The eighth series of the British medical soap opera Doctors originally aired between 24 April 2006 and 13 April 2007. It consisted of 185 episodes. Set in the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, the soap follows the lives of the staff and patients of the Mill Health Centre, a fictional NHS doctor's surgery.[1] The series saw the departure of the last remaining original cast member when Christopher Timothy quit his role as Mac McGuire. Fellow original Maggie Cronin reprised her role as Kate McGuire to aid in his exit storyline. Alongside Timothy, numerous other regulars departed in the series, which resulted in the castings of new regular cast members Donnaleigh Bailey, Stephen Boxer and Martha Howe-Douglas.

Doctors
Series 8
Starring
No. of episodes185
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release24 April 2006 (2006-04-24) –
13 April 2007 (2007-04-13)
Series chronology
← Previous
Series 7
Next →
Series 9
List of episodes

Cast

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The eighth series saw the final appearance of original character Mac McGuire (Christopher Timothy). He was the final remaining character from the original line-up of characters. Maggie Cronin, who departed in the sixth series, reprised her role as Kate McGuire to aid his exit.[2] Eva Fontaine was the next regular to depart when she quit her role as Faith Walker. Faith's exit storyline sees her diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, and realising she will soon be unable to do her job, she hands her position over to Michelle Corrigan (Donnaleigh Bailey).[3] Then at the end of the series, Greg Robinson (Ben Jones) and Rico Da Silva (Felix D'Alviella) depart together. For their exit storyline, Matilda Ziegler was cast as Rico's friend, Jess Butler, who he secretly impregnated as a favour to her. Rico moves abroad to be with their son, Charlie Butler (Shane Burke), with Greg accompanying him.[4]

Alongside Bailey joining as nurse Michelle, Martha Howe-Douglas was cast as receptionist Donna Parmar. Her family were introduced alongside her and it transpires that she had to persuade husband Ash (Simon Nagra), a Hindu, to allow her to work at the Mill.[5] Stephen Boxer was then cast as doctor Joe Fenton. His teenage daughter, Emily Fenton (Rachael Cairns), is introduced alongside him[6]

