviously my main intention is to move on and experience different things, but I certainly miss everyone at Doctors very much. They've already said to me, 'Would you come back for certain events and the student holidays?'
"So there's always a door open, which is lovely. If it came up, it'd definitely be very hard to turn down!"
Were there any tears shed on your final day on set, or did you keep your composure?
"I didn't keep my composure at all! It was such a difficult last few weeks - it wasn't just the last day. I'd thrown my whole heart into the show, and Imogen had been so exciting and interesting to play. Once it started to sink in that it was coming to an end, I felt very emotional. I did cry quite a bit actually!
"I was monitoring things like the last time I had a scene with just me and Jan [Pearson], or just me and Nic [Woodman]. I really tried to soak it up, make the most of it and enjoy it."
What will you miss the most and least about working on Doctors?
"I'll really miss the car journeys I had with my fellow Hollins cast members in the mornings. We might have 18 scenes ahead of us and all sorts of things going on in different stories, so we'd know that it was the start of a really tough day. We'd all sit there and get ready for the day together, and I feel so grateful that I had those times.
"It's the teamwork - the whole crew and the whole cast. When you're together, you feel like a real unit. We wouldn't have got through it if we didn't have that, and it started to feel like the Hollins were a real family. We didn't have to try any more, it was effortless and there genuinely was a real bond between us.
"What I'll miss the least is probably bleaching my hair! The other thing it's important to remember is that a lot of people have to make sacrifices at Doctors. Because it's such a fast-running and low-budget show, every single person has to make a sacrifice in terms of their work every single day. There isn't necessarily time to rehearse, or nail it and get it brilliant. That's a hard condition to work under when you believe in telling the truth about something."
Does any particular storyline stand out as your favourite?
"When we filmed the abortion storyline, I learned an awful lot from Jan Pearson. She is an absolute pro, and she literally dragged us all kicking and screaming through that story. I've never seen someone just so good at what they do, so I enjoyed every moment of that, even though it was completely heartbreaking.
"For Imogen, that culminated in one of my favourite episodes to film - 'Pavlova's Dogs', where she was sick on herself and singing on the toilet! I always remember that was the day the family got back together, and it was one of my favourite scripts. It really marked a very proud moment at the end of a difficult story. So that I think is probably the most memorable."
Are there any others?
"Imogen's shoplifting storyline ended with 'Daddy's Girl' which was another big episode for me. I filmed that storyline all in one go - the stealing, the homelessness and the falling out with Rob.
"It was a really intense and exhausting couple of months, and I got a two-week holiday at the end of it. I went away and it literally took me days to switch off - it was all going through my head constantly!
"'Daddy's Girl' aired while I was away, and I had loads of lovely messages afterwards. I think if you can touch people who have been through something similar, which it seems that we did, then you have to feel very honoured and proud of the scriptwriters and the team behind you."
What can you tell us about Charley's Aunt?
"It's a comedy, it's a farce and it's very entertaining. I don't want to give too much of the story away, because I hope that people will come to see it without knowing too much of what is coming next.
"But I am a very small cog in a very talented machine. I'm playing a 17-year-old orphan girl, who gets taken under the wing of Jane Asher's character Donna Lucia and brought back to England. She's in love with a man who is played by Mathew Horne. He's dressed in drag in the play, so I arrive to find this old woman and unbeknownst to me, it's the man that I love beneath the wig!
"In terms of everyone else, there's a lot of running around and ridiculousness. It's really fun and very entertaining."
How are the rehearsals going ahead of opening night on Thursday (September 20)?
"The rehearsals have been fantastic. It couldn't be more different from what I was doing before - I've got a whole script to work with and we can tweak different moments every day, trying to make it better and seeing how far we can push ourselves. Losing the Brummie accent has been quite interesting! I don't have a Birmingham accent like Imogen does, but having done it for three years, I do slip into it quite often!
"Like I say, I'm a small cog in an experienced cast. I've been able to sit in a room and learn from people who have done this so often and so well. I couldn't have been luckier to literally go out and audition for one job, get the part and have it be exactly what I was looking for."
Will your Doctors friends be coming to see the play?
"I hope so! I spoke to Matt Chambers the other day and he'll be coming soon. Nic Woodman, Jan Pearson, Chris Walker and Danielle Henry will too. Some of them will even come and see it more than once, if I'm lucky! After previews, the show will start to change, as it's such a busy play and hopefully it'll keep getting better as we find our feet.
"But I've told the Doctors cast not to all come together! I don't want a whole row full of Doctors people, because it's quite an intimate space and you can see the audience sometimes. I'm notorious for getting the giggles on set, so I really don't want to get back into the habit of that!"
Would you appear in another soap in the future?
"That's a tricky one, because I feel like the reason that I left Doctors was not to repeat old ground. In terms of what I've learned and the skills, Doctors has offered me the best grounding. If I were to do something ongoing like another soap, then it would have to be a part that was very different and offer me a very different challenge.
"But the difficulty is that those programmes are producing some fantastic work at the moment. I guess it just depends on what it was, who it was and how long for! Ideally I'll be trying to diversify my work and choose some very different roles that maybe don't last as long."
