Holby City Season 20, Episode 29: The Friend Zone

The Prisoner

Arriving in prison to begin his sentence, Ric struggles with the noise and aggression inside. Popular prisoner Dillon takes Ric under his wing, warning him against a fellow prisoner Danny. But when Danny requires urgent medical care, Ric has to decide whether to keep Dillon on side or follow his sense of duty.

60 min

Ready or Not

Sacha and Donna feel anxious when they have to admit an injured inmate from prison. After a conversation with Ric, Sacha is determined to find a way to protect his friend, but will he only make things worse? Jac fills her schedule on her first day back in surgery but is wrong-footed when Gaskell challenges her with a complicated case. Frieda can only watch as Jac powers through, but will she come to regret it? Essie gets an unexpected and unwanted surprise in the shape of Raf's inheritance. Gaskell offers his support as she muses on what to do with this burden, finally coming to an important decision.

60 min

There by the Grace of...

Encouraged by Sacha, Essie is having second thoughts about investing in Gaskell. But with Raf's legacy at stake, can Essie be assertive with Gaskell and find confidence in her decision? With worries for Ric ringing in her ears, Donna is concerned that Sacha is off his game. With potential disaster looming, Donna enlists Nicky to help her take matters into her own hands. Fletch's obsession with increased security reaches new heights, however Essie provides Fletch with a distraction and Jac ensures Fletch stays distracted for a long time to come.

60 min

Hanssen Is as Hanssen Does

The hospital picks up the pieces ahead of Raf's memorial. At a time when the Holby family need each other more than ever, can Hanssen find his way back to them? Dead set on moving forward and maintaining her status as Holby's supersurgeon, Jac wants to fast track her recovery, but with reminders of the memorial all around, she can't outrun the past. Lofty is thrown when an unexpected patient turns up on Keller. In spite of mounting stresses throughout the day, Lofty wonders whether his future with Dominic may be looking up.

60 min

One Day at a Time

The Clinical trial is heating up and it is time for Gaskell to live up to his reputation, while Nicky tests Sacha's patience in a bid to prove her abilities .

60 min

Not Your Home Now

Hanssen steps down as CEO, with Serena agreeing to take over temporarily. When Ric is admitted to Holby, Serena and Donna treat the injuries he sustained in prison. Distressed by Ric's situation, Serena investigates what happened the day Elaine Warren died. Oliver's physiotherapy is cut short when his therapist collapses, triggering his surgical instincts. As he attempts to diagnose her and other patients, Dom, Lofty and Roxanna try to temper his expectations. Oliver starts to wonder if he can still be a doctor. Jac must locate the rare vinyl she took from Raf's collection before Fletch purchases a replacement. This suspicious behaviour leads Frieda to uncover the true nature of Jac's motivations. Knowing Jac may have feelings for Fletch gives Frieda an opportunity to needle her mentor.

60 min

Precipice

A leaking bullet is poisoning Oliver's brain and must be removed; can Roxanna convince him to risk another surgery? Fletch turns a supposed intruder into a patient.

60 min

Hard Day's Night

A hungover Nicky must cope with an overbearing new registrar. Fletch and Jac are thrust together on an overnight transplant case.

60 min

Ache

Roxanna pitches an experimental treatment that could help Oliver recover. However, with acting CEO Serena reluctant to commit, can Roxanna convince Hanssen to return? Meanwhile, Dominic tries to help a deeply worried Lofty plan for Sheilagh's future, and it remains to be seen whether Frieda will continue to help Jac when her mentor's pain reaches breaking point.

60 min

Square One

Gaskell fights to protect his trial and save his patient, and Serena is determined to find a solution as she begins to fear that Ric is losing hope. Meanwhile, Jac returns with a spring in her step, but will the secret to her new happiness be discovered?

60 min

The L Word

Roxanna tries to cure Oliver, but in the process opens old wounds. Dom and Lofty find themselves at odds over Sheilagh's care. Donna and Fletch race to save Ric.

60 min

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are (1)

The events surrounding Elaine Warren's death are relived in court. With new revelations emerging, can Ric fight for freedom? Desperate to no longer be Roxanna's pet patient, Ollie pushes himself to the brink. But what future awaits him on the other side? Jac has eyes for Fletch, but when things take a turn for the worse Frieda is the one she turns to for help.

60 min

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are (2)

Ollie refuses to relinquish his determination to become a surgeon once again. But when a memory resurfaces, he finally sees a new way forward. Unable to shake the guilt over Fiona's death, Essie is hell-bent on uncovering what went wrong. With Jac gone and Fletch wanting answers, Frieda faces an interminable night shift on Darwin.

60 min

Tete a Tate

Ric attempts to dive straight back into work, but hospital bureaucracy throws up some testing problems. Roxanna questions Gaskell's motives when he takes on a controversial new case. Fletch clashes with the new CEO over a vulnerable patient.