Main characters

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Recurring characters

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Guest characters

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Episodes

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No.
overall
No. in
series
EpisodeDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
9471"Strictly Bedroom"Dominic KeaveyGary Waterman24 April 2006 (2006-04-24)
9482"Nobody's Perfect"Dominic KeaveyJoanna Quesnel25 April 2006 (2006-04-25)
9493"Vote for Me"Dominic KeaveyBernard Padden26 April 2006 (2006-04-26)
9504"Methodical"Ben MorrisCaroline Gawn27 April 2006 (2006-04-27)
9515"Touching a Nerve"Ben MorrisMarc Peirson27 April 2006 (2006-04-27)
9526"A Golfer's Tale"Ben MorrisKevin Scouler2 May 2006 (2006-05-02)
9537"Full Disclosure"Ian BarberColin Brake3 May 2006 (2006-05-03)
9548"All Dressed Up"Ian BarberJason Anderson4 May 2006 (2006-05-04)
9559"Long Ago and Far Away"Ian BarberMark Chadbourn5 May 2006 (2006-05-05)
95610"Keys to the Heart"Terry IlandDan Muirden8 May 2006 (2006-05-08)
95711"Absolutely Positive"Terry IlandPhilip Ralph9 May 2006 (2006-05-09)
95812"Sisters"Terry IlandJane McNulty10 May 2006 (2006-05-10)
95913"Away Day"Rupert SuchMartin Stone11 May 2006 (2006-05-11)
96014"Fair Exchange"Rupert SuchNick Hoare12 May 2006 (2006-05-12)
96115"First Impressions"Rupert SuchDarren Rapier15 May 2006 (2006-05-15)
96216"Nobody Knows But Me"Daniel WilsonNick King16 May 2006 (2006-05-16)
96317"Too Soon"Daniel WilsonSasha Hails17 May 2006 (2006-05-17)
96418"School's Out"Daniel WilsonMartin O'Brien18 May 2006 (2006-05-18)
96519"Bad Girl"Neil AdamsMichael Chappell and Richard Stevens19 May 2006 (2006-05-19)
96620"The Friends of Mary Magee"Neil AdamsRay Brooking22 May 2006 (2006-05-22)
96721"The Real Thing"Paul GibsonRachel Flowerday23 May 2006 (2006-05-23)
96822"The Man of the Family"Neil AdamsFrancesca Clementis24 May 2006 (2006-05-24)
96923"Confidence"Paul GibsonDale Overton25 May 2006 (2006-05-25)
97024"A Different kind of Love"Paul GibsonTracey Black26 May 2006 (2006-05-26)
97125"The Best for Martin"Farren BlackburnDebbie Giggle30 May 2006 (2006-05-30)
97226"Another Chance"Farren BlackburnBill Armstrong31 May 2006 (2006-05-31)
97327"Nemesis"Farren BlackburnBernard Padden1 June 2006 (2006-06-01)
97428"Ghost in the Machine"Steve HughesTina Walker2 June 2006 (2006-06-02)
97529"For Better for Worse"Steve HughesJoanna Quesnel5 June 2006 (2006-06-05)
97630"Tragic Hero"Steve HughesLol Fletcher6 June 2006 (2006-06-06)
97731"Aversion Therapy"Mike ConnollyPaul Fontana7 June 2006 (2006-06-07)
97832"Junk Soul Brothers"Mike ConnollyJeremy Hylton Davies8 June 2006 (2006-06-08)
97933"Reconciliation"Mike ConnollyBren Littewood9 June 2006 (2006-06-09)
98034"Green Fingers"IllyHenrietta Hardy12 June 2006 (2006-06-12)
98135"Home Truths"IllyArnold Evans12 June 2006 (2006-06-12)
98236"Like Father"IllyJoy Wilkinson14 June 2006 (2006-06-14)
98337"Frog"Piotr SzkopiakPaul Matthew Thompson14 June 2006 (2006-06-14)
98438"Fighting Talk"Piotr SzkopiakSimon Lubert15 June 2006 (2006-06-15)
98539"Going Walkabout"Piotr SzkopiakSally Norton15 June 2006 (2006-06-15)
98640"Greener Grass"Gloria ThomasNick King4 September 2006 (2006-09-04)
98741"Holding the Baby"Gloria ThomasP.G Morgan5 September 2006 (2006-09-05)
98842"Daddy Cool"Gloria ThomasChris Boiling6 September 2006 (2006-09-06)
98943"Baggage"Farren BlackburnAndrew Wheaton7 September 2006 (2006-09-07)
99044"Second Best"Farren BlackburnPaula Robinson8 September 2006 (2006-09-08)
99145"Shadowplay"Farren BlackburnRoland Moore11 September 2006 (2006-09-11)
99246"All in the Mind"David SquiresDavid Lloyd12 September 2006 (2006-09-12)
99347"Conclusions"David SquiresAndrea Clyndes13 September 2006 (2006-09-13)
99448"The Other Side"David SquiresMark Chadbourn14 September 2006 (2006-09-14)
99549"Coming Up Roses"Pier WilkieRhiannon Tise15 September 2006 (2006-09-15)
99650"One of Them"Pier WilkieKatharine Way18 September 2006 (2006-09-18)
