Perdita
10-06-2008, 13:23
BBC One's mid-week medical drama Holby City scooped best continuing drama at this year's BAFTA Television Awards, and executive producer Tony McHale couldn't have been happier to take home such a coveted title for the show. In an exclusive interview with DS, Tony, alongside series producer Diana Kyle, tease about what's to come for the staff on the wards of Holby City Hospital, including a special stand-alone episode set in South Africa.
With your sister show Casualty being based on the same concept, do you find it difficult not to use each other’s ideas?
[DK] "No. We liaise with the Casualty team all the time and keep each other informed of the stories we plan to run in order to avoid clashes. We haven't had any problems recently."
At the start of the second series of HolbyBlue, Holby City took part in a crossover episode; how did you think that worked out and would you consider another one if the show makes it to a third series?
[DK] "The crossover with HolbyBlue worked well for us and we would always consider doing another one should HolbyBlue continue."
Sticking with the theme of crossovers, has there been any more talk of a crossover episodes with Casualty?
[DK] "Not at the moment but anything can happen."
What's coming up for your main characters?
Jac/Faye/Joseph/Linden
[DK] "When Joseph and Faye start talking wedding plans, Jac, determined to dig up some dirt, pulls out all the stops and discovers much more about Faye than she had ever hoped. But Jac will have to pay the price for many months to come. Meanwhile Faye goes missing, and Joseph, now in absolute torment, has to allow Linden to help him. Together they will find Faye and discover the truth but have they just opened another can of worms?"
[TM] "Life is never going to be easy for Jac, Joseph and Faye considering each of their histories. Jac will always feel cheated that she never managed to seal her place in the Byrne dynasty via her relationship with Joseph’s father, and will always be looking for the opportunity to get her claws back into Joseph. Joseph and Faye have had their ups and downs, with Faye having more than her fair share of secrets - it’s been a rocky ride. But all will be revealed about Faye’s past, well nearly all, in the forthcoming South Africa episode. This episode also introduces Linden into the mix when he makes a declaration concerning a deep feeling he’s been harbouring for someone. Linden’s golden boy image will also suffer a setback when a death occurs during one of his operations. His life will be thrown into turmoil, but in typical Linden fashion he can’t stay away from Holby, especially when a Korean couple arrive and it’s discovered that she is carrying conjoined twins."
Mark/Daisha/Chrissie
[DK] "When Daisha found herself homeless after an incident with her landlord, Mark offered her a room in his flat for the time being. But soon he finds he's taken on rather more responsibility than he expected. Daisha really needs his help. And then Chrissie returns to Holby - how will she react to her father's new found friendship?"
[TM] "It’s all going to get exciting when Mark discovers Daisha is pregnant - he immediately goes into protective mode. He treats her like a daughter and sees her through the many ups and downs of the pregnancy. During this time his feelings for Daisha grow stronger and some, including Chrissie, who returns after her absence, believe these feelings might be a little too strong."
Ric/Abra/Kyla
[DK] "Abra realizes he can no longer work at Holby City while coping with the memories of what he saw in war-torn Africa. He removes himself from the hospital for a while and Kyla and Ric don't know where he is. But a couple of months later he is discovered in very unfamiliar surroundings and he, Kyla, Ric and Lola have to make a long-term decision about his future."
[TM] "The Abra/Kyla on off relationship continues, while Ric also gets involved in trying to put a very confused and mixed up Abra back on the right track. But Abra’s state of mind is due to a dark experience relating to his time in Africa, and Kyla isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to deal with it."
And also on the cards...
[TM] "The birth of the conjoined twins in Holby leads to a three-month story where politics and genuine concern for the welfare of parents and twins clash at regular intervals. The push is led by Linden, who gets the entire hospital involved in his cause. The big question is what will the outcome be? Can our Holby team save the couple from deportation and also save the lives of the twins?"
