Casting and introduction Prior to her casting, Marcel had appeared in
Holby City in an unrelated role, as a drug addict named Elinor. Jac is introduced during the episode titled "
Bird on a Wire", which was broadcast on 22 November 2005. A writer from
Inside Soap reported that Jac arrives at the hospital determined to impress consultant
Ric Griffin (
Hugh Quarshie). She offers to help on a double amputation procedure and insists that Ric will be so impressed he will offer her a permanent role at Holby. Medical trainee
Dean West (
Paul Henshall) accidentally cuts Ric's hand and this puts him in a bad mood. Jac has to work harder to impress Ric as he insists he no longer needs her help. In two
series twelve episodes, Cydney Dubavin-Hands played a teenage Jac in flashback scenes. Writers soon developed a rivalry between Jac and fellow registrar
Diane Lloyd (
Patricia Potter). The story sees the pair fight for the role of locum consultant, which Diane goes onto secure. A writer from the
Liverpool Echo stated that Jac took credit for work Diane had done. They added "Diane and Jac's working relationship hasn't exactly been an easy one to date, and it doesn't look as if it's going to improve". The pair later argue over patient care. When a paroled murderer is admitted to Darwin ward, they disagree on the cause of his pain. Jac decides to take over the case and orders x-rays to confirm her diagnosis. She goes to see consultant
Dan Clifford (
Peter Wingfield) and complains about having to work alongside Diane. He sides with Diane and throws Jac's diagnosis in the bin. When Diane realises that Jac was correct about the man's condition she is forced to apologise.
Characterisation According to the official
Holby City website, Jac is "strong-minded" and forthright. A
BBC Online reporter thought that Jac's "determination to be brilliant might just kill her". Outside of work, Jac is "charming and hugely sociable". Placed in
foster care by her mother aged twelve, she finds it difficult to form relationships due to an inability to commit and "let herself go". Scriptwriter Patrick Homes found it easy to write stories for Jac due to her "defined" characterisation. Marcel reflected on her character's characterisation in 2015, stating that she enjoys how Jac "says the things that people wouldn't normally say, or would at least think about first". Noting this trait, television critic
Jim Shelley described Jac as a "man-eating android". In 2011, writers planned to rejuvenate Jac's nasty persona. Producers created a medical story which leaves Jac conflicted in the face of treating an infant patient. When Jac is introduced to baby Freya who requires heart surgery, she behaves in her usual nasty manner. When Freya's mother abandons her, Jac bonds with the baby. Marcel told Katy Moon from
Inside Soap that Jac relates to Freya because her mother also abandoned her. Jac operates on Freya and she nearly dies during the procedure. She said that "Jac's becoming attached" and when Jac saves her life "that's when the real bond develops". Marcel explained that Freya "has a big impact" on Jac and it was the start of a long-running story in which her character changes. Jac and Joseph briefly reunited prior to Roberts' departure from the series. Marcel later assessed that Jac gave up on a ready made family with Joseph and Harry. Marcel told Laura Jayne-Tyler from
Inside Soap that even after ten years, Joseph is still "the love of her life". This is because they parted on good terms and Jac has constantly compared subsequent partners with Joseph. He returns with Faye and Marcel believed that Jac seeing them together again "is one of the most difficult things she has ever had to do." He later told Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy that "he's so drawn to her – he is almost looking for an excuse. Otherwise, why is he there? He's nervous and it's a collection of emotions. He doesn't know what to do with it."