Hollyoaks favourite Jeff Rawle has signed up for a guest role on Doctors, Digital Spy can reveal.
The actor, best known to soap fans as Chester serial killer Silas Blissett, will appear on the BBC One drama early next year - playing a road sweeper with something to hide.
A Doctors spokesperson told Digital Spy: "We are delighted to be booking the fabulous Jeff Rawle for a weighty guest role in an episode to be transmitted early next year.
"Jeff will play Rory Bishton, a road sweeper with a secret, who finds his double life increasingly difficult to sustain, in an episode which will pique the curiosity and pull the heartstrings.
"We look forward to welcoming Jeff back to the Doctors family when filming starts next week."
Rawle previously made a guest appearance in Doctors in 2004, playing a character called John Marshall.
Earlier this year, the 61-year-old made a brief return to Hollyoaks for a storyline which culminated in Silas escaping from hospital and going on the run.
Away from soap, Rawle is also well-known for his parts as Amos Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and George in Drop the Dead Donkey.
Strictly Come Dancing star and former Emmerdale cast member Lisa Riley has filmed a guest role on Doctors, Digital Spy can reveal.
The actress will soon appear in the role of tragic would-be mother Laura Mowbray, a character who kicks off an intense new storyline for the BBC One daytime drama.
Doctors fans will be introduced to Laura on Thursday, November 1, when she arrives at Letherbridge police station with her husband Colin (Steve Money) to report a missing child.
The couple are clearly shaken as they fear for the safety of baby Sofia, a little girl they were trying to adopt.
However, show regular Doctor Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan) and DCI Driver (Elizabeth Rider) soon learn that the adoption wasn't as legitimate as it first seemed.
Further storyline details have not been disclosed, although show bosses have confirmed that Jimmi and Driver's discovery will "open up a shocking new investigation that threatens to shake some of Doctors' most loved characters to the core".
Best known for her role as Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale, Riley is one of 14 celebrities taking part in the new series of Strictly, which launches its live shows tonight (October 5).
Doctors star Sophie Abelson has departed the soap after three years in the role of Cherry Clay, Digital Spy can confirm.
The actress filmed her final scenes for the BBC One drama in the summer, and viewers will see Cherry bow out later this month.
Abelson made the decision to leave Doctors earlier this year in order to pursue new acting opportunities.
While firm details of her exit have yet to be revealed, viewers can expect Cherry's marital problems with Jimmi (Adrian Lewis Morgan) to come to a head before she goes.
Abelson told Digital Spy of her Doctors departure: "It's very sad. I was there for three and a half years, I had an amazing time and it was a great experience. I learned lots and worked with some amazing people, but I felt that the time had come to move on and see what else was out there.
"Overall I miss the people a lot, and when I look back on my time on Doctors, it was fantastic. So it is sad, but it's also exciting to think what the next chapter in my life might be."
Cherry slept with colleague Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers) earlier this year and has since been desperate to ensure that their secret is not exposed.
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Coming up on Doctors, emotional scenes are on the way as Cherry Clay makes her departure from The Mill.
Cherry (Sophie Abelson) has spent weeks hoping that husband Jimmi wouldn't find out that she slept with their colleague Daniel Granger. However, her luck runs out in an upcoming episode as Jimmi finally finds out what happened between them.
Afterwards, Jimmi is hopeful that he can still make things work with Cherry - but the final straw comes when he discovers that she has been secretly taking the pill as she doesn't feel ready to start a family with him.
A huge showdown follows between the couple and they ultimately decide to end their marriage. Cherry then realises that she can't stay on at The Mill and hands in her notice to Howard.
Cherry's infidelity will become common knowledge at the practice before she leaves, so fans will have to wait and see what kind of send-off she receives…
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Doctors airs these scenes on Friday, October 19 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors airs Cherry Clay's final scenes next week as she bows out from The Mill in emotional circumstances.
After more than three years on screen, Cherry won't be leaving the BBC One daytime soap quietly as she must finally face the music after cheating on husband Jimmi with their colleague Daniel Granger.
In real life, actress Sophie Abelson - who played Cherry - has departed Doctors to pursue other acting opportunities, hoping to return to her roots in theatre in the coming months.
Digital Spy recently caught up with Sophie to hear her thoughts on Cherry's final storyline and more.
How are you feeling now that your time at Doctors has come to an end?
"It's very sad. I was there for three and a half years, I had an amazing time and it was a great experience. I learned lots and worked with some amazing people, but I felt that the time had come to move on and see what else was out there.
"Overall I miss the people a lot, and when I look back on my time on Doctors, it was fantastic. So it is sad, but it's also exciting to think what the next chapter in my life might be."
When did you decide to leave?
"These things work yearly at Doctors, so I was thinking about whether I should stay or not. It was early in Cherry and Jimmi's marriage when I made the decision, so that made things quite interesting because the producers then had to think about how to conclude the marriage so quickly.
"It was quite a difficult task for them to do it with only a certain amount of time, but sometimes it makes things more interesting when the pressure has been put on!"
How did the producers feel about your decision to leave?
