If Wishes Were Horses (Doctors)

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"If Wishes Were Horses"
Doctors episode
If Wishes Were Horses.jpg
Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) playing Karen's (Jan Pearson) final voicemail as she lays dead beside him
Episode no.Episode 4318
Directed byDavid Lewis Richardson
Written byClaire Bennett
Editing bySimon Prentice
Original air date30 March 2023 (2023-03-30)
Running time28 minutes
Episode chronology
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Storylines

"If Wishes Were Horses" is an episode of the British television soap opera Doctors , broadcast on BBC One on 30 March 2023. The episode covers the shock death of mainstay regular character Karen Hollins (Jan Pearson). Her death was not announced prior to the episode airing, nor was the exit of Pearson after fourteen years of appearing on Doctors. Charlie Clemmow reprised her role as Imogen Hollins for the episode with a voice appearance.

Contents

Viewers were shocked by the unannounced shock death of Karen and expressed their sadness via social media. Birmingham Mail noted how the "excellent episode" had proved how Doctors is the best soap opera and many viewers hoped that cast member Chris Walker would be awarded for his portrayal of grief. [1]

Plot

Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) finds wife Karen's (Jan Pearson) dead body on their sofa in the lounge. He finds a travel adapter in her hand, which she had been given by Lacey James (Alice Christina Corrigan) for the world cruise that her and Rob were planning to go on. He calls for an ambulance, believing that she is just unconscious. Paramedics Patricia Morgan (Beth Fitzgerald) and Elliot Stephens (Tijan Sarr) arrive and inform Rob that she is dead, but he refuses to believe them. Dr. Sid Vere (Ashley Rice), Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee), Scarlett Kiernan (Kia Pegg) and Dr. Suni Bulsara (Rahul Arya) are on a night out, and due to agreeing that they use their phones too much, they put them in the centre of the table and agree to not pick them up. Rob calls Sid, but since Scarlett lives with the Hollins, she believes that Karen is just checking up on her and tells him not to answer. Rob then calls Dr. Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan), who arrives and tells Rob that Karen has died.

Jimmi steps into the hallway to answer a call from Dr. Al Haskey (Ian Midlane), who cries when he learns that Karen has died. Once he is alone with Karen, Rob realises that Karen is dead and breaks down. He tells Jimmi that Karen would always say "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride" and then wishes that Karen had not died. Jimmi calls Maxine Palmer (Sherise Blackman), a funeral director. A cheery Scarlett then arrives home, not realising that Karen has died. Once informed, she starts crying and realises that Karen has left Rob a voicemail, which he plays. Scarlett answers the door to Maxine, telling her that it is a bad time, not realising that she is a funeral director. Rob says goodbye to Karen and she is taken away. He tells Maxine that Karen wanted to be cremated, with a huge party afterwards, which he believed he would not be attending since he thought that he would die before Karen. He then rings daughter Imogen (Charlie Clemmow) and informs her of Karen's death, who breaks down into tears over the phone. While Jimmi comforts a tearful Scarlett, Rob sits on the sofa smelling Karen's perfume and listening to her voicemail to him, where she says the phrase "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

Production

"If Wishes Were Horses" was the final episode that Doctors filmed in 2022 before wrapping for the year. [2] After wrapping the scene, Walker gave a speech in honour of departing co-star Pearson. He joked that despite the title of the episode being "If Wishes Were Horses" and the phrase having a meaning in the script, Karen had never actually said it in her time on the show. Walker got the cast and crew to give three cheers to Pearson, who burst into tears. [3] Her departure from the series was not announced beforehand, and her shock death was a complete surprise for viewers. [4] All that was hinted about the episode prior to airing was that Karen and Rob's night "takes a shock turn". [5] Clemmow reprised her role as Imogen after two years away for Karen's death. She described it as the most challenging storyline she had ever done. [6]