60 min

Tate Gallery

A revelation about Gaskell forces Roxanna to choose where her loyalties lie. Still on probation, Ric risks his job to save a familiar face, and a secretive young patient causes Fletch to question Abigail's priorities.

60 min

New Ain't All It's Cracked Up To Be

Frieda forces new trainee Nicky to question what kind of doctor she wants to be. Meena puts her friendship with Ms McKendrick on the line when a chance to impress Gaskell arises. Serena tests Xavier's mettle, putting him in charge of Sheilagh's recovery.

60 min

The Way We Were

60 min

Headstrong

60 min

Bubble Wrap

60 min

Blind Spot

60 min

Belonging

60 min

Only a Word

Frieda has to decide what to do when Roman crashes back into her life, and a withdrawn Dom's plans for a quiet night are scuppered. Determined to shake up his life, Sacha seeks out new experiences - with surprising results.

60 min

None but the Brave

With Fletch and Abigail's relationship still a secret, Fletch is thrown when Jac suddenly arrives on Darwin, however complications arise when Fletch accepts Jac's offer of an after-work drink. Loved-up Lofty is anxious not to crush Dominic's weekend plans, but when Lofty catches Sheilagh behaving recklessly, Lofty risks fracturing both relationships. On a high with patient success in Morocco, Gaskell's sceptical reaction to a new trial candidate leads to a disagreement with Roxanna.

60 min

Primum Non Nocere (1)

While trying to prove herself, Meena uncovers disturbing news that could spell trouble for Gaskell. Bernie returns to bring Serena home, but is Serena willing to leave Holby behind for good? And Fletch questions if he's ready to commit to a proper relationship with Abigail.

60 min

Primum Non Nocere (2)

60 min

Fallen Idol

A split-second mistake brings Nicky a whole lot closer to Zav than she bargained for. Meanwhile, a troubling discovery causes Roxanna to question her loyalties. And Dom is forced to make a choice between sacrificing an opportunity and letting down Lofty.

60 min

The Anniversary Waltz

The party celebrating 70 years of the NHS is put on hold when a major incident pushes Holby to the limits. Serena is reminded of a patient she saved many years ago - with the odds stacked against her, and withRic's help, can she do the same again? Jac and Abigail find themselves at odds over a patient set for a heart transplant. But with Jac back at work, is the transplant Abigail's only concern? Sheilagh reflects on her stay at Holby and the importance of the NHS. Encouraged by Dom's feelings for her grandson, she gives Lofty one last present before she goes.

60 min

Into the Light

Torn between a chance to make history and her conscience, Roxanna faces a tough decision. Will she cross the line? Hanssen's recovery is put to the test with Essie's arrival, but he'll have to overcome painful memories if he wants to save her life. When Donna's hopes for her family seem out of reach, Zav is the last person she expects to save the day - has she misjudged him?

60 min

Two for Joy

Jac is back on form after her surgery and determined to prove she is a doctor and not a patient. Dom and Lofty find themselves at cross purposes, which puts their future in the balance. Elsewhere, Essie sees Holby afresh through the eyes of a patient.

60 min

Child in Your Shadow

A stressful day for Fletch gets worse when one of his kids is injured, and then a face from his past turns up. Meanwhille, Hanssen attempts to express his feelings to Roxanna, and Serena and Ric decide to teach Nicky and Meena a little humility.

60 min

Bygones

Fletch clashes with estranged father Steven when Evie demands they let him back into their lives, while Essie is determined to help Josh after discovering he was an applicant for Gaskell's Project Laszlo. Dominic fears for his compatibility with Lofty after a contagious incident on AAU shows they are not thinking the same way.

60 min

Bargaining

Roxanna questions Gaskell's leadership when his focus seems off. Can they work together to save a patient's life, or is the the trust between them fractured forever? Troubled Fletch throws himself into work as a distraction. When his micro-managing of Nicky puts a scared patient at risk, can Fletch find a way to forgive himself in time to put things right? Overworked and underappreciated, Serena is in no mood for games when a porters' prank goes awry. But is her short fuse making Serena too quick to judge?

60 min

All Business

A conflicted Essie faces a dilemma when trial patient Josh's condition deteriorates, and Donna clashes with Xavier when she accuses him of not taking their beauty business seriously. Elsewhere, Meena tries to stay positive when her day goes from bad to worse.

60 min

Man Down

A special episode focusing on male mental health. Long-serving Dr Sacha Levy struggles with his emotions after a devastating surgical outcome for a favourite patient. The episode departs from Holby's usual format, exploring previously shown scenes from a new perspective, as the shattered consultant looks back at a testing year at Holby.