Assault and murder investigation In September 2007, writers made Jac the victim of an attempted sexual assault. In the episode titled "Friends Reunited", Alan Clooney (James Weber Brown) is admitted to the Darwin ward following a car accident. He is instantly attracted to Jac and enjoys receiving medical attention from her. Marcel told Katy Moon from
Inside Soap that Jac only gives Alan "professional attention" but he "gets the wrong idea". Jac is preoccupied with another patient Graham Fenton (
Ben Jones), whom she recognises from her school days. This aggravates Alan and makes him jealous. When Graham reveals that he now works for a US pharmaceutical company, she forges a romantic interest in him. This story crossed over into the show's sister series
HolbyBlue. The episode focuses on the murder investigation and police interviews conducted with
Holby City characters. Jac is arrested on suspicion of murder, having earlier threatened to kill Alan in-front of her colleagues. Marcel told an
Inside Soap reporter that Jac "finds it hard" because the evidence suggests she killed him, adding that "she has no credible alibi and her fingerprints are on the murder weapon." She concluded that "you get to see another side to Jac in this episode – a side that she never shows in
Holby City – so that should be really interesting to fans of the show." When Faye takes time off work for a dentist appointment, Jac becomes suspicious. Faye is actually attending the police exhumation of her ex-husband's dead body. Jac realises that Faye has lied about her whereabouts when she witnesses her with the police. She convinces Joseph and Faye to not give Carl more money, which results in the loan sharks attacking Carl. He is taken to an operating theatre where Jac fails to save his life. Marcel explained that both Joseph and Faye hold Jac responsible for Carl's death. Kensit and Roberts reprised their roles for a single episode in 2019 to coincide with the show's twentieth anniversary. Writers used the unresolved tension between the characters to develop "a playfulness and a real strength and humour" in their portrayal. Faye returns in need of a heart transplant and has to be admitted to Holby City Hospital when a rainstorm hits. Kensit said that Faye wants to avoid Jac and the hospital, but it becomes "the only option". Barrett thought the characters were friends because with Jac, Sacha can "[see] straight through what everyone else struggles with" and understands that Jac has "the greatest heart". Marcel and Barrett formed an idea that Jac and Sacha should live together in an unseen flat with viewers only seeing the characters speaking about home life. Jac then comforts Sacha and tells him that he will move into her home. Barrett explained that this would aid Sacha's recovery, but not complete it.
Feud with Sahira Shah In 2011, producers introduced actress
Laila Rouass as registrar
Sahira Shah and another sparring partner for Jac. Writers pitted the characters against each other via a story where they compete for the same consultancy role. Rouass thought that the rivalry never got "too serious" and the "catty comments" gave the story a "fun element". She told a reporter from the
Bath Chronicle that "they're both very competitive and focused and both want the same outcome but they do it in different ways and have different approaches to their job." Rouass added that the characters are both "exceptional" at work and actually respect one another.
Jonny Maconie and pregnancy While attending a people skills course, Jac has a one-night stand with
Jonny Maconie (
Michael Thomson), who is later introduced to the series as a regular character. Jac is under the impression that Jonny is a
neurosurgeon, so she is surprised to learn that he is really a nurse and about to start working at Holby as part of the transplant team. Jac and Jonny briefly get back together, however, when Jac learns that her former boyfriend Joseph Byrne is getting married, she initially takes her frustration out on Jonny and later has sex with paediatrician Sean Dolan (
Wil Johnson). Jac leaves for Japan to study some new medical techniques, and on her return she tells Jonny that she loves him. Thomson said that the declaration and her show of commitment "blows Jonny's mind and takes their relationship in a new direction." While performing a preliminary procedure on a patient, Jac experiences some pain and Jonny worries that it could be related to her kidney. Knowing that she donated one to her estranged mother, he is worried that she could be in danger if the remaining one fails. Jac keeps her diagnosis from Jonny, knowing that he wants a family, while he surprises her by asking her to move in with him. When Jonny finds out that Jac told Mo about the baby before him, he confronts Jac, who is overcome with "uncharacteristic" emotion and bursts into tears. Jonny later performs an ultrasound scan on Jac and they get to see their baby for the first time. During Jac's 20-week scan, she and Jonny are informed that their baby has a
congenital diaphragmatic hernia, meaning it has a 50% chance of survival after birth. They also told that further tests need to be carried out, before they can talk about their options.
Temporary departure On 11 August 2014, it was announced that Marcel was pregnant with her first child and that Jac would take a break from
Holby City. Jac exits in the
seventeenth series episode "Go the Distance", originally broadcast on 14 April 2015, after reuniting with Jonny. Thomson also decided to leave the show to return to theatrical projects. Thomson explained that viewers wished for a "happy ending" for Jac, which happens through her and Jonny's departure. He thought that it was a perfect conclusion to Jac and Jonny's relationship as they establish their family life. The actor added that Jac and Jonny have realised "what they mean to each other". Before Marcel took maternity leave, her co-star,
Paul Bradley, decided to leave his role as
Elliot Hope. Marcel asked producers to return for his exit episode before she left and producers agreed as they also shared an interest in arranging this. A show trailer previewing Jac's appearance was released on 16 September 2015, and the appearance features in the series 17 episode "At First I Was Afraid", originally broadcast on 22 September 2015. Jac mentions that she and Jonny have separated.
