List of Doctors characters introduced in 2001–2002
Doctors is a British medical soap opera which began broadcasting on BBC One on 26 March 2000. Set in the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, the soap follows the lives of the staff and patients of the Mill Health Centre and the Campus Surgery, two fictional NHS doctor's surgeries. The following is a list of characters that first appeared in Doctors in 2001 and 2002, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the programme's executive producer, Mal Young. Nurse Faith Walker was introduced in May 2001. She was followed by three more regulars who were simultaneously introduced in September 2001; doctors Ben Kwarme and Jude Carlyle and receptionist Katrina Bullen. Tom Butcher joined the cast in November 2001 as doctor [|Marc Eliot]. Then, in September 2002, Laurence Penry-Jones and Ela Kay joined the cast as doctor [|Oliver Berg] and receptionist Carolina Shaw, respectively. Additionally, multiple [|other characters] appeared throughout the two years.
Faith Walker
Faith Walker, portrayed by Eva Fontaine, first appeared on 11 May 2001 and made her final appearance on 19 June 2006. Faith was introduced as a talkative and kind nurse at the Riverside Health Centre. Faith's BBC Online profile described her as "a talented and popular nurse" who had a "disastrous love life". Her romances see her embark on a short-lived relationship with Rana Mistry, have a one-night stand with Marc Eliot as well as being hurt when Ben Kwarme cannot commit to her. She is then raped by Liam McGuire and has an abortion after she falls pregnant with his baby.Faith falls in love with [|Jerry Walsh], a firefighter, and the pair eventually get married. After getting into debt and losing their home, they both take second jobs. Jerry gets involved with a drugs gang and is shot and killed in a siege at Riverside. She is compensated by the gang for his death and Faith manages to clear her debts. In March 2006, it was announced by Digital Spy that Fontaine had decided not to renew her contract and had quit her role as Faith. As part of her exit storyline, Faith is diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa and is told she will eventually lose her eyesight. As she would be eventually unable to do her job, she hands her job over to Michelle Corrigan. Faith falls in love with Paul Canley, and after finding out that she is pregnant with his child, they leave to travel the world together before her eyesight fails.
For her portrayal of Faith, Fontaine received a nomination for the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2005 and 2006.
Ben Kwarme
Dr. Ben Kwarme, portrayed by Ariyon Bakare, first appeared on 3 September 2001 and made his final appearance on 13 June 2005. Ben was introduced as a general practitioner at the Riverside Health Centre who had been working there for six weeks prior to his onscreen debut. Ben's BBC Online profile described him as "a dedicated doctor with a colourful love life and a fiery temper". Shortly after joining the practice, Ben begins a relationship with Faith Walker but fails to commit to her. After she is raped by Liam McGuire, he defends her and is almost charged for assault after he attacks Liam.Ben has an affair with colleague Kali Hamanda ; however, their relationship is "put under strain as Kali is involved in a shocking accident". Ben later forms a romantic attraction to Jude Carlyle, who he proposes to after he learns that she is pregnant with a baby with Down's syndrome, wanting to support them both. Jude declines his proposal, knowing that she does not truly love Ben. In 2004, writers introduced Nathan Bailey as the estranged son of Ben. He initially hides his identity, wanting to get to know Ben first, but after he reveals himself as Ben's son, the pair form "a difficult and tempestuous relationship" which evolves to be a close relationship. After a night out with Faith, Ben disturbs an intruder and beats him up. The burglar presses charges for grievous bodily harm, but Ben evades conviction. After being found not guilty in a court trial, Ben leaves Letherbridge with Nathan when the pair go travelling.
For his portrayal of Ben, Bakare received a nomination for the British Soap Award for Best Actor in 2004 and 2005.
Katrina Bullen
Katrina Bullen, portrayed by Tabitha Wady, first appeared on 3 September 2001 and made her final appearance on 22 May 2002. Katrina was introduced as a receptionist that was hired at the Riverside Health Centre following Joanna Helm and [|Candy Williams] departing. She comes into the practice wanting to take charge and make numerous changes, such as having a noticeboard full of staff photos, which annoys Mac McGuire. She also lectures Dr. Jude Carlyle on the importance of seeing patients as quickly as possible to save time, who responds by saying that she will not rush with patients for Katrina's sake.Jude Carlyle
Dr. Jude Carlyle, portrayed by Natalie J. Robb, first appeared on 3 September 2001 and made her last appearance on 19 March 2004. Jude originates from a working class, Glasgow background and had experience as a police surgeon prior to her being hired at the Riverside Health Centre. Her BBC Online profile stated that Jude has wild impulses and is "attracted to the dark and the dangerous". Also prior to her arrival, she had been married twice but sees both marriages as big mistakes. The second marriage lasted six weeks when Jude discovered her husband having sex with her sister, [|Beth].Jude's exit storyline sees her cheat on her boyfriend with his father and she gets pregnant. When the man's wife discovers the affair, she pushes Jude down the stairs. The baby is unharmed but she later learns that they have Down's syndrome. When Ben Kwarme learns of the baby's diagnosis, he proposes to Jude to support the pair of them. However, she knows that she does not love him and rejects him. She later moves back to Glasgow to be with her family.
Years after her exit from Doctors, Robb admitted that she did not know how she coped on the series due to the medical terminology. She surprised herself when her brain "managed to take in all the information of the doctor jargon". However, she used her knowledge and experience from Doctors when she came into contact with a pregnant woman in labour who had collapsed and was bleeding. On the experience, Robb explained: "She was really panicking about losing the baby, obviously. For some reason, maybe because of Doctors, I was very calm."
Marc Eliot
Dr. Marc Eliot, portrayed by Tom Butcher, first appeared on 5 October 2001 and made his final appearance on 16 December 2005. His BBC Online profile explained that prior to his arrival in Letherbridge, Marc was a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps and served in Kosovo. Upon his hiring at the Riverside Health Centre, he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The profile described him as a "highly ambitious" character and noted that he has plans to take over Riverside. However, after he learns that Mac McGuire does not plan to retire, he enlists Helen Thompson's help in setting up a rival practice, Best Practice.Marc has a one-night stand with Faith Walker and their interactions become awkward. However, after she is raped by Liam McGuire, she turns to Marc for support and he helps her. Marc also has a one-night stand with Helen on the night of her husband's death. The two decide to stay friends and when Marc is accused of raping a patient, Helen secures the evidence which exonerate him from the accusations. Marc and Helen eventually begin a romantic relationship, but when Marc is asked by his brother Robert to help build orphanages in Kosovo, Helen insists that he goes as it will benefit him. Marc returns over a year later with a new fiancé, but he soon realises that he still loves Helen. Helen tells Marc that the love is requited and the pair move to Leeds together.