Appearance
S26 E31.1 ‘Under Fire’; S26 E33 ‘Appropriate Force’; S28 E5 ‘Waiting for a Star to Fall’ – S28 E30 ‘The Lies We Tell’; S29 E6 ‘The Last Call’ – S34 E5
Job Title
Lance Corporal (S26); Student Paramedic (S28); Paramedic (S29+)
First Words
(to Sam) I’m gonna miss you.. the secondment back home
Family
Mother, Kim Harrison and Sister, Gemma
Background
Iain is impulsive and the first to rush into a dangerous situation. He has a quick temper and a strong sense of justice which occasionally affects his behaviour.
Iain is first introduced to us as a Lance Corporal in a webisode episode, where we learn he is having an affair with his colleague Sam in Afghanistan behind Sam’s husband, Dylan‘s back. We then meet him again a few episodes later when he is a character witness at Sam’s GMC hearing. He reluctantly admits that Sam shot a civilian in Afghanistan whom she thought was armed.
Iain leaves his army days behind him, with mental scars from his platoon being blow up. He shows a reluctance to show his true feelings but behind the bravado is a caring individual.
We next meet Iain, when he joins the team as a Student Paramedic in S28 E5; Sam is shocked to see him and Tom, who is now dating Sam, has his guard up on meeting him, knowing of their history. Iain clashes with Jeff in his first few episodes, Jeff thinks he is not a team player. Dixie urges them to sort it out and after another incident, the pair begin to build bridges.
Following Jeff’s death in Series 29, Iain is asked to return as a paramedic. At first Dixie finds it difficult working with Iain, particularly because of how close she was to Jeff.
In Series 31 we also meet Iain’s wayward sister Gemma who has spent time in a young offenders institute. When she is released and unable to stay with their alcoholic mother, Iain takes her in and she even gets a job at the hospital. But things turns nasty when she accidentally runs over Lily. Iain offers to stand by her but Gemma realises she needs to own up to what she did.
In the romance department, we see Iain have a relationship with nurse Rita in Series 30. Iain struggles with commitment and eventually cools it off with Rita. A will-they-won’t-they love story happens between Iain and Lily in Series 31 – the pair are so different but similar in their lack of being able to communicate how they really feel about eachother. By the next series – with Sam also back in Holby as a paramedic which puts Lily’s back up, when Iain eventually tells her how he feels – Lily has decided to leave for a job in Hong Kong.
Things take a turn in Series 32 when a series of events including the death of his colleague Sam lead Iain on a downward spiral and eventually attempting to take his own life. He survives but it’s a battle to keep his mental health in check.
Memorable Moments
- S26 E31.1 – Special webisode where we meet Iain, from Sam’s past.
- S26 E33 – Iain testifies against Sam at her GMC hearing.
- S28 E5 – Iain joins the team as a student paramedic.
- S29 E6 – Following Jeff’s funeral, Iain receives a surprise job offer.
- S29 E23 – Dixie and Iain are at odds over their different working methods.
- S29 E24 – Dixie gives Iain a formal warning.
- S29 E28 – Iain gives Dixie some home truths on their final shift together.
- S29 E34 – Dixie makes Iain eat humble pie – literally.
- S29 E39 – Iain becomes disillusioned with his life.
- S30 E3 – Iain faces an assault charge after an altercation with a traffic warden.
- S30 E6 – Iain and Dixie go an intense training course. Later Iain makes Rita an indecent proposal.
- S30 E7 – Rita and Iain can’t keep their hands off each other, but are determined to keep their budding relationship a secret from their co-workers.
- S30 E11 – Rita and Iain cover a violent incident in the ambulance bay.
- S30 E16 – Iain accidentally sends a flirty text for Rita to Robyn.
- S30 E20 – Dixie is down in the dumps so Iain bets he can make her laugh by the end of their shift. However, he loses and has to clean the ambulance in just an apron.
- S30 E22 – Iain is jealous when new paramedic Rocker flirts with Rita.
- S30 E30 – Iain and Jez are called out to a quarry where a girl has become trapped.
- S30 E31 – Jez enjoys winding Iain up about his sexual orientation.
- S30 E34 – Iain is feeling smothered by Rita’s incessant plans for them.
- S30 E36 – Rita needs somewhere to stay and Iain offers up his spare room but Jez warns him he is getting in to deep.
- S30 E37 – Rita breaks up with Iain, before he gets the chance. But he promises to help her when she is shocked that her tyres have been slashed.
- S30 E39 – Iain injures his private parts in trying to hide from Rita who ends up treating him with a large needle. He’s forced to admit his commitment.
- S30 E40 – Rita gets caught up in her own lies when she claims Mark has given her a black eye.
- S31 E1 – Iain is in the helicopter that crashes into the ED department.
- S31 E3 – Lily tries to help Iain realise he doesn’t need to be `Mr Action Man’ all the time.
- S31 E19 – Iain’s life is turned upside down by the arrival of his wayward sister Gemma.
- S31 E21 – Iain continues to give Lily the cold shoulder after her misunderstanding with his sister.
- S31 E23 – Iain is in shock when he treats his estranged alcoholic mother and finds his sister Gem has been released from prison.
- S31 E24 – After catching her stealing from him, Iain gives his sister another chance and tries to hep her find a job.
- S31 E25 – Iain offers to help his sister Gem when she threatens to quit her hospital job because she can’t read.
- S31 E29 – Iain faces his fears when a snake gets into the ambulance.
- S31 E32 – Iain tells Gemma to pack her bags when he finds out she has been posting revenge porn.
- S31 E33 – Iain rushes to Lily’s side after she is hit by a car. Gemma admits to him it was her fault.
- S31 E38 – Lily and Iain get together at Cal’s funeral.
- S31 E39 – Lily and Iain clash over treatment of an elderly couple.
- S32 E2 – Iain attends Lily’s cousins wedding with her.
- S32 E5 – Iain is shocked by the return of Sam, as his new paramedic partner.
- S32 E9 – Lily goes out on the road with Iain and Sam
- S32 E11 – Iain is upset when Lily decides to leave Holby.
- S32 E31 – Iain tries to cheer Sam up as she worries about Dylan.
- S32 E35 – Sam and Iain are called to a dramatic incident in a storm drain.
- S32 E41 – New paramedic Ruby is pushed to her limits on her first day with Iain and Sam.
Iain Dean Twitter Moment – Clips
Pinterest – Iain Dean – Michael Stevenson
Love Interests
- Sam Nicholls
- Rita Freeman
- Lily Chao
