Elliot Hope
Encyclopedia
Elliot Hope OBE is a fictional character
from the BBC
medical drama
television series Holby City
, portrayed by actor Paul Bradley
. The character first appeared on 8 November 2005 in the episode "More Equal Than Others" - series eight, episode four of the programme. Elliot was introduced as a consultant
surgeon and Clinical Lead on Holby General's cardiothoracic surgery
ward. His storylines have seen his wife Gina, a Motor Neurone Disease
-sufferer, commit assisted suicide
, and his relationship with his children subsequently deteriorate. Elliot considered suicide himself, before reconciling with his family. He ended a brief romance with colleague Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
as he was still mourning Gina, and later shared a kiss with his old friend Tara Sodi.
Bradley was cast in the role after originally auditioning for a more minor part, and impressing executive producer Richard Stokes. He observed real heart surgery being performed in preparation for the role, and bases his portrayal of Elliot on his own father, who was a doctor. Elliot is portrayed as "a disorganised genius" and "a medical Columbo". He was the focus of Holby City 2007 Christmas episode, based on the 1964 film It's a Wonderful Life
. The assisted suicide storyline proved controversial, though the Elliot-centric Christmas episode was generally well-received by critics. The Times
David Chater called it "highly effective in what it sets out to do", though Robert Hanks of The Independent
deemed it "incompetent to the point of sacrilege".
ward. Paul Bradley
was cast in the role, having auditioned for a smaller part and impressed executive producer Richard Stokes, who asked him to audition for a longer-term character. Bradley met with the show's producers, who offered him the role of Elliot on the spot. His casting was announced in June 2005, when series producer Emma Turner commented: "The man is a great surgeon but his shambolic appearance and eccentric manner will cause the highly-political Connie's
feathers to become ruffled. Elliott is a devoted family man who absorbs the pain he sees around him - but there will always be a price to pay."
As research for the role, Bradley observed three operations at the University College London Heart Hospital
, an experience he described as "amazing" and a privilege to attend. Bradley's father was a doctor in Nuneaton
, and he attempts to emulate him onscreen through his portrayal of Elliot. Bradley has described his first few weeks on Holby City as amongst the hardest acting experiences he has ever had, due to the medical terminology, props and procedures associated with the role.
Jim Shelly
of The Mirror commented unfavourably on the "horrible inevitability" of Bradley's casting, as he had previously portrayed Nigel Bates
in the BBC soap opera
EastEnders
. Shelley noted a trend for former EastEnders and Channel 4
soap Brookside
actors being cast in Holby City. The show is filmed at Elstree Studios
, where EastEnders is also filmed. Bradley has commented that it is "strange" making the same journey to a different show, and has noted differences between Elliot and his EastEnders character Nigel in that Elliot has a "better wardrobe" and is more intelligent. He has also commented that working on Holby City is "harder" than EastEnders, as the show is filmed with a single-camera set-up which takes longer, and there are "more things to go wrong" when working with medical props and simulating operations.
(Amanda Mealing
), Bradley explained: "Connie is text book brilliant, whereas Elliot is more inspired. He may seem eccentric but he really listens to his patients - he's very straight forward and not at all stuck up. They are chalk and cheese. Connie's side of the office is very neat and tidy. But Elliot's is a total mess. She's quite uptight, and anybody as relaxed as Elliot really gets on her nerves." On 17 November 2006, Bradley appeared as Elliot in a Children in Need
segment featuring the Holby City cast performing a version of "Hung Up
" by Madonna
.
Elliot's wife Gina suffers from Motor Neurone Disease
. An October 2006 storyline saw her travel to a clinic in Switzerland
, where euthanasia
is legal. The assisted suicide storyline was the first time the subject had been addressed in a soap. Gillian Bevan
, who plays Gina, explained: "Gina can't bear to be a burden to her husband any longer. She is adamant that Elliot wouldn't understand her decision." Although Elliot comes to understand Gina's decision, and is by her side as she dies, his relationship with his children becomes strained as a result. Sam Stockman
, who plays Elliot's son James, explained in October 2007: "[James] still blames Elliot for helping his Mum die and then just posting her suicide note to him, which was the first he heard about her death".