Holby City series producer Simon Harper clarified that their split was "perfectly amiable" and they are sharing parental responsibility of Emma. He also pointed out even though the characters tried a relationship, their alternative personalities meant it would not succeed. Harper confirmed in October 2015 that Jac would return during the following month, Harper revealed that Jac would return "with a bang" as she reclaims her status as the head of Darwin ward and reassesses the ward's structure and staffing. She thought that the character had proved popular and remained on the drama due to her villainous characterisation. Jac instantly dislikes Matteo and clashes with him when he begins to work on her patient. Vit explained that Matteo would prefer to challenge Jac's behaviour than leave her alone. Jac then discovers that Matteo was in the team who stole her
Stent research, infuriating her. Matteo tells Jac that he did not intend to "steal" her project, but she does not believe him and claims one of Matteo's ideas for their patient. Vit pointed out that Matteo "immediately realises what kind of character Jac is", but is also fascinated by her. Marcel had previously called for Walkinshaw to be introduced into the show in 2011, so Jac could have a romance with a character he played. She compared the matching to characters Maddie Hayes (
Cybill Shepherd) and David Addison (
Bruce Willis) in
Moonlighting and Peter Joshua (
Cary Grant) and Reggie Lampert (
Audrey Hepburn) in
Charade. He added that Fletch would not be "intimidated" by Jac. Jac later uncharacteristically takes "her guard down" around Fletch and grieves for her recently murdered half-sister,
Jasmine Burrows (
Lucinda Dryzek), which strengthens her bond with Fletch. Marcel took a three-month break from the drama in 2018, pausing the budding relationship. Jac does not return for a relationship with Fletch, which disappoints him. However, he is still supportive when she prepares for her operation. Marcel noted that as a long-term "strongest character" in the show, Jac appears "infallible and unbreakable" through her many dramas, but it has taken a toll on her mind and body. Marcel struggled filming the story and named it "the hardest thing I've ever had to do". Elements of the story begin when Jac resigns from her clinical lead position after choosing to focus on herself and her family. Jac's decision marks a long-term change in direction for the character. When Emma arrives on Darwin with Jonny's pregnant fiancée Stacey Clarkson (
Emily Bowker), Jac is confronted with how she has become an "absent parent" in Emma's life. She consequently decides to hand over clinical lead duties to Kian Madani (
Ramin Karimloo). Marcel enjoyed seeing the "softer side" of Jac, but did not want to stray from "the Jac we all love to hate!" Following Joseph's return, Jac takes herself away from the hospital and the character is absent from the show for a few weeks. Writers created issues in Jac's home life through her relationship with Emma. After Stacey informs Jac that she and Jonny are moving to
Edinburgh and that Jonny wants custody of Emma, Jac suffers a panic attack. Marcel told Wilson (''What's on TV'') that combined with the past few years, "Jac's life is in chaos", which would build towards "something dramatic". Jac eventually decides to withdraw custody of her daughter, having become "convinced that her daughter is better off without her". Marcel and her husband found this scene "distressing" to watch. and rejecting support from anyone, which stems from her lonely childhood. The actress said, "She's only ever been able to rely on herself, so it's very hard for her to hand the reins over to someone else and trust them with personal stuff." Bradley's return stint also begins in the episode and the actor commented, "There are real fireworks in the story and it gets pretty hairy!" The episode was filmed on the hottest day of the year, but the episode was set in November so they had to appear cold. The story then shifted focus to Jac's professional life as she treats
Stage 4 cancer patient, Sandra Jackson (
Vicky Entwistle). Jac goes against the advice of Elliot and clinical lead Kian and offers Sandra an alternative operation, which has more risks. Writers intertwined the stories of Jac and Kian to lead into the next stages of their stories. When Kian's girlfriend, Bea Kaminski (
Rosalind Halstead), is readmitted onto Darwin for surgery, she begs Kian for an alternative surgery, so he asks the "increasingly-irrational" Jac, who refuses. In surgery, Kian risks his career and sabotages the operation so that Bea can have the surgery she wants. Once the operation is complete, Jac is "incandescent with rage" and confronts Kian, which is witnessed by new CEO
Max McGerry (
Jo Martin), who reprimands them both. She told Tyler (
