It's been all change behind the scenes at Holby City this year, with the show's story producer Kate Hall being promoted to series producer. Kate has stepped into the shoes of previous boss Simon Harper, who now looks after both Holby City and Casualty in the all-seeing role of executive producer.
With an exciting autumn season now just around the corner for Holby, we thought there was no better time to get some exclusive teasers from the new showrunner. Here are the 15 biggest pieces of gossip we learned in our chat with Kate:
1. The Bernie and Serena storyline isn't over
When we asked our followers on Twitter what they'd like to find out about Holby City's future, it's fair to say that we were flooded with questions about the future of the Bernie and Serena storyline. Both characters are off screen at the moment, but the good news is that Kate is just as invested in the storyline as the fans are.
Kate told us: "As I was story producer previously, Bernie and Serena is my storyline and I'm highly invested in that. It's a very personal storyline for me, because it's loosely based on a friend of mine. I was maid of honour at her wedding to her partner, when they were finally able to get married in the UK. So the story is a celebration, really.
"Telly is incredibly hard to work in, as the shoot hours can be very long, so sometimes cast members will ask for a break. The only reason there is a hiatus in that storyline is for this reason. If we can make it work, we always try to say yes, because it's a great way of keeping your talent."
She added: "Catherine Russell is having beautiful travels in Europe and having a smashing time, while Jemma Redgrave also wanted a break. I can promise there's no way I'd work so hard to create something I believe in so fundamentally and then just kick it into the gutter.
"I'm overwhelmed and really gratified by the reaction that story has received, because I'm very proud of it. Of course we will return to it as and when the actors feel ready to return, but suffice to say, that's a love story that remains."
2. New characters are arriving
There's always a steady stream of characters coming and going from Holby City, but the show's team are currently particularly excited over two new F1s who'll be joining the hospital in the coming months.
Kate explained: "We are just in the process of workshopping two new F1s, which has been an amazing process. We've auditioned 55 emerging young actresses, all of which I'd have happily given a part in the show.
"We're pulling six of them in to do screen tests with Kaye Wragg (Essie Harrison) and Alex Walkinshaw (Fletch) and whoever's chemistry is the most vibrant will get cast as those two new F1s."
3. The show has big plans for Jac and Fletch
Later this month, we'll see Fletch turn to Jac for help with treating a patient who desperately needs to get home to his kids. This is the start of Fletch and Jac having a lot more to do with each other.
Kate enthused: "I've put Rosie Marcel together with Alex Walkinshaw and their chemistry is palpable. I keep comparing them to Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd in Moonlighting, or Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. Watch out for the episode on August 29 where that storyline kicks off, because it is delicious and electric.
"It's the first time you'll see Jac let her guard down with anyone for a considerable amount of time, as the process of grieving for her sister suddenly starts to take grip.
"The performances coming up for these two are just mind-blowing. I've been reading up to the Christmas episode and they have a really strong connection, so keep an eye on them."
4. Zosia and Ollie's wedding will be a must-see episode
Zosia and Ollie's wedding is just around the corner, and with the show revisiting Zosia's previous mental health issues, it seems that the stage is set for one of the biggest Holby City episodes of the year.
"The 'Zollie' wedding is a fascinating story about a young woman, the pressures she has faced through her diagnosis, and the very complex relationship she has with her father," Kate explained.
"We're exploring the issues of mental health again, and the performances in the wedding episode from John Michie, Camilla Arfwedson, James Anderson, David Ames, Rosie Marcel, Ayesha Dharker, Lee Mead and Alex Walkinshaw are fantastic. They're all totally at the top of their game and it's a brilliant, brilliant episode. That airs on September 19."
5. Some more characters will be leaving
We're sworn to secrecy on who'll be bowing out next, but there are some more characters heading off away from the wards in the coming months. Fear not though, as it sounds like it may not be goodbye forever...
Kate confirmed: "You should always consider the word 'exit' in quotation marks. There are various folk in the show at the moment who we are so lucky to have kept for as long as we have.
"What I always say to any of those who are leaving is that the door is always open and they can come back. There are some who are supposedly 'exiting', but are already negotiating guest star returns and when they might want to come back. It's always a real treat for our long-term fans when they see popular faces popping back in."
6. The show has some more surprises coming up
Holby City has a long history of keeping back huge secrets before transmission and it's very much the plan for this to continue in the show's new era.
"There are lots of exciting people coming into the show, and some surprises that you'll have to stay tuned for," Kate teased. "Suffice to say, there'll be some shocked fans and some cheers!
"There are some big moments in the show where it's worth keeping a lid on things so the audience can have a gloriously happy surprise on their Tuesday evening."
