Holby’s soap-er ending
ONE of Holby City’s cocreators hopes the series concludes with a big, emotional story and not a “soapy” ending.
The medical drama, which has featured bigname stars such as Patsy Kensit, 53, will finish in 2022 after 23 years.
Mal Young, who created the Casualty spin-off alongside Tony Mchale, said: “I hope that they don’t blow the place up or do anything soapy like a big fire or a siege.
“I think the trick is to go out with a big story and have everyone in tears.”
★ THE BBC has sparked a backlash over its decision to axe Holby City after 23 years – leaving fans furious.
Producers will end the medical drama next March to “make room for new opportunities”.
★ Holby City was created by Tony Mchale and Mai Young in 1999 as a spin-off from the series Casualty. But what happened to the original cast of the show? NATASHA WYNARCZYK reveals all.
Lisa Faulkner (Victoria Merrick) After she found fame in Brookside, Lisa played surgeon Victoria, who was stabbed to death by the father of a patient. Post-holby, she starred in Spooks.
In 2010 she won Celebrity Masterchef and met future husband judge John Torode.
They now host their own cooking show on ITV and Lisa also went back to soaps, starring in Eastenders in 2017.
Michael French (Nick Jordan) Michael played ladies’ man Nick, who had several love interests in the drama. He left the show after two years, but briefly returned in 2006, before his character was transferred to Casualty. Michael acted in Casualty from 2008 to 2013 but made another appearance on Holby in 2010. He also reprised his former Eastenders role as Pat Butcher’s son David Wicks between 2012 and 2014.
Nicola Stephenson (Julie Bradford) Single mum Julie resorted to lap dancing after being passed over for promotion. Nicola was wellknown before Holby for being part of the first pre-watershed lesbian kiss on British telly when her character in Brookside smooched Anna Friel.
After Holby City, and appearing in Casualty, she went on to have roles in Hotel Babylon, Waterloo Road and Emmerdale, and appeared alongside Lisa Faulkner in Celebrity Gogglebox in 2019.
Angela Griffin (Jasmine Hopkins)
Angela had roles in Emmerdale and Coronation Street before she starred as ward sister Jasmine in Holby City. She left after the third series in 2001, going on to star in BBC drama Cutting It, where she played beautician Darcey Henshall. Angela also had the role of teacher Kim Campbell in Waterloo Road. During 20092010, Angela hosted a daytime TV show called Angela And Friends on Sky, where she was often joined by Lisa and Nicola.
Phyllis Logan (Muriel Mckendrick)
After her nine-episode Holby City role as no-nonsense Muriel, Phyllis went on to appear in Doctor Who and the ITV drama Girlfriends. But she is best known for her role in hit period drama Downton Abbey where she played strict housekeeper Mrs Hughes. George Irving (Anton Meyer) George played Muriel’s nemesis Anton, who was involved in many explosive storylines including, losing his spleen in a road rage incident and operating on his own sister. He left in 2002, saying he struggled to “leave the character at work” which was causing problems in his private life and said he would never play Anton again to keep the memory of the character untarnished. After leaving he had roles in Dalziel And Pascoe, Doctors and New Tricks.