"I think the producers know that actors often want to try other things and have new challenges, so they're quite understanding about that. The thing about Doctors is there are a few regular characters and the producers invest so much time into them as individuals, so I think it's quite a shame for them in most cases for people to leave.
"At the same time, though, when people do leave the show it creates room for new characters to come in, which is always a good thing. There's a few characters who have been there for a long time, which is always nice for the audience, but it's also good to put a fresh injection of life into the show."
Were you happy with Cherry's final storyline?
"I was! I was quite happy that Cherry went against her usual character by sleeping with Daniel, and I liked the fact that the pressure really built up for such a long period of time afterwards. It was interesting to play, because she had to live with what she'd done for quite a while.
"For someone like Cherry, it meant holding onto guilt for a long time and wanting to tell everyone what she'd done, but not feeling able to. She definitely found that very difficult, so I enjoyed the fact that it was a slow-burner and then it comes to an explosive finale, as you'll see!"
Can we expect emotional scenes when Jimmi finds out about Cherry's infidelity?
"Yes, there are lots of emotions there. Jimmi has been so innocent and unknowing all the way through, so I actually found it quite excruciating playing those scenes with him where he didn't know the truth! I felt really sick and uncomfortable, which obviously is how Cherry felt too.
"When Jimmi does finally find out what's happened, there's a lot of emotion to come out. Cherry has suppressed this for quite a long time, so it had to come to a head at some stage. There will be high emotions!"
Is Jimmi more angry or upset in his response?
"I can't give too much away about how Jimmi responds, as I don't want to spoil it! Also, probably a lot of Jimmi's response will occur after Cherry has left. You'll have to wait and see what his response is - Jimmi is a complex character, so it could go many ways…"
Does Cherry want to fix things with Jimmi, or does she feel it's time for the marriage to end?
"It's actually a very interesting scenario, as I think Cherry initially wanted to be the princess bride and have a knight in shining armour as her husband. Cherry was brought up in a bit of a bubble, but over time she's grown up and I think she's started to realise that the perfect marriage is not what she thinks it is.
"Cherry and Jimmi were always two very different people, so it was interesting to put them together, but the negatives had to come out at some stage. The time that she's with Jimmi is a big learning curve for her, but she wakes up and realises that her 'princess bubble' isn't reality!"
Is leaving The Mill a difficult choice for Cherry to make?
"I think she does find it difficult, but she also realises that there is no way she can stay there. I won't give away too much, but with the way everything turns out, she doesn't really have an option. From Howard's point of view, he's already lost a few staff members recently, but he's left with little choice when it comes to accepting Cherry's resignation."
As Elisabeth Dermot Walsh is on maternity leave, were you sad not to get one final showdown scene with Zara?
"I was sad, but it was good that we did get to have our episode earlier in the year where Zara provoked Cherry so much that she ended up telling her everything. That was great to play with Elisabeth. At that point, I knew that she was going to be leaving and she knew that I was leaving, so we both had it in our minds that it was going to be the final showdown.
"I did love doing all that stuff with Elisabeth, but unfortunately she wasn't there for my departure. It would have been interesting if she had been, but I'm sure Zara wouldn't have cared two hoots whether Cherry was leaving! In fact, I'm sure she would have been quite relieved. When Zara comes back eventually, I imagine she won't shed any tears to know that her 'best mate' has gone!"
What can you tell us about your final days on set?
"We film quite far in advance, so I actually finished at the end of June. Usually we film scenes out of sequence, but all of my final on-screen goodbyes were filmed on my last day. I was quite grateful for that, because it meant that I could enjoy my last couple of days. The build-up to my exit had been a real emotional rollercoaster where my character was miserable and feeling sorry for herself, so it was nice that they weren't my final scenes to film.
"My last day was pretty emotional - I was a wreck! Beforehand, I'd actually been worried that I wouldn't get emotional and people would think I didn't have a great time, but not to worry - I was very, very sad! My time at Doctors was a great period of my life, and it was sad to see it come to an end. I'll miss the people there, but I'm still in contact with everyone."
What have you been up to since?
"After leaving, I moved back to London where I was before, so now I'm catching up with myself and deciding what my next adventure will be. For my next job, I'd love to get back on the stage, as I did a lot of theatre before joining Doctors."
Would you be up for doing more TV too?
"I'd love to, because before Doctors I hadn't really done much TV. Really Doctors is all I know, so I'd be excited to do other shows and genres. Now that I've been on camera for three and a half years, I feel quite confident that I can walk onto another set and feel at home."
How would you like Cherry to be remembered?
"Well, unfortunately she goes out as a bit of a bad girl! I know that she can be quite an irritating person with her silly girliness which could rub people up the wrong way, but I would defend her by saying that I don't think she's a bad person.
"I think Cherry was learning and growing in her time at The Mill. She's not a nasty or a mean person and I don't think she'd for one second set out to hurt anybody. So I'd like people to remember the light, fun side of Cherry. Hopefully she'll re-find it now that she's left!"
Following the news of Hollyoaks star Anthony Quinlan and Shameless actress Joanna Higson filming with Doctors, we can also confirm two further guest castings for the daytime soap.