99751"Things to Do"Pier WilkieKevin Scouler19 September 2006 (2006-09-19)
99852"Running Time"Steve KellyDale Overton20 September 2006 (2006-09-20)
99953"Homecoming"Mike ConnollyMiles Bodimeade21 September 2006 (2006-09-21)
100054"Access Denied"Mike ConnollyJude Tindall22 September 2006 (2006-09-22)
100155"Last Laugh"Mike ConnollyDavid Lemon25 September 2006 (2006-09-25)
100256"Of All the Car Parks in All the World"Steve KellyPhilip Ralph26 September 2006 (2006-09-26)
100357"Life Support"Steve KellyDana Fainaru27 September 2006 (2006-09-27)
100458"The Wedding: Part One"Steve HughesAnne-Marie McCormack28 September 2006 (2006-09-28)
100559"The Wedding: Part Two"Steve HughesAnne-Marie McCormack29 September 2006 (2006-09-29)
100660"Guilt Trip"Jerry SmithKate McDonnell2 October 2006 (2006-10-02)
100761"In the Driving Seat"Jerry SmithSimon Warne3 October 2006 (2006-10-03)
100862"Books and Covers"Steve HughesHenrietta Hardy4 October 2006 (2006-10-04)
100963"Dying Happy: Part One"David O'NeillDawn Harrison5 October 2006 (2006-10-05)
101064"Dying Happy: Part Two"David O'NeillDawn Harrison6 October 2006 (2006-10-06)
101165"It's Not the Cough That Carries You Off"Dominic KeaveyPat Smart9 October 2006 (2006-10-09)
101266"No Smoke"Dominic KeaveyChris Jury10 October 2006 (2006-10-10)
101367"The Big Bad"Jerry SmithMark Catley11 October 2006 (2006-10-11)
101468"Something Borrowed, Something Blue"Dominic KeaveyRay Brooking12 October 2006 (2006-10-12)
101569"Flying Feathers"Graham SherringtonLinda Thompson13 October 2006 (2006-10-13)
101670"Growing Up Fast"Graham SherringtonStephanie Lloyd Jones16 October 2006 (2006-10-16)
101771"Rainy Days and Sundays"Graham SherringtonAndrea Clyndes17 October 2006 (2006-10-17)
101872"Fiddler on the Roof"Justin EdgarPaul Farrell18 October 2006 (2006-10-18)
101973"Joint Effort"Justin EdgarEmily Vincenzi19 October 2006 (2006-10-19)
102074"Sleepless in Selly Heath"Justin EdgarGary Waterman20 October 2006 (2006-10-20)
102175"One for the Road"Robert CavanahPaul Brodrick23 October 2006 (2006-10-23)
102276"New Life"Robert CavanahDebbie Giggle24 October 2006 (2006-10-24)
102377"Nowhere to Turn"Robert CavanahJoanna Quesnel25 October 2006 (2006-10-25)
102478"Year of the Rat"Esther CampbellDan Muirden26 October 2006 (2006-10-26)
102579"The Sound of Rainbows"Esther CampbellMarcus Goodwin27 October 2006 (2006-10-27)
102680"Errors of Judgement"Esther CampbellMark Chadbourn30 October 2006 (2006-10-30)
102781"Trick or Treat"James LarkinColin Brake31 October 2006 (2006-10-31)
102882"The One You Love"James LarkinStuart Blackburn1 November 2006 (2006-11-01)
102983"Rabbitgate"James LarkinAndrew Cornish2 November 2006 (2006-11-02)
103084"A Moment of Tension"John MaidensHoward Hunt3 November 2006 (2006-11-03)
103185"Thicker Than Water"John MaidensJonathan Evans6 November 2006 (2006-11-06)
103286"Trapped"John MaidensSharon Kelly7 November 2006 (2006-11-07)
103387"Watch the Birdie"David O'NeillAdrian Bean8 November 2006 (2006-11-08)
103488"Trophy Wife: Part One"IllyOlly Perkin9 November 2006 (2006-11-09)
103589"Trophy Wife: Part Two"IllyOlly Perkin10 November 2006 (2006-11-10)
103690"Temper Temper"Burt CaesarAl Ashton13 November 2006 (2006-11-13)
103791"Early One Mourning"Burt CaesarBen Jones14 November 2006 (2006-11-14)
103892"Dying for Love"IllySharon Oakes15 November 2006 (2006-11-15)
103993"All Aboard"Burt CaesarTracey Black16 November 2006 (2006-11-16)
104094"The Protector"Andrea KaposDominique Moloney17 November 2006 (2006-11-17)
104195"Crossed Wires"Andrea KaposAngela Churm and Chrissie Hall20 November 2006 (2006-11-20)
104296"The Luckiest Girl in School"Andrea KaposWilliam Johnston21 November 2006 (2006-11-21)
104397"A Rash Decision"Neil AdamsMiles Bodimeade22 November 2006 (2006-11-22)
104498"Fat Is a Fetishist Issue"Neil AdamsClaire Bennett23 November 2006 (2006-11-23)
104599"Unforeseen"Neil AdamsLol Fletcher24 November 2006 (2006-11-24)
1046100"Paragon"Richard PlattBernard Padden27 November 2006 (2006-11-27)
1047101"Misconceptions"Richard PlattKatharine Way28 November 2006 (2006-11-28)