The Holby City 2007 Christmas episode, "Elliot's Wonderful Life", was a reimagining of the 1964 film It's a Wonderful Life
featuring Elliot, and guest-starring Richard Briers
as his guardian angel
. It was filmed in North London over three weeks. Series producer Diana Kyle described the episode as Elliot "go[ing] on a major emotional journey and tak[ing] time to reassess his life". Bradley explained: "Elliot goes into this complete breakdown and decides to kill himself", and discussed Elliot's motivation in considering suicide: "Something in his brain snaps. He's overworked and emotionally overwrought." He explained that, while the episode is based on It's a Wonderful Life: "the screen doesn't go wobbly so you know you're in fantasy world. It's played very straight. There are some really interesting things going on - angels in the corridors and nobody knows who this old man is. But it's not all doom and gloom, there's humour in there and it's a bit of an adventure." Bradley was pleased to work with Briers, commenting: "Richard has always been a hero of mine. He's an actor I've always wanted to be like. We got on so well; we were exhausted from laughing!" Briers added of the storyline: "It's extraordinary to pinch a marvellous idea from a great film."
consultant
Connie Beauchamp to the position of Clinical Lead. He later steps down from this position in order to spend more time with his wife, Gina (Gillian Bevan
), who has Motor Neurone Disease
and goes on to end her life by euthanasia
, with Elliot by her side. Elliot's relationship with his children, James (Sam Stockman
) and Martha (Holly Lucas
), is strained following their mother's suicide. James goes missing, causing Elliot to worry his son has also committed suicide, before returning from Bangkok
with a heroin addiction. He becomes involved in gang violence and is shot. Although he recovers, Martha is resentful when Elliot refuses to attend his trial, where James is given a 12-month suspended sentence
. When Martha is shot with a crossbow
, Elliot considers suicide, but ultimately decides against it and his family reconciles. Elliot has a brief romance with Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
(Jane Asher
), the mother of his registrar
Joseph
(Luke Roberts
), however he ends the relationship as he is still mourning Gina.
Martha leaves Holby
to attend university, returning two years later having married in Las Vegas
without telling her father. Elliot is upset, so Martha plans a picnic at which Elliot can get to know her new husband Ben (Oliver Boot
) better. At the picnic, Elliot's dog Samson is run over by an ambulance, resulting in a pneumothorax
. Elliot operates on Samson in a basement theatre, and he makes a full recovery. When Ben confides in Elliot that he is experiencing on-going health problems, he initially agrees not to tell Martha, not wanting her to worry. Martha later learns Ben is in the early stages of Sarcoidosis
and will be blind within months. Relating his own experience of Gina's failing health, Elliot advises Martha to leave Ben, and ultimately they break up.
When Martha arranges a surprise party for Elliot's 50th birthday, he is re-introduced to an old friend from university, Tara Sodi (Meera Syal
). He and Tara formerly performed pioneering heart surgery together, but their patient died. Tara attempts to convince Elliot to try their technique again. Elliot initially refuses, but later changes his mind. The operation is successful, and Tara is offered a full-time contract at Holby General. When Tara revives a patient with a DNR order against his wishes, tension arises between her and Elliot over the issue of euthanasia, with Tara unaware of the circumstances of Gina's death. Despite this, Elliot convinces her to sign her contract, and the two share a kiss.