Reception

At the 2023 British Soap Awards, it was nominated for Best Single Episode. [7] Numerous media outlets wrote about viewers' teary reactions to the episode. Metro said that fans were "utterly broken" by the unexpected scenes, with writer Stephen Patterson agreeing that the episode was "heartbreaking". [8] Describing it as a "tragic twist", Patterson noted how many viewers had taken to Twitter to vent their sadness and anger at Karen being killed off. [8] What to Watch wrote similarly, noting how viewers "couldn't stop crying at the shocking and devastating death of the much-loved character". [9] Radio Times highlighted that one viewer had "never cried so much at a soap episode" and another labelled the scenes "traumatic". [10] Birmingham Mail noted how the "excellent episode" had proved how Doctors is the best soap opera; a viewer added that Doctors "know how to tug at the heart strings". [1] As well as mourning for Karen, many viewers praised Walker's acting skills in the episode. Described as "amazing" and an "absolutely outstanding performance", people felt that Walker deserved an award for his portrayal of grief in the episode. [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Doctors</i> (2000 TV series) British soap opera

Doctors is a British medical soap opera, first broadcast on BBC One on 26 March 2000. Set in the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, the soap follows the lives of the staff of both an NHS doctor's surgery and a university campus surgery, as well as the lives of their families and friends. Initially, only 41 episodes of the programme were ordered, but due to the positive reception, the BBC ordered it as a continuing soap opera. Doctors was filmed at the Pebble Mill Studios until 2004; production then relocated to the BBC Drama Village. Episodes are filmed three months prior to transmission. The soap is typically broadcast on weekdays at 1:45 pm on BBC One and takes three annual transmission breaks across the year: at Easter, during the summer and at Christmas.

Jan Pearson is an English actress, known for her roles as Kath Fox in the BBC medical drama Holby City from 1999 until 2004 and Karen Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors from 2009 until 2023. Pearson won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership with Chris Walker at the 2010 British Soap Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karen Hollins</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Karen Hollins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Jan Pearson. Introduced as a receptionist at the fictional Mill Health Centre, Karen was created by series producer Peter Eryl Lloyd as a replacement for former receptionist Vivien March. She first appeared during the episode broadcast on 23 February 2009. Writers eventually introduced a family for Karen; husband and police sergeant Rob, and their children, Imogen and Jack. Karen is depicted as a hardworking person who cares about her job and the patients at the surgery, but someone who prioritises her family above her work responsibilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Hollins</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Rob Hollins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Chris Walker. Rob was introduced as a police sergeant at Letherbridge police station and made his first appearance during the episode broadcast 24 July 2009. Rob is the husband of Karen Hollins, a receptionist at the fictional Mill Health Centre, as well as the father of Imogen and Jack Hollins. Rob is depicted as a dependable family man and it has been noted that whenever another character needs advice, Rob would always be there to help. Rob's storyline in the programme have included disagreeing with Karen on aborting their baby, accidentally causing his wife's amnesia, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), becoming a foster parent, being accused of police brutality and the breakdown and reconciliation of his marriage. Rob's PTSD was explored over the duration of a year with the climax coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Week in 2018, with the storyline being revisited in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Imogen Hollins</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Imogen Hollins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Charlie Clemmow. Before her first appearance, Imogen is mentioned by her on-screen mother Karen ; Clemmow watched the episode and wrote a letter to the BBC asking if they would be casting actresses for the role of Imogen. She made continued contact with the BBC and was eventually invited to audition for Imogen, and despite having no agent, she was cast in the role and made her first appearance on 4 August 2009. She is introduced as the daughter of Karen and Rob Hollins and the sister of Jack Hollins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hollins</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Jack Hollins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Nicolas Woodman. Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009 and left Doctors on 21 September 2012. He returned for brief stints in 2013 and 2014. His storylines in the series have included his secret relationship with Zara Carmichael and completing a degree at university. Following the completion of his degree, it was confirmed by producer Peter Eryl Lloyd that the character would face numerous life decisions that ultimately resulted in his exit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Clemmow</span> English actress

Charlie Clemmow is an English actress. In 2009, Clemmow began portraying the role of Imogen Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors; she initially left the soap in 2012, later making a guest appearance in 2014. Clemmow had appeared in Doctors on a recurring basis since 2019. For her role as Imogen, she has received nominations at the RTS Midlands Awards, the British Soap Awards and the Inside Soap Awards. Away from Doctors, Clemmow has appeared in two films and voiced a character in a period drama podcast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sid Vere</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Dr. Sid Vere is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Ashley Rice. Sid made his first appearance on 27 April 2015 as an F2 doctor at the fictional Mill Health Centre. His storylines in the programme have included his relationships with colleagues Ayesha Lee and Zara Carmichael and discovering his brother, Laurence Richards. For his role as Sid, Rice has been nominated for various accolades including Newcomer at the 21st National Television Awards and the British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Christopher Walker is an English actor, known for his roles as Larry 'Tiger' Barton in the BBC drama Merseybeat and Rob Hollins in the BBC soap opera Doctors. For his portrayal of Rob, Walker has been nominated for various awards, and in 2010, he won the award for Best On-Screen Partnership at the British Soap Awards, alongside Jan Pearson who played his on-screen wife, Karen Hollins.