Lucian Msamati was recently on set at the BBC One drama playing Joseph Segunle, a character who practises live blood testing as an alternative medicine.
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Well-known for playing JLB Matekoni in The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Msamati has also had roles in Game of Thrones and Ashes to Ashes.
Meanwhile, former Dinnerladies and Coronation Street star Andrew Dunn has also filmed a guest spot on the programme, playing a cross-dressing truck driver named Dennis who has cancer.
All does not go well when Dennis shares the news about his health with his estranged family…
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One, and the episodes in question are expected to air next year.
Former Hollyoaks star Anthony Quinlan and ex-Shameless actress Joanna Higson have filmed a dramatic Doctors two-part special, Digital Spy can reveal.
The pair will appear on the BBC One daytime soap in early 2013, playing the roles of one-time lovers Carl and Lindsay.
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Although Carl and Lindsay are no longer together, their paths cross again when Carl is drawn back into his criminal past.
While further storyline details have not been revealed, show bosses have promised "explosive consequences" for the pair.
A Doctors spokesperson told Digital Spy: "We at Doctors are thrilled to have worked with such high calibre young talent and hope viewers get a kick out of these cracking episodes when they transmit early next year."
Quinlan is best known for playing Gilly Roach on Hollyoaks between 2005 and 2011, while Higson portrayed Maxine Donnelly in series six and seven of Shameless.
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors star Matthew Chambers is currently enjoying one of his biggest years on the soap, as his character Daniel Granger's infidelity and struggle with male post-natal depression has led to him separating from Zara Carmichael.
The actor has also been keeping busy behind the camera, recently directing his second block of Doctors episodes which will air later in the year.
With Daniel set to face the music for sleeping with Cherry Clay next week as Jimmi now knows the truth, Digital Spy recently chatted to Matthew about what's in store.
Have you enjoyed playing all of the ups and downs for Daniel this year?
"Oh absolutely - I think you need them, don't you? You can't be too constant on Doctors because there's not much interest in that. Ups and downs are marvellous!"
Has it been strange not to have Elisabeth Dermot Walsh, who plays Zara, around for most of the year?
"Well, it's been quite a while now - it was strange to start off with because we've worked so closely for such a long time, so I do miss my partner in crime!
"But I also took quite a period off myself over the summer, so I was away for a bit too. First of all I was on holiday, and then I came back to direct a block of Doctors episodes, so I guess life moves on. You do get used to people not being around, but Elisabeth not being there was definitely strange at first.
"I'm very good friends with Elisabeth so we do keep in contact as best we can, but obviously with her having a baby in real life, that's taken over her life and her partner's life!"
Were you surprised at Daniel's bad boy side returning when he cheated on Zara earlier this year?
"No, I wasn't surprised! I think it's always been lurking beneath the surface with him, as he's such a volatile character. But I was surprised at the twist that it happened with Cherry, because of how close to home that was. Not only is Jimmi his best friend, but he's married to Cherry and it's a very serious relationship for those two. I was surprised and pleased with all of that, because it's very controversial."
How does Daniel react next week when he discovers the truth is out?
"There's a great sense of relief, in a way, because it's been this terribly large elephant in the room, and I think Daniel had always known that it would come out one way or another. He's also glad that it's come out without him having to actually sit down and admit what's happened - that's a bit of a relief to him too. Whatever happens from now on, at least the truth is out."
Could Daniel's friendship with Jimmi ever recover from this?
"Well, I don't think Daniel expects that Jimmi will forgive him, but I do think there is hope there, because Jimmi is his best friend. So while Daniel wouldn't expect it, I think there is a chance."
We've heard that Zara will be paying a visit at Christmas, so can you give us any early hints about her return?
"Well, as is always the case with Zara, her return doesn't go without notice! Apart from that, I really can't give you any hints on what happens because I don't want to spoil it. But she certainly comes in with a bang!"
Do you think there's any hope that Daniel and Zara could be happy together again?
"Yes, I do believe that they can be happy together again. As well as being quite volatile creatures, they do have quite a bit in common. I think it's going to be a question of whether they're able to go to another level in their relationship and also their personal lives. But I believe there is hope for them, for sure."
How did you feel about taking on Daniel's male post-natal depression storyline?
"It was a wonderful chance to be given that kind of storyline, because it isn't really covered on television, or indeed in everyday life. Very often we hear about post-natal maternal depression in conversation and in the media, but we don't really hear about paternal depression. So I think our storyline was a great chance to explore it and bring it to the fore.
"I'm sure that, given the opportunity, many men would take help in this situation, but first of all it's a question of realising what is actually going on. Having a child is such a massive change to your life, so trying to figure out what's making you feel this way when you have depression can be difficult. Of course, people don't always ask for help so the story was a fantastic opportunity and one that I'm really grateful for."
Since doing the story, have you heard from any men who've been through the same thing in real life?
"Well, while this story was going on, the personality of a friend of mine changed quite a bit. He had a son four months before the episodes started to air. We've since had a conversation about it, and he believes that this is what he's been suffering from. He's been seeking some therapy, and it's helping enormously with him.