, but was not shortlisted. The storyline which saw Elliot's wife Gina commit assisted suicide was the subject of a Daily Telegraph
and Daily Mail
debate. Rachel Pickering, a GP
and hospice
doctor from Greenwich
, opined that the storyine was to be "condemned". She criticized Gina's dying words: "I want to be allowed to die with dignity", suggesting that The Voluntary Euthanasia Society has "hijacked" the word "dignity" in changing its name to Dignity In Dying. Pickering wrote that, in her own experience, the majority of MND patients die peaceful natural deaths. She was opposed by two correspondents, Lena Pycroft of London and Ray Knight of Thaxted
. Pycroft congratulated the BBC for "[bringining] into sharp relief the appalling dilemma facing terminally ill patients", while Knight commended: "The most telling point in the Holby City episode was that, having made the decision, the patient was happier and more relaxed - a fact repeatedly confirmed in real life. Is it not time our legislation reflected that?" A Holby City spokeswoman defended the storyline, stating: "Throughout every stage of the process, the production team and scriptwriters have worked very closely with researchers, advisors, expert medical professionals and specialist support societies, all from the field of motor neurone disease. Every part of the story, emotional and medical, was checked and discussed. This is a powerful, heartwrenching story that will challenge our audience."
The Times
David Chater commented positively on the episode "Elliot's Wonderful Life", writing that: "Holby City fans will love this episode [...] It is highly effective in what it sets out to do, although – like so much television at Christmas – you need to drink a pint of warm Baileys for the full effect." The episode was selected as recommended viewing by several TV critics, including Dydd Iau of the Liverpool Daily Post
, and Roz Laws of the Sunday Mercury
, who noted: "It sounds a bit strange, but there's snow, carols and an uplifting happy ending for a change." The Mirror Maeve Quigley called it "a timeless story", though questioned the plausibility of a world in which Elliot's patients went untreated, as "the NHS
isn't a one- man band after all". In contrast, Robert Hanks of The Independent
reviewed the episode negatively, calling it "incompetent to the point of sacrilege". Hanks wrote: "What it did add to the mix, that James Stewart
never achieved, was to give the viewer an authentic frisson of empathy: there was a point towards the end - during an encounter with Elliot's miraculously resurrected, motor-neurone-disease-afflicted yet remarkably soignee and articulate wife - when I began to see never having been born as preferable, sometimes, to prime-time TV."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
television series Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
, portrayed by actor Paul Bradley
Paul Bradley (actor)
Paul Bradley is an English actor. He is best known for playing Nigel Bates in the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders from 1992 to 1998 and Elliot Hope in the BBC medical drama series Holby City since 2005....
. The character first appeared on 8 November 2005 in the episode "More Equal Than Others" - series eight, episode four of the programme. Elliot was introduced as a consultant
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
surgeon and Clinical Lead on Holby General's cardiothoracic surgery
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
ward. His storylines have seen his wife Gina, a Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
-sufferer, commit assisted suicide
Assisted suicide
Assisted suicide is the common term for actions by which an individual helps another person voluntarily bring about his or her own death. "Assistance" may mean providing one with the means to end one's own life, but may extend to other actions. It differs to euthanasia where another person ends...
, and his relationship with his children subsequently deteriorate. Elliot considered suicide himself, before reconciling with his family. He ended a brief romance with colleague Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
Anne-Marie, Lady Byrne is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Jane Asher. The character first appeared on 10 May 2007 in episode "After the Fall" - series 9, episode 30 of the programme...
as he was still mourning Gina, and later shared a kiss with his old friend Tara Sodi.
Bradley was cast in the role after originally auditioning for a more minor part, and impressing executive producer Richard Stokes. He observed real heart surgery being performed in preparation for the role, and bases his portrayal of Elliot on his own father, who was a doctor. Elliot is portrayed as "a disorganised genius" and "a medical Columbo". He was the focus of Holby City 2007 Christmas episode, based on the 1964 film It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
. The assisted suicide storyline proved controversial, though the Elliot-centric Christmas episode was generally well-received by critics. The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
David Chater called it "highly effective in what it sets out to do", though Robert Hanks of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
deemed it "incompetent to the point of sacrilege".
