When her personal and professional worlds clash, Holby City surgeon Jac Naylor decides family must come first, as Rosie Marcel reveals...
Holby City fans probably can't imagine anyone in charge of Darwin ward over fiery surgeon Jac Naylor. But when the hospital's resident Ice Queen is distracted by family matters next week it looks like she might have to let someone else take over the reigns.
Jac's busy with back-to-back surgeries planned and a team – including maverick consultant Kian Madani (Ramin Karimloo) – to micro-manage, of course! But she's noticeably rattled by how close Emma, her daughter with Jonny Maconie, has grown to Jonny’s wife-to-be Stacey.
"Jac’s quite a lonely person, whose life has always been based around her work," says Rosie Marcel, who plays the fiery surgeon.
Jac confides in Fletch (Alex Walkinshaw) that she’s tired of constantly hearing Emma talk about Stacey, a woman she’s never met. At that moment, Emma comes running into Jac’s office – with Stacey!
Emma tells her mum that, while being fitted for her bridesmaid’s dress for the upcoming wedding, one of the other bridesmaid’s pulled her arm and now she's in pain. As Jac examines her daughter, she isn’t exactly welcoming to Stacey – especially when she sees she’s pregnant!
When Jac’s called into theatre, leaving Emma with Fletch, Stacey says she's taking her back to 'summer school', sending Emma into a strop. That’s when Stacey suggests to Fletch that Emma’s spoilt because Jac’s an ‘absent parent’. When Fletch tells Jac what she said, Jac goes ballistic at Stacey! Has Stacey never watched Holby City before?
Later, Jac's saddened when Emma admits she lied about her arm being hurt just so she could be with her. Realising how precious family time is, Jac gathers the troops and announces she’s stepping down as clinical lead – and handing the reigns over to Kian. Will it be permanent?
"Jac thinks it would be better if she just stepped back for a bit," says Rosie. "It’s nice to see a softer side of her – but we mustn’t get too far away from the Jac we all love to hate!"
Holby City continues Tuesdays at 8pm on BBC1.
