The twentieth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City began airing on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2018, and concluded on 27 December 2018. The series consists of 52 episodes; a decrease from the previous series. Kate Hall serves as the series producer, while Simon Harper continued his role as the executive producer. Fifteen cast members reprised their roles from the previous series. Four actors departed during the series, including long-standing cast member James Anderson (Oliver Valentine). Catherine Russell reprised her role as Serena Campbell from episode six. Throughout the series, multiple characters returned for guest stints, including Zosia March (Camilla Arfwedson), Bernie Wolfe (Jemma Redgrave) and Mo Effanga (Chizzy Akudolu).
Episodes
Production
The series began airing on Tuesday nights on BBC One from 2 January 2018. Simon Harper continues his role as the executive producer of the show, while Kate Hall serves as the series producer. The series consists of 52 episodes, a decrease since the previous series.
Reception
Holby City was nominated in the "Best Soap (Evening)" category at the 2018 Digital Spy Reader Awards; it came in last place with 3.8% of the total votes. A prominent storyline of the series, dubbed John Gaskell's (Paul McGann) "reign of terror", was nominated in the Best Soap Storyline category; it came in eleventh place with 3.4% of the total votes. In episode 39, John kills colleague Roxanna MacMillan (Hermione Gulliford). This twist was nominated for Biggest OMG Soap moment and Most devastating Soap Death; in the former, it came in eighth place with 4.8% of the total votes, while in the latter, it came in last place with 3.2% of the total votes. At the 2019 Broadcast Awards, Holby City was shortlisted for the "Best soap or continuing drama" award, losing out to soap opera Coronation Street. Judges on the award panel spotlighted episode 35, "Man Down", which focuses on Sacha's mental health. They praised the episode's "innovative camera techniques and character development".
Cast
Overview
The twentieth series of Holby City begins with 15 roles receiving star billing, including Guy Henry as chief executive officer and consultant general surgeon Henrik Hanssen, Paul McGann as director of surgical innovations and medicine and consultant neurosurgeon John Gaskell, Bob Barrett as Sacha Levy, a clinical skills tutor, consultant general surgeon and the clinical lead of Keller ward, Hugh Quarshie as consultant general surgeon Ric Griffin, and Rosie Marcel as director of cardiothoracic surgery, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and clinical lead of Darwin ward Jac Naylor. Hermione Gulliford, meanwhile, portrays consultant neurosurgeon Roxanna MacMillan, James Anderson and Olga Fedori appear as cardiothoracic specialist registrars Oliver Valentine and Frieda Petrenko, David Ames continues his role as Dominic Copeland, a specialist registrar in general surgery. Belinda Owusu and Salma Hoque portray F1 doctors, later F2 doctors, Nicky McKendrick and Meena Chowdhury, and Alex Walkinshaw stars as director of nursing services Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher. Jaye Jacobs appears as staff nurse, and later senior staff nurse, Donna Jackson and Kaye Wragg and Lee Mead feature as staff nurses Essie Di Lucca and Ben "Lofty" Chiltern respectively. Additionally, Jules Robertson continues his semi-regular role as porter Jason Haynes.
Anderson departs his role as Oliver Valentine in episode 13. He confirmed his departure on Twitter after the episode's broadcast, commenting, "It's with a full, heavy heart that I now move on to adventures new." Essie also leaves the series in episode 13. Sasha Morris of Daily Star reported that Wragg had left the cast, but Wragg confirmed on Twitter that it was a break, and Essie returns in episode 28. Marcel confirmed in an interview with Laura-Jayne Tyler of Inside Soap that a main character would be killed off during the series. In episode 39, Roxanna is killed off; the exit was embargoed until transmission to surprise the audience. Producers informed Gulliford when she joined the series that she would be killed off as part of her storyline. John is also killed off in episode 46 when he drowns himself in a lake after a confrontation with Hanssen. Two episodes later, Meena makes her departure after Hoque left the series.