Holby City gave viewers an insight into hospital life during the peak of a pandemic...
Holby City returned to our screens last night with an episode viewers will never forget.
The episode focused entirely on what it was like woking in a hospital during the height of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic, and fans have praised the cast and crew, calling it the best episode of the medical drama ever.
Ric woke from his coma to find the world in the grip of a pandemic (Picture: BBC)
Holby returns with a bang
Back after three months off, the episode opened with Ric Griffin waking from a coma, having had brain surgery in the last episode aired back in the summer.
But when Ric wakes, he is shocked to find the hospital he knows so well looking almost unrecognisable as it is gripped by the pandemic.
As well as telling Ric’s story as he fought to recover from his operation, last night’s Holby City also highlighted what it was like for NHS staff working at the start of the pandemic.
Last night’s Holby highlighted the struggles for the NHS at the peak of the first wave (Picture: BBC)
From the lack of PPE and new doctors sighing up to help at the hospital, families being kept apart and Thursday evening clapping for our NHS heroes, the episode paid tribute to everyone working on the frontline.
Emotional storylines
As well as the pandemic taking centre stage in the special episode, we also saw Sacha struggling with his grief after losing Essie, and it was also sadly Ric’s exit after 19 years on our screens.
Ric’s life hung in the balance after contracting covid (Picture: BBC)
Being male, over 60 and with underlying heath conditions, Ric was already on the vulnerable list.
However, he put his patients first and continued to work despite his health deteriorating.
Eventually he also fell victim to covid, however unlike many people he had been treating, he thankfully recovered.
Ric’s emotional exit from Holby left fans in tears (Picture: BBC)
Fans have hailed the episode the best they have ever watched and have heaped prise on everyone involved with making such a milestone episode…
Best episode of #HolbyCity I’ve ever watched. So so good 🙃
— Steph 🦩 (@StephCharlotteC) November 11, 2020
#HolbyCity just watching last nights episode! Amazing, well done to all involved 👏👏👏👏
— Becca (@Becca53188048) November 11, 2020
Holby City incredible piece of television brilliantly filmed acted moving beyond words
— Neil Brown (@7f7af80864de402) November 11, 2020
Wow @BBCHolbyCity just wow! Everything about that episode was so powerful. I experienced every emotion possible whilst watching. #HolbyCity
— Angela Hamilton (@AngieH1980) November 11, 2020
Just caught up on @BBCHolbyCity Great to see it back on our screens. Such a compelling episode, honouring the great NHS workers and everything they do and continue to do during the Pandemic crisis. Well done cast & crew. I will miss seeing @HughQuarshie as Ric. #HolbyCity
— Maria Cole (@MariaColeActor) November 11, 2020
At the end of the episode, Ric had decided to make his emotional exit – leaving the hospital to make a very special journey to fulfil a promise he made to a dying patient.
Holby City just won’t be the same without him.
Holby City airs on Tuesdays at 7.50pm on BBC One.
