Holby City fans were heartbroken as the long running BBC drama came to an end last night, March 29.
The hospital based show has been on air for 23 years. The end of the line came after BBC bosses decided to axe the popular show “in order to reshape the BBC’s drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country”. In the final episode, a host of past Holby faces returned, including Chizzy Akudolu as Mo Effanga, Hugh Quarshie as Ric Griffin and Luke Roberts as Joseph Byrne.
The finale not only waved goodbye to the show as a whole but it also ended emotionally as one of the most loved characters died. Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel) made a heart-rending decision which ultimately led to her death.
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The character awoke from her life-or-death operation to remove her brain tumour, led by trusty friend Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley), to tell Fletch she had decided to refuse future medical intervention. He replied: “I just hate the thought of you giving up."
She replied as she said: “Let me tell you about giving up. Letting this thing take control. Wipe out my mind. Leaving me delirious and doubly incontinent - that's giving up. I have never been clearer about anything in my life. Please do this one thing for me.”
Later, Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) tended to her as he said Elliot had booked her in for a scan. But as he was getting her ready to go for it, he joked “You love me really." Jac replied: “You know I do" before she fell unconscious. She had suffered a stroke leaving her character brain dead.
Fletch later explained to Sacha, Elliot and Max McGerry (Jo Martin) the decision Jac had made as they fought to save her, saying: “She said if anything like this happened - I think she knew that something like this was coming and she made up her mind.”
Her friends and colleagues broke down as they realised they were unable to save her due to her wishes. Elliot said: “It's Jaq's decision. We may not like it but we have to respect it.”
It was later revealed that Jac was a organ donor. Later in the episode, a voiceover detailed the individuals who had received Jac’s organ donations, ranging from a medical student to a full-time mother of four.
Jac delivered a closing monologue to end the show as the cast were seen responding to an emergency incident at the hospital. She spoke of her love for the hospital as she said: "It took me a long time to find a place I belonged, somewhere to call home. It wasn't with my mother or the carers she dumped me with. It certainly wasn't with any man.”
She continued: “It was when I first walked into a theatre and breathed in that rarefied air, realising my hands could save lives. I knew then on day one I had found my place in the world. Somewhere I belonged.
“This is what the NHS means to us. Not a badge on a cabinet minister's lapel. Not a number down the side of the bus. It's a nurse missing her break to sit with a lonely patient. A surgeon grinding out a 15 hour op. The sound of sirens coming to the rescue. Thursday night applause floating across the rooftops.”
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