1048102"Moving On"Richard PlattLiz John29 November 2006 (2006-11-29)
1049103"A Regular Fare"David WhitneyKate Delin30 November 2006 (2006-11-30)
1050104"Sacrifice"David WhitneyTim Scott-Walker1 December 2006 (2006-12-01)
1051105"Before the Fall"David WhitneyPaul Fontana4 December 2006 (2006-12-04)
1052106"Cat and Mouse"Terry IlandJim Burke5 December 2006 (2006-12-05)
1053107"In the Balance"Terry IlandNick Warburton6 December 2006 (2006-12-06)
1054108"Spend, Spend, Spend"Terry IlandSue Pierlejewski7 December 2006 (2006-12-07)
1055109"A Woman's Place"Paul GibsonSally Norton8 December 2006 (2006-12-08)
1056110"The Comedians"Paul GibsonKeith Astbury11 December 2006 (2006-12-11)
1057111"The Jazz Man"Paul GibsonRob Kinsman12 December 2006 (2006-12-12)
1058112"Enduring Love"David O'NeillMatthew Evans13 December 2006 (2006-12-13)
1059113"Skin Deep"David O'NeillDawn Harrison14 December 2006 (2006-12-14)
1060114"About Face"David O'NeillKate McDonnell15 December 2006 (2006-12-15)
1061115"All You Need Is..."Vanessa FrancesMartin Day18 December 2006 (2006-12-18)
1062116"Blaze of Glory"Vanessa FrancesStephen Dinsdale and Dale Overton19 December 2006 (2006-12-19)
1063117"One Day, Maybe"Vanessa FrancesAndrea Clyndes20 December 2006 (2006-12-20)
1064118"Count on Me"Chris RichardsMichael Chappell and Richard Stevens21 December 2006 (2006-12-21)
1065119"One Part TLC, Two Parts Shoe Leather"Chris RichardsRay Brooking22 December 2006 (2006-12-22)
1066120"'Ketchup on That?'"Nick CohenClaire Bennett2 January 2007 (2007-01-02)
1067121"Someone to Love"Nick CohenAnn Monks3 January 2007 (2007-01-03)
1068122"A Simple Mistake"Chris RichardsRoland Moore4 January 2007 (2007-01-04)
1069123"Wanderlust"Nick CohenPeter Bullock5 January 2007 (2007-01-05)
1070124"Lost Boys"Daniel WilsonKatharine Way8 January 2007 (2007-01-08)
1071125"Bat Girl"Daniel WilsonMarc Peirson9 January 2007 (2007-01-09)
1072126"A Helping Hand"Daniel WilsonDave Bradley10 January 2007 (2007-01-10)
1073127"Hanging On"Jerry SmithColin Brake11 January 2007 (2007-01-11)
1074128"Party Politics"Jerry SmithJeremy Hylton Davies12 January 2007 (2007-01-12)
1075129"Mother's Ruin"Jerry SmithAndrew Cornish15 January 2007 (2007-01-15)
1076130"Devotion"Paul GibsonPhilip Ralph16 January 2007 (2007-01-16)
1077131"The Good Samaritan"Paul GibsonHenrietta Hardy17 January 2007 (2007-01-17)
1078132"Wings and Needles"Paul GibsonTim Sanders18 January 2007 (2007-01-18)
1079133"Sex, Tears and Letherbridge"Aysha RafaelePaul Matthew Thompson19 January 2007 (2007-01-19)
1080134"The Good Daughter"Aysha RafaeleCecilia McAllister29 January 2007 (2007-01-29)
1081135"Pot Shots"Aysha RafaeleOlly Perkin30 January 2007 (2007-01-30)
1082136"Scrub Away, Scrub Away"Niall FraserLucy Blincoe31 January 2007 (2007-01-31)
1083137"The Hero Inside"Niall FraserJonathan Hall1 February 2007 (2007-02-01)
1084138"Sleeping Dogs"Niall FraserJustin Villiers2 February 2007 (2007-02-02)
1085139"Everyone One a Winner"Martin GoochTina Walker5 February 2007 (2007-02-05)
1086140"Mixed Messages"Martin GoochMiles Bodimeade6 February 2007 (2007-02-06)
1087141"The Kindest Cut"Martin GoochKevin Scouler7 February 2007 (2007-02-07)
1088142"Happiness Is an Option"Graham SherringtonTom Ogden8 February 2007 (2007-02-08)
1089143"The Guru"Graham SherringtonCatherine Stedman9 February 2007 (2007-02-09)
1090144"Words Unspoken"Graham SherringtonDavid Lloyd12 February 2007 (2007-02-12)
1091145"The Deal"Ben MorrisTracey Black13 February 2007 (2007-02-13)
1092146"Cross My Heart"Ben MorrisAndrea Clyndes14 February 2007 (2007-02-14)
1093147"Two Hearts, One Beat"Ben MorrisRay Brooking15 February 2007 (2007-02-15)
1094148"Hard Case"Naomi Vera-SansoMichael Chappell and Richard Stevens16 February 2007 (2007-02-16)
1095149"Heart of the Matter"Naomi Vera-SansoAl Ashton19 February 2007 (2007-02-19)
1096150"Illusion"Naomi Vera-SansoDale Overton20 February 2007 (2007-02-20)
1097151"The Crook, the Brief, His Wife and the Cover Up"Chris RichardsDan Muirden21 February 2007 (2007-02-21)
