Creation and casting On 29 March 2012, it was announced that three new regular characters would make their debuts during ''Holby City's''
fourteenth series in May 2012. Actor
Michael Thomson joined the cast as Jonny Maconie, alongside
Catherine Russell as
Serena Campbell and
Chizzy Akudolu as Jonny's best friend
Mo Effanga. Thomson told David Collins from
TV Choice that his first audition was "troublingly easy", and following a second audition, his agent called to tell him he had won the part. Thomson was surprised and initially in disbelief that he had been successful. The actor expected to get fired within the first six months because he initially struggled to hit his marks and get his lines right. He thought the producers had made a mistake in casting him. The actor was pleased at how the writers had written his character and wished Jonny was real. She also thought that Jonny lived up to Young's promise to introduce "a charismatic male nurse" and was convinced that Jonny would become popular with viewers. Akudolu said she and Thomson clicked straight away when they met and they worked on getting their character's relationship right. Thomson revealed that he and Akudolu were close and said there was almost a family quality to their working relationship. He admitted that on occasion they did irritate each other, so were either fighting or hugging, which also helped with developing their characters' relationship. When Jonny began a relationship with
Jac Naylor (
Rosie Marcel), he started lying to Mo and she felt pushed out. Mo was upset when Jonny continued to lie about missing their annual barbecue because he was visiting a relative – when he was actually with Jac. He continued "it's incredibly awkward for Jac – not for Jonny because he doesn't care. In fact I think he says to her 'Have we met?' so that drives Jac completely crazy and creates all kinds of tension!" Thomson noted that Jac had messed with Jonny's head, while all he wanted to do was fix her. He also joked that his mother did not approve of Jac and wanted Jonny to be with Mo. Speaking to a ''
What's on TV'' reporter, Thomson said "Up til now, Jac's had him jumping through hoops, but by her saying those words and making that commitment, it blows Jonny's mind and takes their relationship in a new direction." Jac also considered having an abortion after learning the baby had a
congenital diaphragmatic hernia, leaving it with just a 50% chance of survival. Thomson did some research before filming the birth scenes, in particular he viewed
One Born Every Minute. He also said Jonny was dealing with a lot of uncertainty, as the baby's condition led to "an unpredictable set of circumstances" at the happiest time of his life. Jonny eventually proposed to Bonnie and Peer thought it seemed like the wedding came around quickly, but said that the couple had known each other for a long time. When Jonny finally made it to the registry office, he asked Bonnie for some money to pay the taxi driver. Bonnie crossed the road without looking and was hit by a truck. Jonny was "left devastated" when he realised that there was nothing that could be done to save Bonnie. Of leaving the show, Thomson stated "I've loved every second of my time on
Holby but, as an actor, I want to try new roles and don't ever want to get too comfortable. I've really enjoyed playing Jonny and I'll remember him fondly – but I don't think even he could handle any more devastation in his life!" Jonny departed on 7 April 2015, but made a guest appearance on 23 June 2015. In October 2015, it was mentioned that Jonny and Jac had broken up. Producer Simon Harper confirmed the off-screen split was "perfectly amiable" and that they were co-parenting Emma. ==Reception==