Creation
Elliot was introduced to Holby City in November 2005 as the new Clinical Lead of the hospital's cardiothoracic surgeryCardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
ward. Paul Bradley
Paul Bradley (actor)
Paul Bradley is an English actor. He is best known for playing Nigel Bates in the BBC1 soap opera EastEnders from 1992 to 1998 and Elliot Hope in the BBC medical drama series Holby City since 2005....
was cast in the role, having auditioned for a smaller part and impressed executive producer Richard Stokes, who asked him to audition for a longer-term character. Bradley met with the show's producers, who offered him the role of Elliot on the spot. His casting was announced in June 2005, when series producer Emma Turner commented: "The man is a great surgeon but his shambolic appearance and eccentric manner will cause the highly-political Connie's
Connie Beauchamp
Constance "Connie" Beauchamp is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Amanda Mealing. She first appeared in the series six episode "In at the Deep End", broadcast on 1 June 2004, and remained in the programme until its thirteenth series, departing in the...
feathers to become ruffled. Elliott is a devoted family man who absorbs the pain he sees around him - but there will always be a price to pay."
As research for the role, Bradley observed three operations at the University College London Heart Hospital
University College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
, an experience he described as "amazing" and a privilege to attend. Bradley's father was a doctor in Nuneaton
Nuneaton
Nuneaton is the largest town in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth and in the English county of Warwickshire.Nuneaton is most famous for its associations with the 19th century author George Eliot, who was born on a farm on the Arbury Estate just outside Nuneaton in 1819 and lived in the town for...
, and he attempts to emulate him onscreen through his portrayal of Elliot. Bradley has described his first few weeks on Holby City as amongst the hardest acting experiences he has ever had, due to the medical terminology, props and procedures associated with the role.
Jim Shelly
Jim Shelley (TV critic)
Jim Shelley is a British television critic who writes a column for the Daily Mirror each Monday titled Shelleyvision. Prior to writing for the Daily Mirror he wrote for The Guardian and his collection of reviews "Interference: Tapehead vs. Television" was published by Atlantic Books...
of The Mirror commented unfavourably on the "horrible inevitability" of Bradley's casting, as he had previously portrayed Nigel Bates
Nigel Bates
Nigel Bates is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Paul Bradley from 1992 to 1998. Introduced in 1992 by Leonard Lewis, the character was incorporated gradually and brought back as a regular following a brief stint due to a popular reception. He was depicted as a...
in the BBC soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. Shelley noted a trend for former EastEnders and Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
soap Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
actors being cast in Holby City. The show is filmed at Elstree Studios
Elstree Studios
"Elstree Studios" refers to any of several film studios that were based in the towns of Borehamwood and Elstree in Hertfordshire, England, since film production begun in 1927.-Name:...
, where EastEnders is also filmed. Bradley has commented that it is "strange" making the same journey to a different show, and has noted differences between Elliot and his EastEnders character Nigel in that Elliot has a "better wardrobe" and is more intelligent. He has also commented that working on Holby City is "harder" than EastEnders, as the show is filmed with a single-camera set-up which takes longer, and there are "more things to go wrong" when working with medical props and simulating operations.
Development
Elliot is described on the BBC Online Holby City homepage as "a disorganised genius" who "comes across as a bumbling eccentric" but has surgical expertise which is "second to none". Bradley has deemed Elliot "a medical Columbo", who is "shambling, untidy but good with patients and a genius medically", as well as "a brilliant surgeon who does everything in an off-the-wall way." He has been described as "genial" by The Mirror Shelley, while fellow Mirror critic Jane Simon has deemed him "shambling" and "not the most convincing medic we've ever seen". Comparing Elliot to fellow cardiothoracic consultant Connie BeauchampConnie Beauchamp
Constance "Connie" Beauchamp is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Amanda Mealing. She first appeared in the series six episode "In at the Deep End", broadcast on 1 June 2004, and remained in the programme until its thirteenth series, departing in the...
(Amanda Mealing
Amanda Mealing
Amanda Jane Mealing is a British actress best known for playing Connie Beauchamp in the BBC One medical drama series Holby City.-Early life:...