7. Hanssen has a family reunion on the way
Holby City fans haven't seen the last of Hanssen's son Fredrik, with Billy Postlethwaite reprising the role in an upcoming storyline.
Kate told us: "Fredrik arrives and he's desperate to re-engage with his estranged father. A jealous rivalry then ensues with Hanssen's favourite junior doctor Dominic Copeland.
"Billy Postlethwaite shares a remarkable physical similarity to Guy Henry. They absolutely look related and Billy is a huge rising star."
8. The hospital itself will come under threat
It seems as though Hanssen will be getting back-up from Fredrik at just the right time, as Kate also told us: "Fredrik's return is part of a big story of Hanssen facing an enormous personal crisis to prevent the closure of the hospital under a beleaguered NHS.
"We wouldn't just totally ignore the pressures the NHS is under these days and Hanssen is very much the public figure of that."
9. Ric and Donna are about to share a huge storyline
And it sounds like there's trouble ahead for them both! Kate warned: "Ric and Donna are put under considerable strain when a bereaved son of one of Ric's patients refuses to concede that hers was a natural death.
"It's a massive storyline about medical ethics. Hugh Quarshie and Jaye Jacobs are such a brilliant pairing. It's very much a father-daughter relationship and I'm excited about that."
10. Dominic could finally have some happiness
Could Dominic be about to settle down with his Mr Right after his traumatic experience with violent partner Isaac?
Kate explained: "There's a slow-burning love story with Dominic and Lofty. It's gorgeous, measured, not rushed and it's respectful of the fact that Dominic has been so badly damaged by Isaac.
"It's a story about resilience and kindness from Lofty towards Dom."
11. Paul McGann will be making his mark at Holby
Show bosses have already announced a huge coup by casting former Doctor Who star Paul McGann as a brilliant surgeon – and viewers can look forward to his character John bringing some big ideas with him when he turns up in December.
"I'm hugely excited of about the arrival of Paul McGann, who's playing an ex-university friend of Hanssen's," Kate shared.
"His character Professor John Gaskell is a surgeon with an international reputation, who is convinced that the only way to save the NHS is through radical innovation.
"John brings an intense energy and has a really big galvanising effect on the team, so you need to stay tuned and see how that unfolds."
12. There's more to come from Jason
As a popular member of the recurring cast, we can expect to see more of Jason as part of the storyline coming up for Ric and Donna.
Kate said: "Jason is involved in Ric and Donna's storyline around this big medical and ethical debate. Jules's character is so loved by the audience and that is incredibly gratifying.
"With Catherine Russell coming back as Serena, it's very important to keep the fabric of her family going. Having lost her daughter, she's very much concerned with holding her family together at this point."
13. There are more Holby and Casualty crossovers coming
No real surprises here since these moments are always so popular with fans, but you can expect to see a few characters from the sister shows crossing over in the next few months.
Kate promised: "We attend each other's story conferences and the shows are very connected. Rosie Marcel is going to do a couple of episodes of Casualty. We've also got a notable crossover in Holby running up to the Christmas period."
14. Holby has been inspired by the Casualty 'one-shot' special
Casualty's recent "one-shot" episode went down a storm in the ratings, so we couldn't resist cheekily asking whether Holby City has any plans to experiment in a similar way in the future.
Confirming they're already thinking about it, Kate said: "We have a lot of ideas for what would be a very interesting and Holby-specific way of approaching something that hasn't happened on British television before.
"That's the challenge I've posed to the writers. The next story conference is imminent, in early September, so that will definitely be one of my opening questions!"
15. We could see other more unique episodes too
Keen to avoid the show being too formulaic, the Holby team have recently been discussing pushing the boundaries with the structure of episodes when it's required for certain storylines.
"When you're storylining soaps and dramas, there can often be 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' stories within the episodes," Kate explained. "But what we've really talked about is that if we want to do a two-hander with two brilliant characters, we'll allow ourselves that latitude. Or if we want to tell seven stories in an episode, we will do that.
"Occasionally we will do a special episode which breaks the model, but it will still feel like the Holby world, because it's character driven. It's important to make sure that story is always dictating format and not the other way around. That's very exciting for the writers."
Holby City airs on Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC One.
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Daniel has been writing about soaps on Digital Spy since 2004 and took over as Soaps Editor in 2010.
He has interviewed hundreds of soap stars over the years, from Bill Roache to Lacey Turner, and regularly visits the sets of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks for behind-the-scenes trips and press events.
He has served as an awards judge on numerous occasions for the likes of the BAFTA TV Awards, RTS Programme Awards and British Soap Awards. In 2020, he was Highly Commended for Best Section Editor at the BSME Awards.
