Luca is introduced to the series on 24 February 2021 following the departure of nurse Ayesha Lee (Laura Rollins) the year prior.

McLaren felt thrilled to be cast on Doctors and has described Luca as a cheeky and lovely character who would "go the extra mile" to help a patient.

[1] 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.

McLaren departed the role in March 2022 due to receiving an offer to appear in a touring production of Singin' in the Rain.

[4] McLaren recalled that when he arrived at the Selly Oak set for his audition, he saw cast member Elisabeth Dermot Walsh filming, and thought to himself: "I want to be doing that so badly".

[4] He stated that he was nervous when he began filming for the soap in November 2020 and said that it felt "like forever" waiting for his episodes to begin airing.

[4] McLaren added that his family were excited to see him appear on Doctors too, with his grandmother being a regular viewer and his mother starting to watch the soap for him.

Prior to joining the cast, he knew co-star Dex Lee from when the pair appeared in a stage production of Kiss Me, Kate together.

[1] On his character, McLaren stated that Luca formerly worked at a doctor's surgery in Coventry, and transfers to the Mill due to having "quite an experience there" and wanting a fresh start.

[1] He described Luca as "a lovely guy who cares a lot about his patients" and noted that he is willing "to go the extra mile" in order to help someone.

[1] In an introduction video on the Doctors social media accounts, McLaren explained that Luca had a "very religious upbringing" which he confirmed would be explored in later scenes.

[6] Luca's first day "doesn't off to a very good start" as he is late after sleeping through his alarm, clashing with receptionist Karen Hollins (Jan Pearson) and annoying Zara Carmichael (Walsh) by handing her a list of improvements that could be made to the Mill.

[7] In more of his first scenes, Luca attends a team-building session with colleagues at the Mill, which McLaren stated was a lovely way to become acquainted with his co-stars.

[11] Luca forms a friendship with Emma Reid (Dido Miles), who rents rooms in her house out as a bed and breakfast and allows him to stay.

When Emma asks why, Luca explains that since Billy's death, he feels uncomfortable in relationships and prefers casual sex.

[20] Luca treats 18-year-old Conor Bradshaw (Jack O'Connor), who is worried that he may have got a sexually transmitted infection (STI) after having sex with a man for the first time.

[22] Conor's post circulates and attracts attention from patients of the Mill, and after reading the online comments made about him, he "breaks down in tears" at work.

[5] Luca begins caring for patient Winnie Jones (Tina Gray), who is wanting to travel around the world one last time before she dies.

[30] Luca's exit was written into the soap due to McLaren being offered a role in a touring production of Singin' in the Rain.

[32] Luca clashes with newly-hired Graham Elton (Alex Avery) over the usage of pronouns for a non-binary patient.

Writers combined a storyline with Zara having functional neurologic disorder (FND) with Luca working at the private hospital by having her arrive for an appointment there.

[35] In the final episode of Doctors following its cancellation, Luca's job is reinstated when Zara takes Graham down and he offers to become a surgery partner.