Patrick Spiller
Encyclopedia
Patrick Spiller is a fictional character
from the BBC
medical drama
television series Casualty
, portrayed by actor Ian Kelsey
. The character first appeared on-screen on 11 December 1999 in the episode "Free Fall" - series 14, episode 15 of the programme. Patrick is a specialist registrar
in the Holby City Hospital
emergency department
, who attempts to advance his career and attain a consultancy
post, whilst having relationships throughout his tenure with SHO
Holly Miles, PC Rachel James and Holly's replacement, SHO Lara Stone. He dies following a motorway crash in episode "Past, Present, Future" - series 16, episode 28 of the programme - making his final on-screen appearance on 16 March 2002.
Discussing Patrick's relationship with PC Rachel James, Kelsey assessed: "Spiller and Rachel just fancy each other - it's all about sex." SHO Lara Stone was introduced as a love-interest for Patrick, with producer
Mervyn Watson explaining: "I felt it would be good to bring Patrick Spiller into contact with a very worthy adversary, a woman who was his equivalent." Christine Stephen-Daly
, who plays Lara, has commented that Patrick is Lara's type, but that they clash often as they are so similar, asserting that they are both: "arrogant, like getting their own way and enjoy being in control." Stephen-Daly feels that Lara is more "caring" than Patrick, whose bedside manner "leaves a lot to be desired."
Holly Miles (Sandra Huggett
), who he previously dated. In an attempt to get to know Holly again, he asks her out for a drink on her birthday, but she turns him down. Patrick has an arrogant attitude, which leads to staff nurse Lisa Duffin (Cathy Shipton
) reprimanding him, and sees him invited to work a shift with the paramedics after dismissing their importance.
When Patrick and Holly become stranded in the snow after Christmas lunch, Patrick reveals that he hates Christmas as his mother died on Christmas Day. He and hospital porter Spencer (Ben Keaton
) are held hostage when they become involved in a family feud, but manage to escape unharmed. Patrick grows increasingly concerned for Holly when someone begins stalking her. He offers to give her a lift home after a shift, only to discover his tires have been slashed. Holly is escorted home instead by anaesthetist Tom Harvey (Kieron Forsyth
), who is revealed to be her stalker. Holly is later kidnapped by Tom, and Patrick helps to find her.
Holly leaves following her ordeal, and Patrick begins dating married policewoman Rachel James (Amy Robbins
). He shows an interest in the department's new SHO Lara Stone, who invites him to a Halloween party, but stands him up upon learning that he is already in a relationship. Patrick is turned down for a consultancy
post due to his lack of people skills. Rachel dies after being mugged whilst on patrol. Her husband discovers her infidelity and attacks Patrick, attempting to drown him. Lara finds Patrick unconscious and resuscitates him, leaving her boyfriend to stay by Patrick's bedside as he recovers. When Patrick discovers he has been successful in his application for a consultancy in London, he takes Lara on a date to celebrate. Lara is annoyed when Patrick asks her to join him in London. He later proposes to her, but she turns him down.
Patrick is involved in a motorway accident, saving six school children from a minibus before being rescued. He and Lara have dinner at a restaurant afterwards, and Patrick decides to turn the position in London down and remain in Holby with Lara. He proposes once more, and this time Lara accepts. Still in shock from the accident, Patrick feels dizzy and collapses. He dies from an intercranial bleed caused by the crash. Lara does not attend his funeral, but later breaks into the crematorium to say goodbye to him.
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 Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
, portrayed by actor Ian Kelsey
Ian Kelsey
Ian Kelsey is a British television actor.Kelsey was born in York, Yorkshire, England, to parents Julie and John . He also has an older brother named David. He trained at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre York and graduated at the Guildford School of Acting...
. The character first appeared on-screen on 11 December 1999 in the episode "Free Fall" - series 14, episode 15 of the programme. Patrick is a specialist 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...
in the Holby City Hospital
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...
emergency department
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
, who attempts to advance his career and attain a consultancy
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...
post, whilst having relationships throughout his tenure with SHO
Senior house officer
A senior house officer is a junior doctor undergoing training within a certain speciality in the British National Health Service or in the Republic of Ireland. SHOs are supervised by consultants and registrars, who oversee their training and are their designated clinical supervisors...
Holly Miles, PC Rachel James and Holly's replacement, SHO Lara Stone. He dies following a motorway crash in episode "Past, Present, Future" - series 16, episode 28 of the programme - making his final on-screen appearance on 16 March 2002.