"I hope people who watch the show and have suffered from this now feel more at ease when it comes to speaking about it."
What can you tell us about your latest directing work for Doctors?
"Being on the other side of the camera is very exciting in all aspects. It's not just the actual filming of the episodes - it's the preparation, the casting, finding locations and working with all of the different departments. I find it terrifically exciting.
"I did find it much more challenging this time, just simply because of a few technical problems, and also because the weather wasn't very kind to us! I also hadn't directed for a year, so I was a bit out of practice. It took a few days to get up to speed, but I enjoyed it enormously. They seem pretty pleased with what I've done, so fingers crossed they might offer me another block at some point in the future."
There are lots of new characters joining at the moment, so will Daniel be making some new friends or enemies?
"I'm sure he'll make some enemies! It's been incredible how many people have left in the last six months alone, and it's a big change. I think such a dramatic change in staff is a bit unsettling for Daniel. I'm sure he'll make some enemies but as for friends, I'm not so sure about that…"
Has it been sad to say goodbye to so many colleagues this year?
"It really has, but you do get used to it on a long-running show, as people come and go. You get used to saying goodbye, and of course saying hello when new people come in. It's part of it and as an actor you know that it's such a transient industry anyway."
A few of your Doctors friends are on Twitter. Have you ever been tempted to join them?
"I haven't been thus far! I'm still not on Facebook, and I haven't taken up Twitter either. I suppose there are times when I've been tempted from a professional point of view, but no I haven't done so far, and I can't see myself getting involved in the near future to be honest!"
Are you aware of the popularity of 'Zaniel' among the online fans in particular?
"Do you know what, I'm really not. Occasionally those who are into Twitter and the online forums will ask me, 'Have you seen this?' or 'Have you had a look at that?', but I always have to say, 'No I haven't', so I'm largely unaware. That probably isn't best I suppose, but I hear from people involved in Twitter that as well as seeing all the positive things, you also see all the negative things.
"I like to keep my head down, get on with my work, hope what I'm doing is good and if I'm asked back the next year, I suppose I know it's all gone okay. That's enough for me!"
Which Doctors storylines have been your favourites to film?
"The post-natal depression storyline has been great, but the one that was most challenging was the abduction of Izzie, especially because it was a five-parter. Although stories of the day are the meat and two veg of Doctors, we occasionally get these special episodes.
"In those specials, it was great to have the same director for so many episodes and really create a great feeling of trust among the cast, crew and director. Again, I was working with Elisabeth mostly, and that was fantastic because I find her wonderfully easy to work with and fabulously intelligent in the way that she approaches the scripts. She's such a great actress."
Former Coronation Street actor Charles Lawson and ex-Hollyoaks cast member Peter Mitchell are to appear in an episode of Doctors together, Digital Spy can reveal.
The soap stars, best known for their roles as Jim McDonald and Pete Hamill respectively, have already filmed their guest appearances on the BBC One daytime drama.
Lawson has taken on the part of Gary, a warehouse worker who is unable to deal with his recent diagnosis of petit mal epilepsy and attempts to hide his condition from his employer.
Mitchell, meanwhile, plays Gary's son - a wheelchair user who is also unaware of what his father is going through.
When Gary is involved in an accident at work which almost hurts his son, he may be forced to face things openly for the first time.
Lawson has played Coronation Street's Jim on and off since 1989, last appearing in the part in April 2011, while Mitchell portrayed Pete in Hollyoaks between February and September last year.
Doctors broadcasts the pair's episode on Friday, November 30 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Former Coronation Street star Martin Hancock has signed up for a guest role on Doctors, Digital Spy can reveal.
The actor, best known for playing Weatherfield's Spider Nugent, will play a homeless man on the BBC One daytime drama.
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Hancock's character Beano has spent 20 years on the streets across various cities, having dropped out of university and turned to alcohol.
Homelessness is now a way of life for Beano, and show bosses have billed him as "intelligent, wily with a good sense of humour" and "rather expert at spotting lucrative opportunities".
Hancock's appearance on Doctors will air next year.
Digital Spy can also confirm that actor Niall MacGregor has landed a guest part on the programme, for scenes which air in 2013.
MacGregor's past roles include playing Stan Jessop in BBC One's Case Histories, adapted from the successful detective novels by Kate Atkinson.
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctors has more familiar faces popping up in guest roles over the coming months.
Digital Spy can confirm that Butterflies actress Wendy Craig appears in the episode airing on Tuesday, February 26 - taking on the part of Edith Jessop.
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Edith is the overprotective mother of Heston Carter's friend Rory. She is determined to break up her son's potential relationship, but will she succeed?
Meanwhile, The Kumars at No. 42 stars Indira Joshi and Vincent Ebrahim have also recently been filming with the BBC One daytime drama.
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© PA Images / Yui Mok/PA Archive
The pair will be seen in a story involving a couple with marriage problems, which are fuelled when Joshi's character hears her husband calling out another woman's name in his sleep.
Viewers will see that there could be an innocent explanation for this suspicious behaviour, but can Dr Kevin Tyler (Simon Rivers) help the pair to open up again?