), Bradley explained: "Connie is text book brilliant, whereas Elliot is more inspired. He may seem eccentric but he really listens to his patients - he's very straight forward and not at all stuck up. They are chalk and cheese. Connie's side of the office is very neat and tidy. But Elliot's is a total mess. She's quite uptight, and anybody as relaxed as Elliot really gets on her nerves." On 17 November 2006, Bradley appeared as Elliot in a Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
segment featuring the Holby City cast performing a version of "Hung Up
Hung Up
"Hung Up" is a song by American singer-songwriter Madonna. It was written and produced in collaboration with Stuart Price, and released as the first single from her tenth studio album, Confessions on a Dance Floor. Initially used in a number of television advertisements and serials, the song was...
" by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
.
Elliot's wife Gina suffers from Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
. An October 2006 storyline saw her travel to a clinic in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
is legal. The assisted suicide storyline was the first time the subject had been addressed in a soap. Gillian Bevan
Gillian Bevan
Gillian Bevan is an English actress, best known for her roles in British television shows and West End theatre....
, who plays Gina, explained: "Gina can't bear to be a burden to her husband any longer. She is adamant that Elliot wouldn't understand her decision." Although Elliot comes to understand Gina's decision, and is by her side as she dies, his relationship with his children becomes strained as a result. Sam Stockman
Sam Stockman
Sam Stockman is a British actor whose most notable role was Lewis Davenport in British Soap Opera Family Affairs from 2002 to 2004....
, who plays Elliot's son James, explained in October 2007: "[James] still blames Elliot for helping his Mum die and then just posting her suicide note to him, which was the first he heard about her death".
The Holby City 2007 Christmas episode, "Elliot's Wonderful Life", was a reimagining of the 1964 film It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life is a 1946 American Christmas drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra and based on the short story "The Greatest Gift" written by Philip Van Doren Stern....
featuring Elliot, and guest-starring Richard Briers
Richard Briers
Richard David Briers, CBE is an English actor whose career has encompassed theatre, television, film and radio.He first came to prominence as George Starling in Marriage Lines in the 1960s, but it was in the following decade when he played Tom Good in the BBC sitcom The Good Life that he became a...
as his guardian angel
Guardian angel
A guardian angel is an angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person or group. Belief in guardian angels can be traced throughout all antiquity...
. It was filmed in North London over three weeks. Series producer Diana Kyle described the episode as Elliot "go[ing] on a major emotional journey and tak[ing] time to reassess his life". Bradley explained: "Elliot goes into this complete breakdown and decides to kill himself", and discussed Elliot's motivation in considering suicide: "Something in his brain snaps. He's overworked and emotionally overwrought." He explained that, while the episode is based on It's a Wonderful Life: "the screen doesn't go wobbly so you know you're in fantasy world. It's played very straight. There are some really interesting things going on - angels in the corridors and nobody knows who this old man is. But it's not all doom and gloom, there's humour in there and it's a bit of an adventure." Bradley was pleased to work with Briers, commenting: "Richard has always been a hero of mine. He's an actor I've always wanted to be like. We got on so well; we were exhausted from laughing!" Briers added of the storyline: "It's extraordinary to pinch a marvellous idea from a great film."
Storylines
Elliot arrives at Holby General in episode "More Equal Than Others", when it is revealed he has beaten cardiothoracicCardiothoracic Surgery
Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs inside the thorax —generally treatment of conditions of the heart and lungs .-Cardiac / Thoracic:...
consultant
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
Connie Beauchamp to the position of Clinical Lead. He later steps down from this position in order to spend more time with his wife, Gina (Gillian Bevan
Gillian Bevan
Gillian Bevan is an English actress, best known for her roles in British television shows and West End theatre....
), who has Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
and goes on to end her life by euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, with Elliot by her side. Elliot's relationship with his children, James (Sam Stockman
Sam Stockman
Sam Stockman is a British actor whose most notable role was Lewis Davenport in British Soap Opera Family Affairs from 2002 to 2004....
