Lucky Simpson

Lucky Simpson is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by Vineeta Rishi.

To aid her introduction into the series, writers created a backstory with established character Max McGerry (Jo Martin).

Lucky also helps Kian hide Andrei Tarpov (Sonny Poon Tip) in the UK illegally.

When Karimloo left the series, producers killed Kian off and writers used this to portray Lucky having a breakdown at work.

Holby City worked with spinal injury charity Aspire on the storyline to make it authentic.

Warm, empathetic and unnervingly intelligent, Lucky is the sort of woman who could easily have you divulging your life story in a matter of minutes.

[2] The character is created as a mental health nurse introduced following the show's four-month production break enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[2] Kate Oates, the head of continuing drama at BBC Studios, described Lucky as one of the "exciting new characters" being introduced.

[2] To promote Lucky's introduction into the series, Holby City released an advance spoiler clip showcasing her debut scenes with various characters.

[1] A writer from the official Holby City website described her as excellent at her job and is both "an avid listener and a vivacious talker".

[2] She shares a backstory with established character Max McGerry (Jo Martin) which is explored as part of Lucky's first storyline.

[7] Martin told Victoria Wilson from What's on TV that Max "has no filter" or does not "deal in political correctness", so she thinks nothing of belittling Lucky.

[7] Other colleagues, such as director of nursing Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw) notice their workplace tension and ask Lucky about her history with Max.

[7] Max discovers that Lucky has been supporting her transgender son Louis McGerry (Tyler Luke Cunningham) outside of work.

Lucky correctly suspects that Jodie is poisoning Beka Levy (Francesca Barrett) and may have Munchausen's syndrome.

[8] When Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett) also becomes ill from poisoning, Lucky manages to convince Jodie to confess to her crimes.

She explained that seeing Lucky with Sacha makes her flee the hospital and a dramatic car accident occurs.

[9] Writers introduced Lucky into surgeon Kian Madani's (Ramin Karimloo) drug addiction storyline.

[11] Andrei goes missing but his girlfriend Evie Fletcher (Phoebe French) finds him badly beaten and they rush to perform surgery.

This begins when Lucky decides to contact her friend from the social services Connor Coleman (Mark Jordon) to help Andrei.

[15] Unbeknownst to Lucky, her sudden departure from the hospital is partly caused by Jeni Sinclair's (Debra Stephenson) scheming.

When Lucky returns she is determined to expose Jeni's lies and discovers that she has been grooming Evie and Mia Barron (Briana Shann).

[19] A Holby City publicist told Laura-Jayne Tyler from Inside Soap that it is a "violent confrontation" and Jeni "smashes Lucky over the head with a paperweight."

Jeni leaves Lucky to die as a bomb planted by Cameron Dunn (Nic Jackman) detonates in the hospital.

[19] Digital Spy's Dainty reported that a character would die in the bomb explosion storyline and Lucky was a possible fatality.

[26] A writer from Inside Soap said that Lucky's introduction into the series created tension on the wards that "can be cut with a scalpel".

[27] Ruck later chose Lucky's breakdown over Kian's death and feud with Jeni in the pick of the week feature.

[28][29] Digital Spy's Dainty opined that Lucky's "unethical behaviour" had become severe during her story with Kian and Andrei.

[15] Sue Haasler from Metro observed that Lucky continually allowed "her personal feelings cloud her judgement with patients.

"[18] Charlie Wilward from the Daily Express opined that Lucky's tetraplegia created "heartbreaking scenes" and her "storyline came to a natural conclusion".

Ramin Karimloo who plays Lucky's friend Kian Madani.