Antoine Malick

Malick is introduced on the verge of being fired from Holby City Hospital, after assaulting his boss on the Day Care Surgical ward. He explains to Director of Surgery Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry) that it was necessary to save a patient: resuscitation had been abandoned, but after forcefully taking control of the situation, Malick was able to revive them. On the proviso that he attends anger management counselling, Hanssen gives Malick a final chance and attaches him to the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU). There, he soon clashes with the unit's staff: consultant Michael Spence (Hari Dhillon), Foundation doctor Penny Valentine (Emma Catherwood), and ward sister Frieda Petrenko (Olga Fedori). Relations begin to improve when Malick is left in charge of the unit for the day. Although he initially dismisses Penny's diagnoses and advice, ultimately he is forced to call on Michael for help and realises that she was right all along. He also becomes Frieda's mentor when she is accepted onto the Foundation programme. A racist patient makes a complaint about Malick; when her condition rapidly deteriorates in theatre, he walks out, causing the junior AAU staff to believe he has abandoned them. Malick soon returns with a crash team and saves the patient's life. Penny develops a crush on him, but Frieda informs her he is gay. A domestic abuse case tests Malick's temper. Suspecting an injured husband of beating his wife, Malick switches his pain-relieving morphine for saline to increase his suffering. When Penny is killed in a train crash, her brother Oliver (James Anderson) confides in Malick that he is not a qualified doctor, as he switched his own exam paper with Penny's while they were at university. Malick dissuades Oliver from confessing to Hanssen, and agrees to keep his secret. Hanssen transfers Malick from the AAU to Keller, the hospital's general surgery ward. There, he attempts to ingratiate himself with consultant Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie), but discord arises between the two when Ric insinuates that Malick performed a hysterectomy on a drug-addicted mother out of spite rather than medical necessity. Malick also comes into conflict with orthopaedic surgeon Dan Hamilton (Adam Astill) over treatment of a patient, which intensifies when he discovers that Dan has been illegally providing an old friend with steroids. A physical altercation ensues, which results in Dan kissing Malick, before running off to be with his girlfriend, ward sister Chrissie Williams (Tina Hobley). 2013 proves to be a challenging year for Malick, both personally and professionally. He is forced to re-evaluate his situation and decides that he needs to take some time out. In October 2013, Malick is severely injured following an accident also involving his colleagues, Chantelle, Arthur and Hanssen, Malick saves Chantelle from disaster but his right hand is severed beyond the wrist after a bale of hay falls on top of the car jamming his wrist in the process. Michael and Serena were able to re-attach the hand but while the operation appeared to be successful, there is uncertainty regarding Malick's future as a surgeon as only partial use of his hand is expected to return with physiotherapy. ==Development==

Creation Malick was one of several characters introduced during Holby City thirteenth series, at a time when the programme was undergoing the loss of many established characters. He, along with director of surgery Henrik Hanssen and cardiothoracic surgeon Sahira Shah (Laila Rouass), was created to compensate for the departures. Series producer Myar Craig-Brown hoped the new group would become "equally iconic" as their predecessors. Prior to being cast as Malick, Akingbola had multiple roles in Holby–branded programmes. He played main character Constable Neil Parker in Holby City police-procedural spin-off HolbyBlue, and twice appeared in Holby City itself in guest roles. During series twelve, the actor had a two-episode arc as injured boxer Tommy King. His performance so impressed the producers that they agreed to bring him back as a main character. Contacted about the possibility of a permanent role whilst filming his guest-spot in March 2010, Akingbola was initially sceptical of his chances, as he would be recognisable to viewers. Around five months later, he was invited to audition for Malick. Akingbola deemed his character "an alpha male who doesn't suffer fools gladly", someone who would cause ructions amongst staff and patients alike. "Dark layers", and a nuanced personality of "many different levels and shades" attracted Akingbola to the role. Malick has a violent streak, and is introduced after hitting his former boss, though he becomes calmer with time. Akingbola appreciated the storyline for highlighting the continuation of racism and prejudice: "In this country, we can feel like there's no racism and it's like a lovely Benetton advert but it's still there – that's the truth." A Sunday Mercury review deemed him "a force to be reckoned with", and ''What's on TV described him as a "misunderstood macho man" with "a dark, volatile side". Anthony D. Langford of gay media website AfterElton.com'' characterised Malick as an arrogant and egotistical "bad boy", who nevertheless is an excellent physician. Relationships Although Malick has an antagonistic relationship with many of his colleagues, soon after his introduction he developed a friendship with ward sister Chrissie Williams. Akingbola assessed, "Chrissie likes him – they become quite friendly and he never seems to have any problems with her at all. I think they're quite close friends." Langford wrote about "the self-satisfied smug look on Malick's face" once Dan left, and interpreted that "he knew that eventually it would come to that and he enjoyed finally pushing Dan until he broke". Following complaints about the storyline, the BBC assured viewers that it would be told "with sensitivity and integrity" as Dan struggled to accept his orientation. ==Reception==

Akingbola has received a positive response from Holby City viewers regarding his character. In May 2011, he commented: "A lot of people have never seen a character like Malick on TV before. People of my parents' age tell me they're loving Malick – the older Nigerian guys love how he bosses people around! I’ve also had younger viewers tell me that they're glad they have a character they can relate to." Simon later deemed Malick "lovely", and found it interesting that he was gay. Later, she wrote that their showdown had "astonishing repercussions". Though ''What's on TV'' recommended the episode, the accompanying review criticised the "seriously irritating banter between the pair," and ensuing "macho posturing between the orthopaedic surgeon and mouthy Malick." Simon's Mirror colleague Jim Shelley described the kiss as "Not exactly Oliver Reed & Alan Bates". The BBC discussion programme Points of View received some complaints about the kiss, from viewers dismayed that Holby City was "following the trend" of depicting gay relationships. Frances Ryan of The Guardian responded, "Whether said complainers thought that the on-screen depiction of straight people or indeed the interaction of humans generally was similarly a compliance to fantastical trends remains unseen". The BBC did not reveal the number of complaints made, but released a statement explaining that, "Holby City aims to reflect real life in the setting of a medical drama and this means telling stories about characters from many different backgrounds, faiths, religions and sexualities. We approach our portrayal of same-sex relationships in the same way as we do heterosexual relationships and aim to ensure depictions of affection or sexuality between couples are suitable for pre-watershed viewing." Langford of AfterElton.com was conflicted by the storyline's beginning. He deemed himself a fan of the "compelling" Malick, and approved of him for providing black representation. Langford opined that Akingbola and Astill had chemistry, that the characters' scenes were "intense and combustible," and that the fight and following kiss were "terrifically done, full of passion and heat and rage". However, he expressed concern that the same type of storyline had been attempted in soap operas on multiple occasions. Langford concluded: "If the usual template is followed from here there will be weeks of denials and more fighting. I suspect that Malick and Dan will eventually embark on a secret affair, Chrissie will find out, there will be more denials and fighting and at some point Dan will accept who he is. Still, despite the tired storyline, the characters are complex and appealing and the writing is solid enough to make me overlook that." A writer from TV Buzz said that "Malick has already got an ego the size of the UK, but with his new role as Clinical Skills tutor and one of his pupils treating him like a hero, it's about to go global." ==References==