) and Martha (Holly Lucas
Holly Lucas
Holly Lucas is an English actress. Her main role was as Megan Boothe in Where the Heart Is taking over the role from Holly Grainger. She has also starred in Doctors, and Peak Practice. Recently she has played the recurring character of Martha Hope in Holby City.-External links:...
), is strained following their mother's suicide. James goes missing, causing Elliot to worry his son has also committed suicide, before returning from Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
with a heroin addiction. He becomes involved in gang violence and is shot. Although he recovers, Martha is resentful when Elliot refuses to attend his trial, where James is given a 12-month suspended sentence
Suspended sentence
A suspended sentence is a legal term for a judge's delaying of a defendant's serving of a sentence after they have been found guilty, in order to allow the defendant to perform a period of probation...
. When Martha is shot with a crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
, Elliot considers suicide, but ultimately decides against it and his family reconciles. Elliot has a brief romance with Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
Lady Anne-Marie Byrne
Anne-Marie, Lady Byrne is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Jane Asher. The character first appeared on 10 May 2007 in episode "After the Fall" - series 9, episode 30 of the programme...
(Jane Asher
Jane Asher
Jane Asher is an English actress. She has also developed a second career as a cake decorator and cake shop proprietor.-Early life:...
), the mother of his registrar
Specialist registrar
A Specialist Registrar or SpR is a doctor in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order eventually to become a consultant...
Joseph
Joseph Byrne
Joseph Charles Mortimer Byrne is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by Luke Roberts. Joseph first appeared in the 3 January 2006 episode "Mother Love", series eight, episode twelve of the programme...
(Luke Roberts
Luke Roberts (actor)
Luke Roberts is an English actor, most notable for his role as Joseph Byrne on Holby City. He has previously appeared as Captain Dan Pieterson in the Sky1 drama Mile High and before that had a principal role in the short-lived third series of the TV classic Crossroads...
), however he ends the relationship as he is still mourning Gina.
Martha leaves Holby
Holby
Holby is a fictional city in the United Kingdom, in which BBC medical dramas Casualty and Holby City, and police drama HolbyBlue are set. It is based upon the city of Bristol, and is located in the fictional county of Wyvern in the South-West of England, not far from the Welsh border...
to attend university, returning two years later having married in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
without telling her father. Elliot is upset, so Martha plans a picnic at which Elliot can get to know her new husband Ben (Oliver Boot
Oliver Boot
Oliver Boot is an English actor. He trained at the RADA, and has appeared on both stage and screen. His theatre credits include Antony and Cleopatra, In Extremis , Three Musketeers, Hayfever, Tartuffe, Jamaica Inn and an award winning world tour of Othello with Cheek by Jowl...
) better. At the picnic, Elliot's dog Samson is run over by an ambulance, resulting in a pneumothorax
Pneumothorax
Pneumothorax is a collection of air or gas in the pleural cavity of the chest between the lung and the chest wall. It may occur spontaneously in people without chronic lung conditions as well as in those with lung disease , and many pneumothoraces occur after physical trauma to the chest, blast...
. Elliot operates on Samson in a basement theatre, and he makes a full recovery. When Ben confides in Elliot that he is experiencing on-going health problems, he initially agrees not to tell Martha, not wanting her to worry. Martha later learns Ben is in the early stages of Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis , also called sarcoid, Besnier-Boeck disease or Besnier-Boeck-Schaumann disease, is a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells form as nodules in multiple organs. The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown...
and will be blind within months. Relating his own experience of Gina's failing health, Elliot advises Martha to leave Ben, and ultimately they break up.
When Martha arranges a surprise party for Elliot's 50th birthday, he is re-introduced to an old friend from university, Tara Sodi (Meera Syal
Meera Syal
Meera Syal MBE is a British comedienne, writer, playwright, singer, journalist, producer and actress. She rose to prominence as one of the team that created Goodness Gracious Me and became one of the UK's best-known Indian personalities portraying Sanjeev's grandmother, Ummi, in The Kumars at No...