1098152"Paternity"Sarah O'GormanPaul Fontana22 February 2007 (2007-02-22)
1099153"Honour"Chris RichardsMark Chadbourn23 February 2007 (2007-02-23)
1100154"Playing Dad"Krishnendu MajumdarStephen John Hallett26 February 2007 (2007-02-26)
1101155"Caged Bird"Krishnendu MajumdarMarcus Goodwin27 February 2007 (2007-02-27)
1102156"Parallel Lines"Sarah O'GormanPaul Campbell28 February 2007 (2007-02-28)
1103157"You're My Thrill"Krishnendu MajumdarAndrew Cornish1 March 2007 (2007-03-01)
1104158"Torn in Two"Dominic KeaveyNick Hoare2 March 2007 (2007-03-02)
1105159"Damage Control"Dominic KeaveyDawn Harrison5 March 2007 (2007-03-05)
1106160"Dying for a Drink"Dominic KeaveySimon Lubert6 March 2007 (2007-03-06)
1107161"No Smoke Without Fire"Andrea KaposJonathan Evans7 March 2007 (2007-03-07)
1108162"A Family Inheritance"Andrea KaposSharon Kelly8 March 2007 (2007-03-08)
1109163"Once Bitten"Andrea KaposKate McDonnell9 March 2007 (2007-03-09)
1110164"Emptiness"Jim McRobertsDale Overton12 March 2007 (2007-03-12)
1111165"Second Helpings"Jim McRobertsMichael Chappell and Richard Stevens13 March 2007 (2007-03-13)
1112166"Invisible Touch"Jim McRobertsRay Brooking14 March 2007 (2007-03-14)
1113167"Washing That Man Right Out of Her Hair"Nick CohenFrancesca Clementis15 March 2007 (2007-03-15)
1114168"Stealing Grief"Nick CohenAndrea Clyndes19 March 2007 (2007-03-19)
1115169"One More Chance"Nick CohenPhilip Martin20 March 2007 (2007-03-20)
1116170"Lonely Hearts"James LarkinPaul Myatt21 March 2007 (2007-03-21)
1117171"Blind Drunk"James LarkinStephanie Lloyd Jones22 March 2007 (2007-03-22)
1118172"Shreds"James LarkinLiam Duffy23 March 2007 (2007-03-23)
1119173"Aftermath"Laurence WilsonClaire Bennett26 March 2007 (2007-03-26)
1120174"Do it Yourself"Laurence WilsonJoanna Quesnel27 March 2007 (2007-03-27)
1121175"Force of Habit"Laurence WilsonIan Davies28 March 2007 (2007-03-28)
1122176"Last Orders"Sarah O'GormanAmanda Stonham29 March 2007 (2007-03-29)
1123177"Fantasy Football"Ian BarberPaul Matthew Thompson30 March 2007 (2007-03-30)
1124178"White Lie"Ian BarberRob Kinsman2 April 2007 (2007-04-02)
1125179"Stand by Me"Ian BarberChris Webb3 April 2007 (2007-04-03)
1126180"Home"Terry IlandTony Etchells4 April 2007 (2007-04-04)
1127181"Spanish Practice"Terry IlandJeremy Hylton Davies5 April 2007 (2007-04-05)
1128182"Private Dancers"Terry IlandSimon Glass10 April 2007 (2007-04-10)
1129183"Open Wounds, Hidden Scars"Dominic KeaveyJane McNulty11 April 2007 (2007-04-11)
1130184"The Darker the Berry"Chris RichardsBradley Quirk12 April 2007 (2007-04-12)
1131185"Measures"Dominic KeaveyAndrew Cornish13 April 2007 (2007-04-13)

Reception

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The episodes "Shreds" and "Aftermath" won the Best Single Episode accolade at the 2009 British Soap Awards.[7] The episodes were based around Julia Parsons (Diane Keen) being attacked by Leo Jackson (Pavel Douglas), with Ronnie Woodson (Seán Gleeson) saving her.[8] Douglas was also nominated for the Villain of the Year award for his portrayal of Leo. At the same ceremony, new casting Martha Howe-Douglas was nominated for both Best Comedy Performance and Best Newcomer.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Timblick, Simon (17 March 2020). "Doctors spoilers: Happy 20TH ANNIVERSARY, Doctors!". What's on TV. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Dr Brendan 'Mac' McGuire". Doctors. BBC Online. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. ^ "What happened at The Mill in 2006?". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Dr Greg Robinson". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Donna Parmar". BBC. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Dr Joe Fenton". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. ^ a b Green, Kris (27 May 2007). "The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Shreds". BBC. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
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