Series 31

44 episodes · 2016

As Charlie celebrates his 30th anniversary, the department is thrown into chaos.

Elle attempts to rally the troops, and Alicia discovers an uncomfortable truth.

Jac comes down to the ED to perform an emergency operation.

Ethan and Alicia are thrown together in a rescue operation.

Duffy pushes Charlie into attending a 50-year school reunion, where he bumps into old crush Gloria, and former bully Allan, who just happens to be Gloria's husband - and does not seem to have changed his brutish ways. As Allan's playground antics get the better of Charlie, a scrap ensues, leaving the old ruffian with more than just a bruised ego. Meanwhile, a very public argument between David and his ex-wife Rosa prompts their troubled son to act out in a very dangerous way, and Alicia tries to take her mind off her drunken antics with Ethan by helping a frail - but wily - elderly patient with a cat-based dilemma

Ethan struggles to make Alicia's birthday a day to remember as Lily deals with a family feud too close to home

Robyn's plans are thwarted when her ailing sweetheart Glen's health takes a turn for the worse. Meanwhile, Dylan's clinical skills are put to the test

Elle calls Connie's ability to focus on the job into question following her recent brush with death, and Robyn's plans for the future take a sudden, unexpected turn.

Robyn faces a difficult decision, while Ethan passes up the chance of happiness for the sake of his brother.

Dylan is distraught when Dervla goes missing - although it soon turns out new F1 Sebastian (Rik Makarem) knows something about the dog's disappearance. After waking up with Alicia, Cal is forced to admit his true feelings for her, but she remains unsure about committing to a relationship.

A spark of attraction remains between Charlie and Duffy, but with the status of Duffy's struggling marriage still unconfirmed, neither seems brave enough to take the plunge and ask the other out. However, when Duffy's pregnant daughter-in-law turns up the ED, the star-crossed pair find themselves delivering a baby - and repeating history. Meanwhile, Dylan discovers his new student Sebastian is the son of one of Holby's established surgical consultants, and is feeling the pressure of living up to his father's lofty expectations

An undercover inspection pits the doctors against the nurses, as Connie struggles to come to terms with Grace's condition

After a disappointing review, Jacob, Charlie and Duffy decide to challenge the team, questioning if Noel, Louise and David have the heart, brains and courage to do their jobs. Meanwhile, Alicia writes Ethan a touching biography for his online dating profile. But does any other woman understand him like she does?

Ethan struggles to bury his feelings for Alicia, as she and Cal become increasingly intimate. In an effort to get over his unrequited crush, Ethan invites another girl to the Christmas party, but the gesture doesn't stop him fixating on Alicia once he arrives on the scene. Meanwhile, Charlie and Duffy take advantage of the festivities to announce their relationship, but things turn sour when Ryan, Duffy's husband, turns up

Holby plays host to its very own Christmas Carol when ruthless department store manager Larry is admitted to A&E after getting caught up in a Christmas Eve sales riot at his shop. Also injured in the chaos is Toby, the son of Larry's put-upon deputy Rob, who was forced to bring his child in to work due to his inability to pay for child care. As the miserly Larry lashes out at his staff for their inability to contain the disaster, young Toby manfully weathers the pain of his injuries to give his father's boss a piece of his mind. Meanwhile, Duffy's estranged husband Ryan is also caught up in the fracas, and when he too is admitted to the ED, he makes use of his hospitalisation to try to repair his fractured marriage - much to Charlie's dismay

Rumours spread about Sebastian's accusation against Dylan, While Ethan decides it is time to stand up to Cal.

Dylan becomes the source of gossip after Seb's allegations, while Alicia and Ethan are forced to face the consequences of their actions.

A scuffle at an illegal rave leads an over-enthusiastic sergeant causing serious head injuries to a 19-year-old man and later planting drugs in his belongings to corroborate his claim that he had been assaulted twice by his quarry. Jacob is dubious about the sergeant's story and takes a police constable to one side in an attempt to persuade her not be an accomplice to her superior's crooked ways. Elsewhere, Elle's career is on the line as Connie goes on the warpath, David struggles to connect with his son, and Cal suspects Alicia's infidelity

Belle, a supervisor from a young offenders institute, is brought into the ED after being struck over the head with a wok by one of her charges, and Iain is dismayed to discover the assailant in question is his estranged younger sister Gem. However, there is more to Belle and Gem's conflict than first meets the eye, as the youth worker demonstrates a damaging attitude toward the young people in her care. Meanwhile, Connie treats Jamieson, who injured himself while exercising, and is claiming to be much younger than he appears. The case takes a more dangerous turn when the truth about his age is revealed, along with the motives of his much-younger fiancee

Alicia is surprised to discover her long-estranged parents Howard and Jackie are planning to give their marriage another go. However, when old family friend Martin turns up at their surprise anniversary party, and seems to have a falling-out with Howard, it soon becomes clear there is a secret third wheel in their relationship. Meanwhile, Charlie balances his over-zealous wedding-planning with caring for a reluctant teenage football star, and Cal's trust in Alicia is tested when he discovers she has a secret phone hidden in her locker