60 min

Keep Your Friends Close

Hanssen tries to bury himself in his work, but when Gaskell makes a move he hadn't bargained for, he can no longer ignore his conscience. Fletch is burning the candle at both ends, leaving Evie to pick up the slack. Desperate to make things right with his daughter, Fletch faces a tough decision, while an isolated Meena turns to an old flame for comfort.

60 min

All Lies Lead To The Truth

An unexpected new friendship helps Frieda find her way and Meena hits a new low, finding herself friendless and under mounting pressure from all directions, while tensions between Roxanna and Gaskell finally come to a head.

60 min

One Man and His God

While scrambling to save a life, Hanssen and Gaskell recall the earliest days of their friendship, when a fateful encounter with a wide-eyed but driven Roxanna changed the course of all their lives forever. Under increased scrutiny and immense pressure, Gaskell wrestles with his conscience.

60 min

Undoing

Hanssen holds a fretful bedside vigil at the hospital, while Gaskell wrestles with his conscience over what he's done. Fletch is missing Evie and angrily blames Steven for pulling his family apart. Sacha tentatively steps back into Holby after time off for his depression - and finds an unexpected source of support in Frieda.

60 min

Inscrutable

As the hospital reels from tragic news, Sacha takes on a marathon operation, but Dom is concerned that he is attempting to do too much too soon. Serena is pulled in all directions when Leah, a new junior doctor, struggles with a problematic first patient, while Fletch feels he should spend some quality time with his dad after Steven's heroics while helping Mikey.

60 min

The Three Musketeers

Xavier's secrets are laid bare when his wounded grandfather arrives on AAU. Gaskell's increasingly erratic behaviour puts a patient at risk, leaving Hanssen troubled. Serena tries to put some professional distance between herself and Leah.

60 min

Stains

With Hanssen inching closer to the truth, Gaskell fears exposure. Jac discovers Steven has been keeping a potentially life-changing secret from Fletch, and with Xavier continuing to distance himself from friends, Donna tries to repair his broken bonds with his family. But does Xavier really want her help?

60 min

Too Good to Be True

Fletch finally confronts Jac over their feelings for each other. The death of a patient leads Jason to make a life-changing decision. Eager to protect his relationship with Dom, Lofty hides his true feelings about their future.

60 min

The Family You Choose

A tricky case causes Xavier to lose his cool with Jason, while Jac and Fletch do their awkward best to avoid each other. Elsewhere, Lofty, Meena and Leah confront their problems after being thrown together.

60 min

Report to the Mirror (1)

The lines between past and present blur as Hanssen tries to bring the hospital back from the brink. Gaskell's descent into chaos leaves Jac fearing for her life, and Meena's crusade for truth faces a set-back when she loses the only ally she had left.

60 min

Report to the Mirror (2)

With Gaskell's dastardly invention inside her, Jac fears for her life - but the only one who can remove this ticking time bomb is the man himself. Can she convince him to try? Meena throws caution to the wind and outs Gaskell's nefarious deeds, enlisting Essie's help in unravelling his web of lies.

60 min

One of Us

Fletch and Sacha race against the clock, even calling on some familiar faces for help in Jac's hour of need. Meanwhile, Hanssen is determined to bury Gaskell's legacy, but is forced to unlock its final secret. And Donna is driven to make sense of her relationship with Xavier when he takes his personal pressures out on Jason.

60 min

Hold My Hand

Serena fights chaos on the ward during a hospital inspection as Meena grapples with a momentous decision. Nicky goes all out to impress Mo and prove she deserves her place on Darwin. Meanwhile, Hanssen's wounds remain raw as he tries to lock Gaskell and his crimes in the past.

60 min

Love Is

A beloved face from the past forces Serena to think about her future. Dom and Lofty find themselves at a crossroads when a game highlights the cracks in their relationship, and when Frieda and a difficult patient reach a place of understanding, Petrenko takes in an unlikely companion.

60 min

The Right Sort of Animal

Love is in the air, but can Serena and Bernie overcome their issues? Meanwhile, when Jason and Greta's plans are thrown into chaos, Jason enlists Xavier's help. A despondent Dom realises he must fight for his relationship, but will a grand gesture be enough to win Lofty back? And when Mo pushes Nicky to reach her full potential, Nicky feels the pressure and questions if she's up to the challenge.

60 min

Family Ties

An acquaintance from Nicky's past puts her in a difficult position. Will Nicky do the right thing? With a little nudge from Hanssen, a struggling Sacha finally opens up to a loved one. And Serena is forced to acknowledge what's really troubling her.

60 min

Best Christmas Ever

Christmas Day opens up old wounds for Fletch, while an explosive family secret is exposed, and a mysterious Santa walks the halls of Holby. Recent events cause Hanssen to doubt his suitability for CEO, but when the team are faced with saving an esteemed colleague's life, will he change his mind?

60 min