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Doctor's' Mandy Marquez will soon take centre stage in an experimental episode featuring flashbacks to the 1960s.
Monday's edition of the daytime soap sees Mandy have a serendipitous meeting with Eleanor Waite, an elderly lady who is haunted by memories of the past.
As soon as Eleanor sees Mandy, she is reminded of the love of her life Susie Lambert, whom she met in a café in 1962. When Eleanor opens up to Mandy, her sad story is told through flashbacks.
Danielle Henry, who plays Mandy, also takes on the role of Susie in the 1960s scenes. The actress recently caught up with Digital Spy to reveal more about the storyline and what's coming up for Mandy.
How did you feel about filming such an unusual episode?
"I was really excited about it, as it's the first time Doctors have done anything like this. I play two different characters in the episode, so I knew it would be a lot of hard work, but the subject matter was really sensitively handled.
"I was quite flattered to be the one who they chose for the episode. Our producer Peter told me that they originally had another character in mind for it, but he really pushed the idea of it being Mandy."
Can you tell us a bit about what we can expect from the storyline?
"The episode switches between the 1960s and the present day. Mandy meets Eleanor, an elderly lady who's had quite a colourful past. In her background, she met and fell in love with a woman in the 1960s.
"When Eleanor comes into contact with Mandy, it immediately takes her straight back, because Mandy looks so similar to Susie, the woman who she fell in love with all those years ago.
"In the flashbacks, Eleanor is taking quite a big step, because she's trying to stand up to her husband and say that she's in love with a woman. In the 1960s, that was still being viewed as a mental health issue, so it was a really dangerous statement to make. But I won't give away what happens as the story goes on!"
Was it a challenge to take on a completely different character for this storyline?
"It really was, but make-up and costume did the most amazing job. I had some great, authentic '60s costumes to wear. We also had some wigs and hairpieces, which they styled into a real 1960s, Diana Ross-type look. I actually didn't want to take it off afterwards!
"They did such a good job of making me look completely different to Mandy, so I think that'll be one thing that surprises people when they watch the episode. I also use a different accent, because the 1960s character has come over from Jamaica. I'm hoping both characters will seem quite different, if I've done my job properly!"
© BBC
How do you feel about Doctors doing these experimental episodes?
"It's brilliant. Doctors isn't as high-profile as the other soaps, and in some ways I always think that's a shame, but it can also be a good thing because it means we have free reign to try different things. Doctors love being experimental and touching on different issues.
"I also think the show is quite unique, because we often go to quite high comedy but then turn very serious, such as with the Heston and Marina storyline which covered domestic violence against a man. That was a brilliant storyline. Doctors is so under the radar, but we were one of the first soaps to touch on that issue, and it was so brilliantly done."
How close do you think Mandy is to moving on from Freya's death?
"I think she's moving forward and going in the right direction, but Freya was the love of her life, and it's going to take her a long time to come to terms with what happened. I love that we still make regular references to Freya in the show. As much as I think Mandy's moving forward, I don't think she'll ever forget Freya and what they had. It's not something you can ever fully come to terms with."
How did you feel about Lu Corfield deciding to bow out as Freya?
"As soon as I knew she was leaving, I was crying about it! I had a lot of real grieving to do, and every now and again, we'd be doing a scene that had nothing to do with Freya's leaving storyline and then I'd just burst into tears because I knew she was going.
"Lu had been such an amazing support to me, because I'd worked with her before on Candy Cabs, and I didn't really know anyone else when I joined the show."
© BBC
Do you feel like you're exploring Mandy more in her own right now?
"Yeah, it's been quite strange for me because I was brought in to facilitate Freya's storyline. I didn't really have any kind of background or history. I think sometimes people have struggled to understand Mandy because they don't really know anything about her, but I really hope that's changing now.
"The producers have started to bring in different sides of Mandy. There's a bit of a comedy side and in the episodes coming up, you find out more about her. I'm hoping people will get to know her better and like her more as well."
Would you like to see a new love interest for Mandy?
"Yeah, I think it could be nice for her. I know there are some interesting things on the way for Mandy later in the year, but there isn't a girlfriend on the cards that I've heard so far.
"I do feel for Mandy, because she seems to be the only character who's on her own a lot of the time. Kevin's always going on dates, Chris gets his bit of attention, and even Heston's had an escort! Mandy hasn't really had much."
Are you sticking with Doctors for the foreseeable future?
"Yeah, I'm contracted until Christmas, so I'll be here until December at least, and then we'll see whether I get my marching orders! But I'm having a really great time, and I feel really grateful to be involved in an episode like Monday's one, because they don't come along all the time.
"The episode is quite timely with the recent equal marriage news. We didn't know would happen when we filmed it, but it's timed really nicely, and hopefully it's one that people will connect with."
© BBC
How have the recent cast changes affected life on set?
"Well, Doctors are really good at picking nice people to join! Generally when there's a new regular coming in, you know they're going to be alright. I think a common misconception is that Doctors has done a big axing cull and got rid of loads of characters, but that's just not the case.
"People have a really nice time here, they tend to do two or three years or so, but then actors just get itchy feet and want to go off and try other things. I think it's really good for the show to have those new faces and a fresh energy.
