If Wishes Were Horses (Doctors)

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"If Wishes Were Horses"
Doctors episode
Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) playing Karen's (Jan Pearson) final voicemail as she lays dead beside him
Episode no.Episode 4318
Directed byDavid Lewis Richardson
Written byClaire Bennett
Editing bySimon Prentice
Original air date30 March 2023 (2023-03-30)
Running time28 minutes
Episode chronology
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"If Wishes Were Horses" is an episode of the British television soap opera Doctors, broadcast on BBC One on 30 March 2023. The episode covers the shock death of mainstay regular character Karen Hollins (Jan Pearson). Her death was not announced prior to the episode airing, nor was the exit of Pearson after fourteen years of appearing on Doctors. Charlie Clemmow reprised her role as Imogen Hollins for the episode with a voice appearance.

Viewers were shocked by the unannounced shock death of Karen and expressed their sadness via social media. Birmingham Mail noted how the "excellent episode" had proved how Doctors is the best soap opera and many viewers hoped that cast member Chris Walker would be awarded for his portrayal of grief.[1]

Plot

Dr. Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan
), who arrives and tells Rob that Karen has died.

Jimmi steps into the hallway to answer a call from

Dr. Al Haskey (Ian Midlane), who cries when he learns that Karen has died. Once he is alone with Karen, Rob realises that Karen is dead and breaks down. He tells Jimmi that Karen would always say "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride" and then wishes that Karen had not died. Jimmi calls Maxine Palmer (Sherise Blackman), a funeral director. A cheery Scarlett then arrives home, not realising that Karen has died. Once informed, she starts crying and realises that Karen has left Rob a voicemail, which he plays. Scarlett answers the door to Maxine, telling her that it is a bad time, not realising that she is a funeral director. Rob says goodbye to Karen and she is taken away. He tells Maxine that Karen wanted to be cremated, with a huge party afterwards, which he believed he would not be attending since he thought that he would die before Karen. He then rings daughter Imogen (Charlie Clemmow
) and informs her of Karen's death, who breaks down into tears over the phone. While Jimmi comforts a tearful Scarlett, Rob sits on the sofa smelling Karen's perfume and listening to her voicemail to him, where she says the phrase "if wishes were horses, beggars would ride".

Production

"If Wishes Were Horses" was the final episode that

three cheers to Pearson, who burst into tears.[3] Her departure from the series was not announced beforehand, and her shock death was a complete surprise for viewers.[4] All that was hinted about the episode prior to airing was that Karen and Rob's night "takes a shock turn".[5] Clemmow reprised her role as Imogen after two years away for Karen's death. She described it as the most challenging storyline she had ever done.[6]

Reception

At the

What to Watch wrote similarly, noting how viewers "couldn't stop crying at the shocking and devastating death of the much-loved character".[9] Radio Times highlighted that one viewer had "never cried so much at a soap episode" and another labelled the scenes "traumatic".[10] Birmingham Mail noted how the "excellent episode" had proved how Doctors is the best soap opera; a viewer added that Doctors "know how to tug at the heart strings".[1] As well as mourning for Karen, many viewers praised Walker's acting skills in the episode. Described as "amazing" and an "absolutely outstanding performance", people felt that Walker deserved an award for his portrayal of grief in the episode.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b Rodger, James (31 March 2023). "BBC Doctors viewers say 'you've broken me' as 'iconic' character killed off". Birmingham Mail. (Reach plc). Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. ^ Pegg, Kia [@kiapegg] (30 March 2023). "This scene was the very last one to be shot in 2022 and I can't lie, it was a bit of a downer to finish the year on" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Doctors [@bbcdoctors] (31 March 2023). "❤️" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (30 March 2023). "Doctors kill off longstanding character after 14 years in shocking twist". Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  5. What to Watch. (Future plc). Archived
    from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  6. ^ Clemmow, Charlie [@charlieclemmow] (30 March 2023). "This is the beginning of the most challenging storyline I've ever done. Catch up here…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ Barrett, Kerry (2 May 2023). "The British Soap Awards 2023: shortlist nominations, categories, how to vote and all we know". (Future plc). Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b Patterson, Stephen (31 March 2023). "Fans utterly broken as Doctors icon dies after 14 years". Metro. (DMG Media). Archived from the original on 31 March 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  9. ^
    What to Watch. (Future plc). Archived
    from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  10. ^ a b Hibbs, James. "Doctors fans "never cried so much" as they react to heartbreaking death". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 1 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.

External links

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