Holby City cast: New, leaving and returning characters

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EASTENDERS star Davood Ghadami is the latest actor set to join the cast of Holby City, following his exit as Kush Kazemi.

Here’s the lowdown on the BBC medical drama’s latest comings and goings…

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Former EastEnders star Davood Ghadami is set to join the cast of Holby City

Eli Ebrahimi (Davood Ghadami) – joining

Davood Ghadami – whose final scenes as EastEnders’ Kush Kazemi aired earlier this month (April 2021) – has bagged himself a new role in Holby City. 

Davood is set to play the medical drama’s new consultant cardiothoracic surgeon, Eli, who soap bosses have described as “excitable, passionate and exploding with energy”.

He is expected to appear on the medical drama later this year.

Speaking out about his new role, Davood revealed: “I am absolutely thrilled to be joining such a brilliant show.”

He added: “Holby City is renowned for its quality storytelling and I’m excited for the audience to meet Eli and watch the drama that unfolds on his arrival!”

Series producer of Holby City, Sean Gleeson, added: “We’re delighted that Davood has joined us.

“We are more than excited to welcome Davood from EastEnders to Holby and know that he is going to be a fantastic addition to our cast.”

Belinda Owusu left her role in Holby City as Nicky in March 2021

Nicky McKendrick (Belinda Owusu) – left

Belinda Owusu confirmed she had left the medical soap at the end of March 2021 after her character’s evil boyfriend Cameron Dunn was finally exposed as a murderer.

After deciding to keep her and Cameron’s baby, Nicky made an emotional departure from the hospital. 

In real life, actress Belinda then made a shock announcement that she was expecting her first child in February. 

Posting on Instagram, Belinda revealed that she was 40 weeks into her pregnancy.

Jac Naylor departed from Holby City after 15 years playing Jac Naylor

Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel) – left

Rosie Marcel departed from Holby City after 15 years playing Jac Naylor in February 2021.

Fans had been left fearing that Jac would be killed off in the soap’s horror siege, but thankfully the character survived and the door for her return one day was left open. 

Speaking about her reasons for leaving the soap, Jac revealed at the time: “I’m tired, I need a break, and I want to spend time with my child – so does Jac. The difference is that my husband is not a drug addict and hasn’t let me down – yet!

“I’m sad obviously – I love the show and I’ve been there a really long time. It got to a stage where I was just so tired and I really needed that break, to the point where I’ve not really done anything else and I don’t want to – I want to take time off. I’m well-slept currently, which is very nice. Homeschooling is obviously very difficult for everyone at the moment and I’m very grateful that I can be here and do it. I am feeling good and positive.

“I wanted to have a break and spend time with family – I haven’t spent a lot of time with my daughter or my husband. I didn’t want to get to a point in my life where I thought, ‘I really wish I’d taken time off’ – I didn’t want to be that person with regrets. It was a big decision.”

Speaking about whether she would ever return to Holby, Rosie added: “I think until they kill Jac, there is always a chance for a return but it’s too early to say right now. I really need time with my family.”

Holby City star Sian Reese-Williams recently confirmed she had exited the soap

Jodie Rodgers (Sian Reese-Williams) – left

Holby City star Sian Reese-Williams confirmed she had exited the soap back in February 2021 after her character Jodie’s unborn baby passed away in theatre following her horror car accident.

Jodie then fled the hospital, but was found by the mental health nurse, Lucky, and eventually sectioned.

Actress Sian confirmed she had filmed her final scenes as Jodie at the time, writing on Twitter: “Thanks, Holby. I had an absolute blast.”

Laila Rouass recently reprised her role as Sahira Shah in Holby City

Sahira Shah (Laila Rouass) – returned

Holby City brought back Sahira Shah in February 2021 as Jac Naylor’s replacement on Darwin Ward.

Laila Rouass originally played Sahira from 2011 until 2012.

Following the star’s return in 2021, her character Sahira quickly became embroiled in a dramatic storyline when it emerged that her father, Reyhan, had abused consultant Henrik Hanssen when he was a child.

Hanssen recently put his own feelings aside to perform a liver transplant on Reyhan after he was admitted to hospital, before confronting him about the abuse.