"Last year a lot of people's cycles all ended at the same time and I think that was quite difficult for the audience, but I think people are starting to warm to the new faces now and get used to them. I still keep in touch with the people who've left. I still speak to Sophie Abelson regularly, and Charlie Clemmow as well."
Zara will be back very soon, which the fans are looking forward to! Do you think we can expect a lot of drama from her?
"Well, I think the two go hand-in-hand, Zara and drama! I can't imagine what's in store for Zara, but I'm sure they're cooking up something exciting. I know Elisabeth is really glad to be back working on set again now that she's a mummy, and it's really good for us to have her back as well. She brings the Dynasty element to Doctors, I always think!"
Doctor's actor Owen Brenman has revealed that his character Heston Carter will find love again.
Heston will be hoping to put his ordeal with violent ex-girlfriend Marina Bonnaire behind him when he embarks on the new romance later this year.
Brenman confirmed that he is looking forward to the upcoming storyline, but wants Heston to maintain his independence.
He explained: "The last two relationships, Lily and Marina, ended up with him running around with his tail between his legs. He seems to become emasculated around his partners, whereas he can be fairly strong-willed in other areas of his life.
"That is not to say he should not seek out romance. He is lonely, but as an actor I cherish his independence. The chase may be more interesting than the capture.
"Later in the year, Heston will be finding love again, and this time, I'm assured he won't be emasculated!"
Revealing more teasers of Heston's future, Brenman continued: "Some health problems arise for Heston, which start to affect his work and his behaviour towards his colleagues. He also develops a little sideline with one of the other doctors which has its own complications."
Brenman started filming at Doctors five years ago, and he has also directed nine episodes of the BBC One daytime drama.
Asked to name his highlights at Doctors, he replied: "It's hard to single anything out. I like the variety. When Heston first arrived, the writers pushed the comedy which was fun. At times I felt I was doing a sitcom whilst everyone else was in a drama. This may still be true!
"Then a failed marriage and a long-lost son were introduced and comedy Carter humanised, and - in my opinion - became more interesting and three-dimensional."
Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Former Hollyoaks star Jamie Lomas has filmed a guest appearance on Doctors.
The actor, best known for his role as Chester villain Warren Fox, was on set at the BBC One daytime soap this week.
Lomas's scenes will air in August, and his storyline involves a father and son with a difficult relationship.
He said today: "My character is called Steve and he has a 15-year old son. Steve's a bit of a bloke, whereas his son is the complete opposite and they just don't click as father and son.
"Steve is trying to make him into something that he isn't and Olly, his boy, is trying to be like his dad - but he can't. He tries to live up to his dad's expectations, but it's never going to happen."
Lomas bowed out from Hollyoaks for the second time in December 2011. He has since been auditioning for new projects.
He continued: "I left about 15 months ago, and I still get messages on Twitter saying, 'Please come back'. It's really flattering to have played a character that people love and still talk about.
"I've just come back from LA where I was for two months, and have got a nice agent over there who's putting me up for some projects. I'm just auditioning and putting myself out there and would love to make it over there.
"It's tough. Being on Hollyoaks for such a long time, people see you as that character. Coming into a great show like Doctors with a brilliant cast is fantastic."
Doctors will air Lomas's guest appearance on Tuesday, August 27.
Guess Hollywood said they will be calling him .... eventually :rolleyes: ... he could take his wife and children with him :D
Former Coronation Street star Will Thorp and ex-EastEnders actress Lucy Speed will appear on Doctors later this year, Digital Spy can reveal.
The actors have recently filmed with the BBC daytime soap as guest artists for one episode, which will see them playing a troubled husband and wife.
Their characters Matt and Kate Davis are to feature in a storyline alongside established regular Dr Kevin Tyler, played by Simon Rivers.
Matt and Kate are a professional couple, whose loving relationship has descended into a much darker and dangerous trap. When Kevin meets the pair and suspects abuse, he tries to intervene and break the cycle.
A Doctors spokesperson told Digital Spy: "Will and Lucy have a wealth of experience, coupled with an on-screen chemistry that delivered powerful performances in this guest story of the day. It has been a pleasure to work with them."
Thorp is known to soap fans for his role as Chris Gray on Coronation Street in 2010 and 2011. He also played Paul 'Woody' Joyner in Casualty.
Speed portrayed Natalie Evans on EastEnders between 1994 and 2004, and later joined The Bill as DS Stevie Moss.
Doctors airs Matt and Kate's storyline in November.
Doctors welcomes back Jack Hollins next month as he returns to the daytime soap as part of a dramatic new storyline.
Nicolas Woodman has reprised his role as Jack for three episodes and will appear back on screen from November 8.
Viewers will soon see a turbulent time for the Hollins family begin when Rob (Chris Walker) accidentally hits Karen (Jan Pearson) with his car while picking her up following a night out.
Although it initially appears to be a minor collision, Rob wakes up the next day to find Karen unconscious in their bed.
Karen is immediately rushed to hospital, where doctors find that she has an extensive bleed on her brain and needs emergency surgery.