). He and Tara formerly performed pioneering heart surgery together, but their patient died. Tara attempts to convince Elliot to try their technique again. Elliot initially refuses, but later changes his mind. The operation is successful, and Tara is offered a full-time contract at Holby General. When Tara revives a patient with a DNR order against his wishes, tension arises between her and Elliot over the issue of euthanasia, with Tara unaware of the circumstances of Gina's death. Despite this, Elliot convinces her to sign her contract, and the two share a kiss.
Reception
Bradley was named 20th "Best Actor" in the 2006 BBC Drama Awards for his role as Elliot. He was longlisted for the 2007 National Television AwardsNational Television Awards
The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are...
, but was not shortlisted. The storyline which saw Elliot's wife Gina commit assisted suicide was the subject of a Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
and Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
debate. Rachel Pickering, a GP
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
and hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
doctor from Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, opined that the storyine was to be "condemned". She criticized Gina's dying words: "I want to be allowed to die with dignity", suggesting that The Voluntary Euthanasia Society has "hijacked" the word "dignity" in changing its name to Dignity In Dying. Pickering wrote that, in her own experience, the majority of MND patients die peaceful natural deaths. She was opposed by two correspondents, Lena Pycroft of London and Ray Knight of Thaxted
Thaxted
Thaxted is a town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England, with about 2,500 inhabitants.-History:Thaxted appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Tachesteda, Old English for "place where thatch was got." Once a centre of cutlery manufacture, Thaxted went into decline with the rise of Sheffield...
. Pycroft congratulated the BBC for "[bringining] into sharp relief the appalling dilemma facing terminally ill patients", while Knight commended: "The most telling point in the Holby City episode was that, having made the decision, the patient was happier and more relaxed - a fact repeatedly confirmed in real life. Is it not time our legislation reflected that?" A Holby City spokeswoman defended the storyline, stating: "Throughout every stage of the process, the production team and scriptwriters have worked very closely with researchers, advisors, expert medical professionals and specialist support societies, all from the field of motor neurone disease. Every part of the story, emotional and medical, was checked and discussed. This is a powerful, heartwrenching story that will challenge our audience."
The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
David Chater commented positively on the episode "Elliot's Wonderful Life", writing that: "Holby City fans will love this episode [...] It is highly effective in what it sets out to do, although – like so much television at Christmas – you need to drink a pint of warm Baileys for the full effect." The episode was selected as recommended viewing by several TV critics, including Dydd Iau of the Liverpool Daily Post
Liverpool Daily Post
The Liverpool Daily Post is a newspaper published by Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. It is published Monday to Friday and is published in Merseyside, Cheshire, and North Wales editions, and is a morning paper...
, and Roz Laws of the Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury
Sunday Mercury is a Sunday tabloid published in Birmingham, UK, and owned by Trinity Mirror.The first editor was John Turner Fearon , who left the Dublin-based Freeman's Journal to take up the position...
, who noted: "It sounds a bit strange, but there's snow, carols and an uplifting happy ending for a change." The Mirror Maeve Quigley called it "a timeless story", though questioned the plausibility of a world in which Elliot's patients went untreated, as "the NHS
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
isn't a one- man band after all". In contrast, Robert Hanks of The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
reviewed the episode negatively, calling it "incompetent to the point of sacrilege". Hanks wrote: "What it did add to the mix, that James Stewart
James Stewart (actor)
James Maitland Stewart was an American film and stage actor, known for his distinctive voice and his everyman persona. Over the course of his career, he starred in many films widely considered classics and was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one in competition and receiving one Lifetime...
never achieved, was to give the viewer an authentic frisson of empathy: there was a point towards the end - during an encounter with Elliot's miraculously resurrected, motor-neurone-disease-afflicted yet remarkably soignee and articulate wife - when I began to see never having been born as preferable, sometimes, to prime-time TV."
External links
- Elliot Hope at BBC Programmes