[DK] "A special standalone episode will take Joseph and Linden to South Africa to rescue Faye and her son Archie. Back at Holby City, the arrival of a Korean couple, the Tans, will cause uproar on the wards. They don't speak English, could be illegal immigrants and are expecting conjoined twins. A thrilling story setting all our regulars at odds with each other - will they beat the system, will they save the babies, will the Tans survive...?"
With your sister show Casualty being based on the same concept, do you find it difficult not to use each other’s ideas?
[DK] "No. We liaise with the Casualty team all the time and keep each other informed of the stories we plan to run in order to avoid clashes. We haven't had any problems recently."
At the start of the second series of HolbyBlue, Holby City took part in a crossover episode; how did you think that worked out and would you consider another one if the show makes it to a third series?
[DK] "The crossover with HolbyBlue worked well for us and we would always consider doing another one should HolbyBlue continue."
Sticking with the theme of crossovers, has there been any more talk of a crossover episodes with Casualty?
[DK] "Not at the moment but anything can happen."
What's coming up for your main characters?
Jac/Faye/Joseph/Linden
[DK] "When Joseph and Faye start talking wedding plans, Jac, determined to dig up some dirt, pulls out all the stops and discovers much more about Faye than she had ever hoped. But Jac will have to pay the price for many months to come. Meanwhile Faye goes missing, and Joseph, now in absolute torment, has to allow Linden to help him. Together they will find Faye and discover the truth but have they just opened another can of worms?"
[TM] "Life is never going to be easy for Jac, Joseph and Faye considering each of their histories. Jac will always feel cheated that she never managed to seal her place in the Byrne dynasty via her relationship with Joseph’s father, and will always be looking for the opportunity to get her claws back into Joseph. Joseph and Faye have had their ups and downs, with Faye having more than her fair share of secrets - it’s been a rocky ride. But all will be revealed about Faye’s past, well nearly all, in the forthcoming South Africa episode. This episode also introduces Linden into the mix when he makes a declaration concerning a deep feeling he’s been harbouring for someone. Linden’s golden boy image will also suffer a setback when a death occurs during one of his operations. His life will be thrown into turmoil, but in typical Linden fashion he can’t stay away from Holby, especially when a Korean couple arrive and it’s discovered that she is carrying conjoined twins."
Mark/Daisha/Chrissie
[DK] "When Daisha found herself homeless after an incident with her landlord, Mark offered her a room in his flat for the time being. But soon he finds he's taken on rather more responsibility than he expected. Daisha really needs his help. And then Chrissie returns to Holby - how will she react to her father's new found friendship?"
[TM] "It’s all going to get exciting when Mark discovers Daisha is pregnant - he immediately goes into protective mode. He treats her like a daughter and sees her through the many ups and downs of the pregnancy. During this time his feelings for Daisha grow stronger and some, including Chrissie, who returns after her absence, believe these feelings might be a little too strong."
Ric/Abra/Kyla
[DK] "Abra realizes he can no longer work at Holby City while coping with the memories of what he saw in war-torn Africa. He removes himself from the hospital for a while and Kyla and Ric don't know where he is. But a couple of months later he is discovered in very unfamiliar surroundings and he, Kyla, Ric and Lola have to make a long-term decision about his future."
[TM] "The Abra/Kyla on off relationship continues, while Ric also gets involved in trying to put a very confused and mixed up Abra back on the right track. But Abra’s state of mind is due to a dark experience relating to his time in Africa, and Kyla isn’t sure he’ll ever be able to deal with it."
And also on the cards...
[TM] "The birth of the conjoined twins in Holby leads to a three-month story where politics and genuine concern for the welfare of parents and twins clash at regular intervals. The push is led by Linden, who gets the entire hospital involved in his cause. The big question is what will the outcome be? Can our Holby team save the couple from deportation and also save the lives of the twins?"
[DK] "A special standalone episode will take Joseph and Linden to South Africa to rescue Faye and her son Archie. Back at Holby City, the arrival of a Korean couple, the Tans, will cause uproar on the wards. They don't speak English, could be illegal immigrants and are expecting conjoined twins. A thrilling story setting all our regulars at odds with each other - will they beat the system, will they save the babies, will the Tans survive...?"