The series began with 15 roles receiving star
billing.
Jo Martin portrays
Max McGerry, a
consultant in
neurosurgery and the acting
chief executive officer of
Holby City Hospital, the show's setting.
Hugh Quarshie stars as
Ric Griffin, the hospital's
medical director and a consultant
general surgeon on the
Acute Assessment Unit (AAU).
Alex Walkinshaw stars as
Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher, the
director of nursing services.
Catherine Russell plays
Serena Campbell, the clinical lead of the AAU and a consultant general surgeon. Marcus Griffiths acts as
Xavier "Zav" Duval, a general surgical
registrar on the unit, and Nic Jackman features as Cameron Dunn, a general surgical
CT1 doctor.
Jaye Jacobs appears as
Donna Jackson, the unit's senior
staff nurse.
Bob Barrett continues his role as
Sacha Levy, a consultant general surgeon and the clinical lead of the general surgery ward, Keller.
David Ames portrays
Dominic Copeland, Keller ward's general surgical registrar.
Kaye Wragg plays staff nurse
Essie Di Lucca on the ward.
Dawn Steele features as
Ange Godard, a consultant general surgeon and the clinical lead of the Young Adult Unit (YAU), who later becomes the clinical lead of the AAU.
Ramin Karimloo appears as Kian Madani, a consultant
cardiothoracic surgeon and the clinical lead of the cardiothoracic surgery ward, Darwin.
Rosie Marcel features in the series as
Jac Naylor, a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, and later, the co-clinical lead of the ward.
Amy Lennox stars as
Chloe Godard, a cardiothoracic registrar.
Belinda Owusu portrays
Nicky McKendrick, a cardiothoracic CT1 doctor. Additionally, the semi-regular cast contains Jules Robertson, Darcey Burke,
Julia Deakin and
Charlie Condou who star as porter
Jason Haynes, Jac's daughter Emma Naylor-Maconie, Dominic's adoptive mother Carole Copeland, and locum consultant general surgeon
Ben Sherwood, respectively. The character departs in episode 3. Condou's guest stint as Ben ends in episode 11 at the conclusion of his
coming out story. Condou explained that Ben leaves after deciding to "spend a bit of time trying to figure out who he is." Writers opted to kill-off Zav in episode 14 as part of a story creating Cameron as a villainous character. Griffiths was pleased with his "memorable" exit story and thought it formed a "wicked, really awesome arc" to his character. Wragg's departure was confirmed in July 2020, and the character is killed-off in episode 25. In the narrative, Essie dies on her way to her wedding to Sacha. On 29 October 2020, it was announced that Quarshie, the longest-serving cast member, had opted to leave the show. He praised
Holby City for changing his career and commented, "I wouldn't have stayed so long if it hadn't been a great place to work, and leaving will be like leaving home - a place where there is warmth and a welcome". In January 2021, the departure of Marcel was announced, ending a fifteen-year stint on the show. The actress opted to leave to spend more time with her family. Jac departs in episode 36 after being involved in a shooting and deciding to start afresh. Marcel noted similarities between her reasons for leaving and the character's. (
Henrik Hanssen) returns from a break.
Guy Henry returns to his role as
Henrik Hanssen, a consultant general surgeon, during this series, having taken a break in the previous series. Henry confirmed that he had returned for a longer stint and Hanssen returns in the seventh episode as part of a story involving Carole. The return of actor
John Michie in the role of consultant neurosurgeon
Guy Self was announced on 6 March 2020. Guy returns following the privatisation of Darwin ward by external company Kestrel, which Guy has shares in. A show spokesperson told the
Daily Mirror that the appearance would be "emotional" and "incredibly moving". Episode 26 features the semi-regular return of Alex Duval, the brother of Xavier, who joins the hospital as a
healthcare assistant. upon his return, the role was recast to actor Miles Mitchell. Oates revealed on 29 October 2020 that a former character would be returning to the drama; their identity was kept under a
press embargo. Returning in episode 37, Sahira replaces Jac on Darwin ward as the clinical lead. Tyler Luke Cunningham joined the cast as
Louis McGerry, the son of Max, in episode 12. Louis, like Cunningham, is
transgender and his introduction coincided with
Trans Day of Visibility. Initially appearing in a recurring role, Cunningham joined the show's regular cast in episode 15 as Louis begins employment at the hospital as a staff nurse. Following the show's production break, four new regular characters were introduced to the series:
psychiatric nurse Lucky Simpson (
Vineeta Rishi), and
F1 doctors:
Josh Hudson (Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge),
Jeong-Soo Han (Chan Woo Lim), and Skylar Bryce (Phoebe Pryce). Skylar departs the show in episode 34 after trying to kill herself. Actress Amy Murphy was introduced in episode 37 as "warm, vibrant and charming" nurse Kylie Madden. Murphy's agency confirmed that she had joined the show's regular cast. The series features several recurring characters, and numerous guest stars. Wallbank confirmed in an August 2019 interview that two cast members from
Holby City sister show
Casualty:
Jason Durr (
David Hide) and
Shaheen Jafargholi (
Marty Kirkby) would appear during this series for guest appearances. Durr filmed his appearances in December 2019, and he appears in episodes 12 and 13. She continues to appear in the series until episode 21 when Nicky disowns her. Tracey's blackmailer, Steve Connor (John Wark), was also introduced for the beginning of the story, appearing in two episodes. Towards the end of Murphy's guest stint, Lynn Hunter was cast to portray Tracey's friend, Brenda Connolly. She appears in three episodes culminating in her character's death. guest stars as locum Drew Nicholson-Heath.