As it's unclear whether Karen will pull through, a worried Jack arrives at the hospital to see his mother and support Rob through the difficult time.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Woodman commented: "It was really nice to work with Jan and Chris again and to be back in the Doctors family."
Woodman was a Doctors regular from 2009 to 2012.
Jack's sister Imogen, played by Charlie Clemmow, is also rumoured to be making a return appearance in the New Year.
I just love this soap. Best soap on TV , hands down. It is finished now for Xmas until Jan 17th . Today's episode was very moving. They tackle all sorts of issues.
kayuqtuq
20-12-2015, 09:28
I agree, Louise. I think Doctors is very underrated. So Dr Dan from Holby is the new practice manager!
I agree, Louise. I think Doctors is very underrated. So Dr Dan from Holby is the new practice manager!
Yes! I wonder how that will pan out. I wanted Mrs Tembe to get it though.
I think that they are handling Val's cancer story extremely sensitively . That last scene where Ayesha is with her at the hospital for her first chemo and holding her in her arms had me in tears .
TaintedLove
28-12-2015, 16:51
When does Doctors come back? Does anyone know please?
Thanks in advance
Think it is the 17th or 18th Jan.
It is back on 18th January I believe :)
Telly Watcher missed this one :p
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/04/980x490/landscape-1454071932-soaps-doctors-martin-laws-eddie-coulter.jpg
Former Emmerdale star Tom Lister is making a return to the soap world with a guest role on Doctors next week.
The actor, who was better known as bad boy Carl King in the Dales, will be playing an irresponsible dad in BBC One's daytime soap.
Lister's character Martin Laws is the father of a 12-year-old boy called Adam, but he hasn't been the best parent since his own mum was killed in a car crash.
Now caught up in a repetitive cycle of drinking and gambling, Martin is facing a possible fight for custody of Adam.
Adam's grandfather Eddie, played by former Waterloo Road actor Philip Martin Brown, wants to take care of him while Martin is on his downward spiral.
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Eddie Coulter in Doctors
© BBC
With tensions running high, Eddie goes to see Sid Vere at The Mill, admitting that he wants to put off an important heart operation because he needs to focus on looking after Adam.
Sid advises against delaying the op, but Eddie may feel that he has no other choice...
Lister played Emmerdale's Carl from 2004 to 2012, when he was killed off in the show's explosive live episode. He since concentrated mainly on theatre work.
Brown portrayed Waterloo Road favourite Grantly Budgen between 2006 and 2013.
Doctors airs the pair's episode on Tuesday, February 2 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
is new practice manager racist against mrs tembe, he seems to want her gone
maidmarian
29-01-2016, 16:32
Telly Watcher missed this one :p
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/04/980x490/landscape-1454071932-soaps-doctors-martin-laws-eddie-coulter.jpg
Former Emmerdale star Tom Lister is making a return to the soap world with a guest role on Doctors next week.
The actor, who was better known as bad boy Carl King in the Dales, will be playing an irresponsible dad in BBC One's daytime soap.
Lister's character Martin Laws is the father of a 12-year-old boy called Adam, but he hasn't been the best parent since his own mum was killed in a car crash.
Now caught up in a repetitive cycle of drinking and gambling, Martin is facing a possible fight for custody of Adam.
Adam's grandfather Eddie, played by former Waterloo Road actor Philip Martin Brown, wants to take care of him while Martin is on his downward spiral.
http://digitalspyuk.cdnds.net/16/04/1280x720/gallery-1454072293-soaps-doctors-eddie-coulter.jpg
Eddie Coulter in Doctors
© BBC
With tensions running high, Eddie goes to see Sid Vere at The Mill, admitting that he wants to put off an important heart operation because he needs to focus on looking after Adam.
Sid advises against delaying the op, but Eddie may feel that he has no other choice...
Lister played Emmerdale's Carl from 2004 to 2012, when he was killed off in the show's explosive live episode. He since concentrated mainly on theatre work.
Brown portrayed Waterloo Road favourite Grantly Budgen between 2006 and 2013.
Doctors airs the pair's episode on Tuesday, February 2 at 1.45pm on BBC One.
Possibly because it hadnt already been posted several
times and wasnt an Emmerdale "spoiler"!!
Nice to have new news of Tom Lister!!
kayuqtuq
30-01-2016, 08:56
is new practice manager racist against mrs tembe, he seems to want her gone
Yes, I think that's the way the story line seems to be going. However, as Antony isn't yet in the opening credits, I'm hoping that means he won't be around for long!
Doctors will be taking a three-month transmission break from next week.
The BBC show will go off air on Friday, June 10 and won't be back on screen until September.
Doctors usually takes a break over the summer period, but it will be longer this year due to the BBC's coverage of Euro 2016 and the Olympics.
The news was confirmed on Doctors' official Facebook page earlier today, leaving many viewers upset by the news.
The statement explained that filming would still commence during this time and fans can still get their Doctors fix through behind-the-scenes highlights that will be available.
Digital Spy
kayuqtuq
03-06-2016, 09:34
Bloody sport!
Its like the BBC could do with another main Chanel to air stuff on like lets say BBC2 :ninja:
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