Greg Douglas is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actor Edward MacLiam.

Producers created an affiliation with long-standing character Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing) and played a short romance.

MacLiam has said producers wanted a "North Side Dubliner" with a more aggressive persona than other characters to feature in the series.

One of the character's initial stories featured him mentoring F2 junior doctor Oliver Valentine (James Anderson).

The character's main storyline was centric to fellow Cardiothoracic surgeon Sahira Shah (Laila Rouass).

MacLiam's departure from Holby City followed soon after and on-screen Greg was fired from the hospital for hesitating to resuscitate a patient.

He naturally rebels against authority but with his cheeky-chappy attitude he normally gets away with it.Greg is originally from Dublin, Ireland and has much "Irish charm" written included in his characterisation.

[2] In the character's fictional biography published via BBC Online, Greg is described as being "charming, clever, rebellious".

Other characters are easily charmed by Greg yet prior to his arrival at Holby City hospital no woman had managed to tame him.

[3] MacLiam described his character as "quite a charming, abrasive kind of guy, he's very ambitious, he's really looking to get ahead as quick as he can."

He said producers wanted Greg to be a "North Side Dubliner", a more aggressive type of character who would not have a "snug fit" in the show.

The actor wanted to take that characterisation and ensure Greg could "get away" with being a ladies man, who rises to challenges and show off a little, while still doing excellent medical work.

[1] When Greg is introduced on-screen he shares a brief romantic bond with Consultant Cardiothoracic surgeon Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing).

[1] Writers created an on-screen partnership between Greg and F2 junior doctor Oliver Valentine (James Anderson).

[4] MacLiam told a Daily Post reporter that "it's a good story and a lot happens very quickly, Greg kicks against his newfound responsibility initially."

[5] In November 2010, it was announced that producers had cast actress Laila Rouass to play Cardiothoracic surgical registrar Sahira Shah.

Sahira books Greg to assist her with pioneering surgery which will put Holby City hospital in good stead in the medical community.

They introduced a patient named Andy Bryan (Glen Wallace), who is revealed to be Greg's old childhood friend.

He tries to commit suicide by jumping off the hospital roof and Greg is forced to face Andy and convince him to back down.

In a storyline twist that writers had kept secret prior to the episode being broadcast, Greg reveals that he was also a victim of the abuse.

[15] Holby City writers continued to develop their relationship during January 2012, producing a significant change in their dynamic.

They added that work wise Sahira is a "steely" character, but in her personal life is unable to resist Greg's charms.

The pair are forced to attend an upmarket dinner event in a bid to secure much needed hospital funding.

[18] Writers would not let their affair go unchallenged and introduced Zubin Varla to play Consultant Anaesthetist Rafi Raza.

[19] MacLiam told Patrick McLennan from What's on TV that "while Greg tries to maintain a professional distance from Sahira, he still can't deny how he feels.

[21] The injury meant that Holby City had to hire a stunt double for MacLiam to film the fight scenes.

[17] Rafi decides to resign following their altercation and issues Sahira an ultimatum that she must either chose to save her marriage or career.

[23] Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror wrote that the character would leave the series "under a massive cloud" after he gets too involved with a patient which proves to be an "occupational hazard".

He thought it was implausible Sahira could access medical records detailing a fight Greg had been involved when he was young.