Characterisation
Patrick has been described as "Casualty bad boy" by Marion McMullen of the Coventry Telegraph, who deemed him "arrogant, brusque and bad-tempered". Kelsey has disclosed that viewers of the show sometimes assume that he shares his character's temperament, but that he does not receive any hostility for it, surmising: "It must mean I'm somehow putting across the fact that there really is a nice bloke behind the brick wall that Patrick puts up." Kelsey feels that the only trait of Patrick's which he shares is his "dry sense of humour". He has assessed that Patrick is "very good" at his job, but that his bedside manner becomes worse as the series develops. He has stated, however, that: "Away from the eyes of his colleagues he is perfectly capable of showing real humanity and care." Kelsey believes that Patrick softened in the show's fifthteenth series, but that he reverted to form "with a vengeance" in series sixteen. He believes that Patrick would be spoiled for the show's viewers if it was ever explained why he behaves the way he does, and prefers playing Patrick as the "bad guy".Discussing Patrick's relationship with PC Rachel James, Kelsey assessed: "Spiller and Rachel just fancy each other - it's all about sex." SHO Lara Stone was introduced as a love-interest for Patrick, with producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
Mervyn Watson explaining: "I felt it would be good to bring Patrick Spiller into contact with a very worthy adversary, a woman who was his equivalent." Christine Stephen-Daly
Christine Stephen-Daly
Christine Stephen-Daly is an Australian television actress.Christine grew up in Melbourne with her father Paul, an entrepreneur who was the originator of the world's first travelling tram restaurant in Melbourne in 1993; mother Rhonnda, a housewife; and three sisters Louise, Laura, and...
, who plays Lara, has commented that Patrick is Lara's type, but that they clash often as they are so similar, asserting that they are both: "arrogant, like getting their own way and enjoy being in control." Stephen-Daly feels that Lara is more "caring" than Patrick, whose bedside manner "leaves a lot to be desired."
Storylines
Patrick arrives at Holby City Hospital as the emergency department's new senior registrar. He discovers he is working alongside SHOSenior house officer
A senior house officer is a junior doctor undergoing training within a certain speciality in the British National Health Service or in the Republic of Ireland. SHOs are supervised by consultants and registrars, who oversee their training and are their designated clinical supervisors...
Holly Miles (Sandra Huggett
Sandra Huggett
Sandra Huggett is a British actress.She grew up in Ross-On-Wye, Herefordshire, but now lives in North London. Her father is professional golfer, Brian Huggett. She attended both Haberdashers Monmouth School For Girls & Mountview Theatre School...
), who he previously dated. In an attempt to get to know Holly again, he asks her out for a drink on her birthday, but she turns him down. Patrick has an arrogant attitude, which leads to staff nurse Lisa Duffin (Cathy Shipton
Cathy Shipton
Catherine Ellen Shipton , is an English actress.-Biography:Born to Irish parents, she was the seventh and second girl of nine children, where only four of her brothers survived. Shipton was raised as a Roman Catholic, and was educated in a convent in South London...
) reprimanding him, and sees him invited to work a shift with the paramedics after dismissing their importance.
When Patrick and Holly become stranded in the snow after Christmas lunch, Patrick reveals that he hates Christmas as his mother died on Christmas Day. He and hospital porter Spencer (Ben Keaton
Ben Keaton
Ben Keaton is an Irish actor who appeared as Jeff Brannigan in ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He appeared in BBC's Casualty playing the part of Spencer between 1999-2002. He also appeared in the Channel 4's Irish comedy Father Ted, "Think Fast, Father Ted"...
) are held hostage when they become involved in a family feud, but manage to escape unharmed. Patrick grows increasingly concerned for Holly when someone begins stalking her. He offers to give her a lift home after a shift, only to discover his tires have been slashed. Holly is escorted home instead by anaesthetist Tom Harvey (Kieron Forsyth
Kieron Forsyth
Kieron Forsyth is a British actor who is best known for playing Tom Harvey in Casualty, Gary Penhale in Wycliffe and Tommy Henderson in The Bill. He also made one appearance in Powers in 2004.-References:...
), who is revealed to be her stalker. Holly is later kidnapped by Tom, and Patrick helps to find her.
Holly leaves following her ordeal, and Patrick begins dating married policewoman Rachel James (Amy Robbins
Amy Robbins
Amy Robbins is an English actress best known for her role as Dr. Jill Weatherill in the British television series The Royal. Prior to her current role she played Police Sergeant Rachel James in the BBC One hospital drama Casualty for one series...
). He shows an interest in the department's new SHO Lara Stone, who invites him to a Halloween party, but stands him up upon learning that he is already in a relationship. Patrick is turned down for a consultancy
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...
post due to his lack of people skills. Rachel dies after being mugged whilst on patrol. Her husband discovers her infidelity and attacks Patrick, attempting to drown him. Lara finds Patrick unconscious and resuscitates him, leaving her boyfriend to stay by Patrick's bedside as he recovers. When Patrick discovers he has been successful in his application for a consultancy in London, he takes Lara on a date to celebrate. Lara is annoyed when Patrick asks her to join him in London. He later proposes to her, but she turns him down.
Patrick is involved in a motorway accident, saving six school children from a minibus before being rescued. He and Lara have dinner at a restaurant afterwards, and Patrick decides to turn the position in London down and remain in Holby with Lara. He proposes once more, and this time Lara accepts. Still in shock from the accident, Patrick feels dizzy and collapses. He dies from an intercranial bleed caused by the crash. Lara does not attend his funeral, but later breaks into the crematorium to say goodbye to him.
External links
- Patrick Spiller at BBC Online
- Patrick Spiller at The Casualty Files Database