Adele Effanga is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Petra Letang.
On 17 September 2013, it was announced that actress Petra Letang had been cast as Adele, the sister of established character Mo Effanga (Chizzy Akudolu).
Adele's is the show's first regular Healthcare Assistant and she previously worked as a holiday rep. Of her casting Letang stated "Holby here I come!
[1] Letang previously had experience playing a nurse Naomi Julien in BBC soap opera EastEnders.
[2] The character was not well received and Letang worried about being typecast to her previous role and hoped viewers would like Adele better.
[3] Easily underestimated, Adele can be seen as a commitment shy good-time girl, and though she plays up to this stereotype, in truth she’s one of life’s grafters.
She has been described in BBC publicity as being a "outgoing, friendly, and exuberant", real people person and the "naughty little sister" of Mo.
[4] Holby City Producer Simon Harper described Adele as "funny, sassy and streetwise and it's a delight to have Mo's naughty little sister working at the hospital.
[3] Letang told Tricia Welch of the Daily Express that Adele has a unique style and is wild about colour.
Describing Adele's worst ever outfit Letang went with "a bright, multicoloured, floral jumpsuit – pink, purple and blue from top to toe."
Adele is reprimanded by Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel) for her actions, this leaves her unsure of her future in the profession.
[8] Adele takes an extra role as a medical advisor at a local radio station but impersonates Mo.
Akudolu told Katy Moon (Inside Soap's) that Mo is annoyed with Adele after she impersonated her on the radio and views her presence as "a nuisance".
[9] Akudolu's prediction would later serve correct as Adele and Mo's mother, Ina (Angela Wynter), and younger sister, Celia (Madra Ihegborow), were introduced in January 2015.
When Adele's father fails to attend the wedding the Effanga siblings presume he is busy caring for their grandfather, but it is then revealed that he has been having an affair and with his another woman.
[13] Adele decides to contact Mo's biological father, Clifford George (Geff Francis) without her knowledge behind her back.
But for the purpose of the story they obliged, the actress explained that Professor Elliot Hope (Paul Bradley) intervenes and warns them that one of them will need to leave Darwin unless they resolve their feud.
Letang told Lorraine Kelly that her character genuinely did not know about Mo's feelings and stressed it was not a case of her "stealing her sister's man [...] It is difficult but he fancied Adele."
Akudolu added that "Mo's got the brains no offence and Adele's the pretty, fun loving one, so the fact he has gone for her is serendipity really.
When back on Darwin ward Adele becomes suspicious of Jesse's involvement with patient Talesha Chambers (Emi Wokoma).
[16] But Letang told Tyler (Inside Soap) it was facing death that ultimately made Adele reflect and question her life.
Letang branded her character "crazy" for not wanting to marry him but understood the pressure and anxiety "of making such a big lifelong commitment".
When Letang first read the scripts she was shocked and struggled to understand why producers made the decision to split the duo up.
The actress recalled filming their characters' emotional break-up scenes as "heartbreaking", especially Gilet's performance as the jilted Jesse.
The near-fatal attack was the culmination of a storyline featuring fellow characters Clifford and nurse Adrian Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw).
[25] Jane Simon writing for the Daily Mirror bemoaned the dearth of realism when Adele tried to leave her role at the hospital.
[26] Kayleigh Dray from Closer described the character's style stating "Adele is very OTT and quirky, managing to add a little bit of leopard print to even her hospital scrubs.