Can You Hear Me? (<i>Doctors</i>) 2020 episode of Doctors

"Can You Hear Me?" is an episode of the British television soap opera Doctors, broadcast on BBC One on 12 June 2020. It marks the first episode in soap opera history to be filmed solely using mobile devices, and was self-shot by cast members from their homes as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down production of Doctors. The episode centres around the colleagues of the fictional Mill Health Centre and St Phils hospital dealing with lockdown, and features appearances from relatives of the characters. The scenes take place after the colleagues have been to work, where they discuss the professional and personal impacts of the pandemic on their lives via video chat. The episode also covers regular character Ruhma Carter suffering from COVID-19.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scarlett Kiernan</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Scarlett Kiernan is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Kia Pegg. Details surrounding Pegg's casting and Scarlett's characterisation were announced in March 2022. She was introduced on 7 April 2022 as an applicant for the receptionist position at the fictional Sutton Vale Surgery, as part of a storyline that sees the partners at the Mill Health Centre perform a takeover of the surgery. Scarlett is depicted as a truthful and short-tempered person who shocks the staff at the Mill with her honesty. She is always shown to have a bright and clashing sense of style, something that Pegg was initially shocked by. Eventually, Pegg began liking the clothes which she felt had impacted her real-life wardrobe and she began suggesting clothes and accessories for Scarlett to wear. Scarlett is hired despite her "feisty attitude" and is initially shown to struggle with the job, when she gives the staff members attitude and argues with patients. However, as she settles into the Mill, she begins to make friends with her colleagues and show a more likeable side of herself, while also feuding with fellow newcomer Princess Buchanan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Buchanan</span> Fictional character from Doctors

Dr. Princess Buchanan is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, portrayed by Laura White. Details surrounding her casting and Princess' characterisation were announced in February 2022. She was introduced on 2 March 2022 as a trainee doctor at Sutton Vale Surgery, as part of a storyline that sees the partners at the fictional Mill Health Centre perform a takeover of her surgery. Princess is initially depicted as a hardworking and ambitious doctor who is keen to learn medicine and progress her career, but over her tenure, she was developed into an antagonist on the soap. Her scheming included flirting with various staff members to further her career, manipulating Valerie Pitman and Sid Vere into completing work for her, covering up mistakes with patients and blackmailing Scarlett Kiernan, all of which contribute towards a suspension.

References

  1. 1 2 Rodger, James (31 March 2023). "BBC Doctors viewers say 'you've broken me' as 'iconic' character killed off". Birmingham Mail . (Reach plc). Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Pegg, Kia [@kiapegg] (30 March 2023). "This scene was the very last one to be shot in 2022 and I can't lie, it was a bit of a downer to finish the year on" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Doctors [@bbcdoctors] (31 March 2023). "❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ Sarrubba, Stefania (30 March 2023). "Doctors kill off longstanding character after 14 years in shocking twist". Digital Spy . (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. ↑ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: A big night out takes a SHOCK turn..." What to Watch . (Future plc). Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Clemmow, Charlie [@charlieclemmow] (30 March 2023). "This is the beginning of the most challenging storyline I've ever done. Catch up here…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ↑ Barrett, Kerry (2 May 2023). "The British Soap Awards 2023: shortlist nominations, categories, how to vote and all we know". (Future plc). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. 1 2 Patterson, Stephen (31 March 2023). "Fans utterly broken as Doctors icon dies after 14 years". Metro . (DMG Media). Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 Morris, Grace (31 March 2023). "Doctors fans in 'floods of tears' over sudden death of MAIN character". What to Watch . (Future plc). Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 Hibbs, James. "Doctors fans "never cried so much" as they react to heartbreaking death". Radio Times . Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
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