Beyond The Call Of Duty

Hugh Quarshie tells all as Holby City celebrates 70 years of the NHS with an action-packed episode

- Elaine Reilly

Banners and balloons are up, party food is laid out and speeches have been written as the medical staff at Holby General get ready for an afterwork bash this week to celebrate the milestone 70th anniversary of the National Health Service.

However, the plans are soon put on hold after a major incident, which results in multiple casualties. Tensions are running high, but, fortunately, steady-handed consultants Ric Griffin and Serena Campbell are at the helm.

Here, star Hugh Quarshie, 63, tells TV Times why he’s delighted Ric is at the centre of events…

This week’s episode sounds extra special. What happens?

We were very conscious of the anniversary of the NHS, so there’s a marked urgency about this episode. There’s a major incident when a market roof collapses and we’ve got to deal with the consequences of that. Then, when everybody’s ready to go home or celebrate at the end of the shift, suddenly there’s another incident that sees the firefighters and ambulance services needing treatment as well. It is poignant in that it highlights the fact that the NHS is a 24/7 operation and the people who work in it are often very selfless and go above and beyond the call of duty.