Holby City has aired an emotional final episode of the beloved BBC medical drama, which saw the explosive and heart-wrenching conclusion of the show’s storylines.
From Jac Naylor's fate to Hendrik Hanssen's final decision over his future, the long-running drama tied up each character’s fate before giving a final poignant tribute to the NHS in the show’s closing moments.
Here is everything that happened in the final episode of the beloved drama...
Jac's tragic fate
The tragic centrepiece of the episode was the death of fan favourite Jac, played by Rosie Marcel, who asked Adrian 'Fletch' Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw) to write her a do-not-resuscitate order during the finale.
Jac 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 and learning Elliot had been unable to remove the tumour.
He replied: “I just hate the thought of you giving up,” to which 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.”
Jac’s final waking moment was seen scenes later, when Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) tended to her as he said Elliot had booked her in for a scan.
He quipped: “You love me really,” as Jac replied: “You know I do,” her voice growing faint as she had a stroke, leaving her braindead.
While her friends gathered and rallied to save her, Fletch told them of her wishes and they were forced to leave nature to take its course as Jac drifted away.
Holby City fans then learnt that Jac had decided to donate her organs, including her heart, lungs, liver and pancreas, in to order “make a difference to a lot of lives.”
A touching final NHS tribute
The storyline culminated in a dramatic voiceover monologue in the closing moments of the show as the cast were seen responding to an emergency incident at the hospital.
Jac 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.”
As the show ended on a final shot of the hospital with the words ‘Thank you’ and ‘NHS Holby City’ projected onto the building, Jac concluded: “All of us are doing the best we can in impossible circumstances. It's something to believe in. It's home.”
Dom overcomes his insecurities
Meanwhile, Dom felt like an outsider when he learned that Josh and Ange have closed him out of their family crises, only to be further disappointed when he found out that Chloe has played an integral part in Josh's recovery.
Feeling hurt over Ange's secrecy, Dom questioned whether she even considers him as her son or not.
But the pair reconciled towards the end of the episode in touching scenes, as they planned a Saturday night curry at Ange's house.
Dom joked: “I figured I should get in some nappy changing practice if I'm to be the favourite sibling,” as Ange replied: “Now that, I would love to see.”
As the pair watched Josh in his bed, Dom turned sober as he said: “I must have so much to catch up on. Life's too short,” to which Ange agreed, before telling Dom his mum must be very proud of him as he teared up.
Hanssen gets his happy ever after
In other scenes, Donna Jackson and Hendrik Hanssen supported Lexy, as she remained upbeat and determined to make the most of the time she had left - before it was revealed she would receive Jac's heart donation.
Still reeling from the news about Lexy as well as the shock of Jac’s death, Hanssen was prompted to reconsider his future.
As he overheard Jac's friends reminisce at her bedside as she lay on ventilation, awaiting organ transplant surgery, Hanssen walked off with purpose.
He was then finally seen making a touching final reunion with Russ, after the actor Guy Henry, who plays Hanssen, teased he would get his happily ever after.
Hanssen arrived with Jac’s donor liver, to which Russ asked: “Yes, but why are you here?” and Hanssen replied: “I've come for you”.
The teary episode also saw the return of six major Holby City characters: Mo Effanga (Chizzy Akudolu), Ric (Hugh Quarshie), Joseph (Luke Roberts), Jason (Jules Robertson), and Serena and Bernie (Catherine Russell and Jemma Redgrave respectively).
Ahead of the finale, Donna Jackson star Jaye Jacobs promised that the last episode “honours those hardcore, long-term fans” and Fletch actor Alex Walkinshaw called the episode “huge”.
The final episode of Holby City 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”.
