Doctors (series 9)

Due to an influx of exits in the previous series, numerous new regulars were cast for this series. Anita Carey was cast as former matron turned receptionist Vivien March.[2] Matthew Chambers was then cast as the nephew of established character Joe Fenton (Stephen Boxer), doctor Daniel Granger.[3] He arrives "somewhat under a cloud", hiding a gambling addiction.[4]

In July 2007, executive producer Will Trotter announced two further castings for the series. The first, GP registrar Melody Bell (Elizabeth Bower), arrives as a "scatty, very vocal and highly strung" doctor in training who has a lot of maturing to do.[5] The second was Archie Hallam (Matt Kennard), a practice nurse, "a loveable character and a hit with the staff and patients alike".[5] Trotter said: "Doctors prides itself on the quality of the on screen talent - its no good having a great story and a stylish production without fab acting. We are really exited about bringing Liz and Matt on board - they are both fun and sexy future screen stars."[5]

Three recurring characters were cast to build up nurse Michelle Corrigan's (Donnaleigh Bailey) family unit on the series. These included father Tony (Ian Blower), mother Vera (Doña Croll) and half-brother Adam Sheffield (Paul Jibson).[6] Upon his arrival, Michelle and Adam do not know of their relationship with each other, which sees an incest plot develop.[7] Angela Lonsdale was then cast as DI Eva Moore, a love interest for Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan) and a detective inspector with Letherbridge Police. Upon Lonsdale's casting, Digital Spy described Eva as "a sassy and ambitious woman who is keen to make her mark in the male-dominated world of policing".[8] Her initial storyline sees Eva "thrown in at the deep end" with a fatal strain of cannabis making its way around Letherbridge.[8]

Martha Howe-Douglas made her final appearance as receptionist Donna Parmar in this series. When she learns that her son is being bullied and that the child's mother is a patient at the Mill, Donna finds the mother's medical notes. The files state that his mother is an alcoholic and is suspected of abusing her son. Donna realises that the child is being abused and gives the notes to his father, hoping he would use them as evidence in his battle for custody, but when practice manager Julia Parsons (Diane Keen) learns what Donna has done, she sacks Donna for breaking patient confidentiality.[9] Her final day at the Mill was described as "a sad day".[10] The final appearance of rapist Liam McGuire (Tim Matthews), Julia's son, also airs in this series.[11]

Doctors received its first Inside Soap Award nomination in 2007, when they were nominated for Best Drama.[12] At the 2007 British Soap Awards, Stirling Gallacher and Seán Gleeson won the British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership, for their respective roles as George and Ronnie Woodson.[13] Two episodes that were both centred around the pair were also nominated in 2008 for Best Single Episode: "Tread Softly" and "Up Close and Personal".[14]

At the 2007 RTS Craft & Design Awards, Doctors won the Judges' Award. The judges opined that Doctors were producing quality higher than its low budget of £50,000 per episode. They felt that despite only having £50,000 per half-hour episode, the acting and stunt quality shown in the episodes deserved to be awarded.[15] At the 2008 Digital Spy Reader Awards, Digital Spy's first award ceremony, Doctors was nominated in the Best Serial Drama category, but lost out to The Bill.[16]

• Series 9 at BBC Online