Inside Soap) that "there's only so much you can take before you break", which has happened to Jac. Marcel thought that Jac's history combined with the idea of losing Elliot and not seeing Emma contributed to her character's breakdown. Marcel praised Walkinshaw for his work on the scenes and for helping her mental health off-screen too. Advanced spoilers, released on 21 November 2019, revealed that Jac would receive treatment in a
Psychiatric Unit, where she would be visited by Fletch, Sacha and Elliot, dubbed the "three wise men". Marcel explained that Jac has a good relationship with Fletch, Sacha and Elliot because while "they don't let her get away with anything", they also understand and respect Jac, which makes Jac "[love] them and [respect] them". Fletch is the first person to visit Jac and she rejects him as she blames him for calling the psychiatric team and having Emma removed from her. Afterwards, Sacha visits her, but she blames him for not being there to help her and hits him. Upon Barrett's request, Marcel hit him for real, but they did not tell anyone as insurance purposes would have prevented it from happening. Marcel told Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy that "I'm sad obviously – I love the show and I've been there a really long time." Marcel added that it was a "big decision" but she had become tired and wanted a break from acting to spend more time with her family. Jac was revealed as the return in the
twenty-third series' seventeenth episode, originally broadcast on 27 July 2021. Marcel had to drive onto set wearing a hat, mask and sunglasses to ensure that the public did not recognise her. She was pleased to return to the show and commented, "The bitch is back and it's going to [be] epic!!" The show's story producer Ben Wadey told Calli Kitson from
Metro that writers were tasked with creating suitable endings for all the regular characters. The
Holby City production team decided to kill Jac off and created a final episode that revolves around her death. The show's story producer Ben Wadey did not want to frustrate viewers with "unfinished business". Wadey believed that the finality of cancellation created grief and he wanted to ensure this was personified in the story, believing Jac was the correct character to end the show. Marcel told Laura-Jayne Tyler (
Inside Soap) that she became "exhausted" trying to change their decision and which led to writers offering Marcel more in depth discussion over her character's demise. Marcel claimed that once she "begrudgingly" accepted Jac's death and she concentrated on making the story "the best it could possibly be". Jac is portrayed determined to find a cure for her tumour. She and Eli begin researching a life saving stent trial which could be applied to her own treatment plan. After the unsuccessful trial, writers portrayed an increasingly desperate Jac turning to her mentee Nicky for help and even requests she do the surgery. As her condition deteriorates, Writers brought back the characters of
Guy Self (
John Michie) and Elliot Hope for the final part of Jac's story. Jac's asks for Guy's help to remove the tumour, but he refuses because it would cause a
stroke. Jac's final appearance occurred in the show's finale episode, which was broadcast on 29 March 2022. Marcel said the final episode would be "spectacular" and "amazing". She also revealed that multiple former cast members would return for the episode. In the scenes, Jac implements an
advance healthcare directive to prevent medical assistance when her condition deteriorates. Jac suffers a
stroke and the directive forces her colleagues to not intervene. Jac dies and her colleagues congregate around her bedside. They then begin the process of organ retrieval and set up transplant procedures. Jac's organ donation saves multiple lives, including Alexandra 'Lexy' Dunblane (Jenny Howe) who receives her heart. Various former characters are portrayed receiving Jac's organs at different locations as they prepare to carry out surgery. Wadey said that he "loved" the final scenes with Jac's monologue because "it makes sense in that moment." She later makes cameo appearances in
Casualty thirtieth anniversary episode, originally broadcast in August 2016, and an episode of the
thirty-first series, originally broadcast in September 2016. Kate Hall, the then-series producer, confirmed in August 2017 that Marcel would reprise her role in
Casualty for two episodes, Producers of
Holby City and
Casualty planned a crossover event for the shows in 2018, prominently featuring Jac and
Casualty character
Connie Beauchamp (
Amanda Mealing), who formerly appeared in
Holby City. Executive producer Simon Harper explained that both casts would be featured "striving heroically against the odds in two episodes of pure, nail-biting, taut, emotional medical drama." Marcel reprises her role as Jac again in a
thirty-fourth series of
Casualty, first broadcast in August 2019. The character stars opposite consultant
Dylan Keogh (
William Beck) and nurse
David Hide (
Jason Durr) as she operates on David's teenage son,
Oliver Hide (
Harry Collett). == Reception ==