Susan Engel reprised her guest role as Sacha's great aunt, Maria Edelman, in episode 4, having last appeared in
series 19. Horovitch appeared again in the twenty-fifth episode for Sacha and Essie's wedding. As part of a story about Kian, Phoenix Bates (Joshua Glenister), the son of Kian's dead girlfriend, Bea Kaminski (
Rosalind Halstead), was introduced. He appears in episodes 17 and 22. Episode 18 features the appearance of Fletch's daughter, Evie Fletcher, who is now portrayed by Phoebe French. Macey Chipping previously played the character across four series. Having previously appeared in the last series, Sophie Harkness reprised her role as Frankie Rendell in episode 23 as part of Essie's terminal cancer story.
John Barrowman was cast in a one-episode guest role as Drew Nicholson-Heath, a consultant and "renowned global recruiter" who shares a backstory with Ange. Barrowman expressed his delight at appearing in the drama and commented, "My character Drew brings a new flavour to the show and I look forward to his return soon. Surgery will never be the same again." The casting of actress
Sian Reese-Williams in the recurring guest role of Jodie Rodgers was announced in October 2020. It was also confirmed that the chairman of the board, Michael Townsend (
Elliot Levey), would appear, and he debuted in episode 27.
Main characters •
David Ames as
Dominic Copeland •
Bob Barrett as
Sacha Levy • Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge as
Josh Hudson (from episode 26) • Tyler Luke Cunningham as
Louis McGerry (from episode 12) • Marcus Griffiths as
Xavier "Zav" Duval (until episode 14) •
Guy Henry as
Henrik Hanssen • Nic Jackman as Cameron Dunn (until episode 43) •
Jaye Jacobs as
Donna Jackson •
Ramin Karimloo as Kian Madani •
Amy Lennox as
Chloe Godard •
Rosie Marcel as
Jac Naylor (until episode 36) •
Jo Martin as
Max McGerry • Amy Murphy as Kylie Madden (from episode 37) •
Belinda Owusu as
Nicky McKendrick (until episode 44) • Phoebe Pryce as Skylar Bryce (episodes 26 - 34) •
Hugh Quarshie as
Ric Griffin (until episode 26) •
Vineeta Rishi as
Lucky Simpson (from episode 28) • (until episode 3) •
Dawn Steele as
Ange Godard •
Alex Walkinshaw as
Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher • Chan Woo Lim as
Jeong-Soo Han (from episode 26) •
Kaye Wragg as
Essie Di Lucca (until episode 25)
Recurring characters • Darcey Burke as Emma Naylor-Maconie •
Charlie Condou as
Ben Sherwood •
Julia Deakin as Carole Copeland • Phoebe French as Evie Fletcher •
Elliot Levey as Michael Townsend •
John Michie as
Guy Self • Miles Mitchell as Alex Duval •
Cathy Murphy as Tracey McKendrick •
Sian Reese-Williams as Jodie Rodgers • Jules Robertson as
Jason Haynes •
Laila Rouass as
Sahira Shah Guest characters •
John Barrowman as Drew Nicholson-Heath •
Jason Durr as
David Hide •
Susan Engel as Maria Edelman • Joshua Glenister as Phoenix Bates • Sophie Harkness as Frankie Rendell • David Horovitch as Rabbi Stein • Lynn Hunter as Brenda Connolly •
Shaheen Jafargholi as
Marty Kirkby •
Joe McFadden as
Raf di Lucca • John Wark as Steve Connor == See also ==