List of Doctors characters introduced in 2021
In September, Angela Wynter joined the cast as Makeda, the mother of Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee).
Kevwe Emefe made her debut as Chelle Henry, a patient of Ruhma Carter's (Bharti Patel), in December.
McLaren's acting credits confirmed that he had been contracted as a series regular on the soap and he felt thrilled to be cast on Doctors.
[3] Luca's introduction sees him feature in a standalone centric episode that explores his background, including experiencing homophobia in his former workplace and suffering a car accident that ends the life of his boyfriend Billy Parker (Daniel Cornish).
His background also involves a religious upbringing and a bad relationship with his mother, and later scenes in the series reveal that Luca is HIV-positive, which he initially receives a negative response to from patients of the Mill Health Centre.
Luca's argumentative nature has also been explored, including his various disputes with surgery partners Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) and Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers).
[5] Details surrounding the character and casting were announced on 16 March 2021, with Simon Timblick of What's on TV writing that she is "the infamous new head of the Patient Participation Group" (PPG).
[12] Stenson began filming for the soap in February 2021,[13] and she confirmed her casting on Instagram on 19 April 2021, where she expressed her gratitude to be appearing on Doctors.
She described Harriet's storyline as "cracking", and noted that she was working amongst "highly experienced, impressive actors in such a positive place".
[14] In an interview with Inside Soap, Stenson stated that her character is determined and capable of performing her job well, and that she is "one of the lads".
[13] When she arrives at Letherbridge Police Station, Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) "doesn’t exactly give Harriet a warm welcome".
[16] Whilst on a crime scene, Rob pauses and Harriet is forced to cover for him; she asks why he blanked and he claims that it was a moment of old age.
Rob later opens up to Harret, explaining that he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder due to a traumatic event at work years ago.
[18] After Marvin Bulis (Philip Martin Brown) reveals that he saw the events, he gives a witness statement stating that Harriet pushed Aaron down the flight of stairs.
[21] Benjamin's casting as Jan was announced a week prior to the airing of the episode by What to Watch journalist Alison Slade.
Referring to her history of appearing on fellow BBC soap opera EastEnders as Lisa Fowler, Slade wrote that Benjamin had swapped "Walford for Letherbridge".
[22] Benjamin stated that she loved playing Jan for the episode and noted her enjoyment at getting to star alongside Dido Miles in the two-hander.
She recalls to Emma that Mark demanded that she stays in the house for a month, but wanted to cook him a special dinner for their anniversary.
[25] "Three Consultations and a Funeral" won the RTS Midland Award in the Scripted category, as well as Benjamin winning the Acting Performance accolade for portraying Jan in the episode.
Benjamin was pleased to be asked back to Doctors since she felt a responsibility to show the public what had happened to Jan, as well as being excited to work with the crew again.
She explains to Bear that Clive Hopper (Jim Findley) has opened a rival Caribbean café in the area and that he has taken the majority of her customers.
Makeda tells him that due to her age, she does not want to begin a new business venture and then announces her decision to move to France with Clive, with whom she has formed a romantic connection with.
[36] Chelle is introduced as a pregnant patient of Ruhma Carter's (Bharti Patel); she is called in for a checkup having missed numerous appointments.
She leaves the hospital to buy it, and when delivery driver Andy Moore (Dan Hagley) delivers it, she affirms that she will carry it, but he refuses to let her.
Ruhma delivers the bag to her and sees how empty her house is; excluding the baby's room, which is fully furnished and decorated.
Whilst on the walk, Maria Thimbley (Michelle Connolly) suggests several patronising mothering tips to Chelle for her baby, Leon.