The morning of Charlie's wedding arrives, and Cal and Ethan wake hung-over following a riotous the stag party. However, the pair have no memory of the previous night's events, Charlie is missing, and Cal seems to have acquired a mysterious suitcase, which is cuffed to his wrist. Retracing their steps takes them back to a B&B, a tattoo parlour and a strip club, leading to a deadly encounter with a criminal intent on reclaiming the suitcase. Meanwhile, Duffy worries that her groom has developed cold feet, Iain receives a visiting order from Gem, and Elle learns a second complaint has been made against her

The day of Elle's hearing arrives, and Connie makes sure Grace is present as a visual reminder of Elle's mistake. Giving her testament, Connie delivers an exaggerated version of her daughter's condition, and makes it clear she will stop at nothing in the pursuit of her vendetta. However, when Grace collapses in the bathroom, severely injuring herself on broken glass, it falls to Elle to save the girl's life. Meanwhile, back in the emergency department, Robyn has doubts about whether she is fit to be a mother, after discovering her colleagues are placing bets on how she will manage

Iain is unexpectedly reunited with his sister when he is called out to an emergency involving his mother, but his efforts to make amends for his past have unforeseen repercussions. The hospital is inundated with binge drinkers, including a hen party that has ended with the bride getting shot with a bow and arrow. Dylan struggles to cope, but the experience gives him an idea. Grace returns to work, but seems to have lost her ability to talk

Steph, the woman responsible for Grace's hospitalisation, is rushed into the ER after attempting suicide in prison. The staff face an upward struggle in finding out what pills she has taken, one which is made all the more difficult by the patient's refusal to speak - and the cold distain of both Connie and Jacob. However, when it becomes clear Connie visited Steph in prison not long before she tried to claim her own life, things become even more complicated. Meanwhile, Iain helps Gem to get a job in the hospital coffee shop, and when Grace's continued silence is ruled as being a psychological issue, Sam decides it may be time to take her home

David prepares to hand Ollie over to his aunt, who will be taking him back to Rosa in Spain. With their separation imminent, father and son spend one last day together - in the ER. Iain suspects Gem is up to her old tricks when she short-changes a customer at the coffee shop, and Dylan presents himself to the board to pitch an idea to raise awareness of alcohol abuse. However, when his presentation fails to hit the mark, Louise takes matters into her own hands, and drags the board members into the corridors of the ER to witness firsthand the pressure binge drinkers are placing on the hospital's resources

The Holby staff become increasingly concerned about David's manic behaviour when he impulsively buys a fancy car on the way to work, and behaves inappropriately at the pub. Concerned for his safety, a heavily pregnant Robyn takes it upon herself to intervene, but ends up placing herself in jeopardy in the process. Meanwhile, back at the ED, a man with potentially fatal burns is admitted after rescuing a fellow driver from her crashed car, and the gang prepares to throw a 60th birthday party for Duffy - even though she's actually 56

David takes a heavily pregnant Robyn to a graveyard, and makes a candid confession about his mental state while visiting his brother's final resting place. However, any further progress is halted when Robyn suddenly goes into labour. Meanwhile, on the booze bus, Jez manages to impress Louise with his compassionate attitude toward an avid gamer who was mugged, losing the mobile phone on which he kept pictures of his late daughter. Back at A&E, Lily has serious concerns about a 12-year-old girl who seems to be exhibiting classic symptoms of drug withdrawal

Robyn is feeling positive following the premature arrival of her daughter Charlotte. However, it seems she is failing to grasp the seriousness of her baby's illness. As the child's condition worsens, Robyn struggles to decide whether to follow her head or her heart in authorising treatment. Meanwhile, Cal tries to find a way to ease the passing of Miriam, an elderly woman with end-stage lung cancer, but trouble arises when Miriam's daughter Neeve registers a complaint against him for prolonging her mother's suffering

Alicia wakes up in Sam's bed, while Iain and Gem's relationship is tested when they spend the day together on the rig and Iain is confronted with his biggest fear. Evie is confronted at home by a masked intruder who attacks her and ransacks the property, and when Evie manages to escape, she is hit outside by Susie's car

Connie makes an effort to show how much she cares on Grace's birthday, but Grace rejects her, and David returns for his first day back at work with his resignation letter for Jacob. Meanwhile, Robyn worries there is something wrong with baby Charlotte, but Duffy and Charlie reassure her it is just a minor cough

Stan Cullen hopes to escape the tyranny of a bullying boss by burning down a building on a secure construction site. However, he is unaware that his wife Tamzin has the same goal in mind, and happens to be inside the building he has set ablaze. Meanwhile, Cal confronts Sam, claiming he has been intimidating Lily into working overtime, and Jez wakes to find himself in the bed of Elle's 17-year-old son Kalen, resulting in a tense stand-off in the ED

The first day of Cal's planned strike arrives, and while he and his allies set up their picket line, Lily struggles to decide where her loyalties lie. Inside the hospital, the industrial action causes trouble for Sam, who resolves to make up for staff shortages by manning the ED himself, despite his lack of experience. Meanwhile, Iain's pride over Gemma's recent achievements is dashed when he realises she was the one who leaked lurid pictures of Alicia online, and a hard-line racist is admitted after being injured in a pub brawl

Sam's rash decision to man the ED himself during the staff strike comes back to haunt him when Roy Ellison's wife and son turn up at the hospital, and discover what has happened to him. The Ellisons quickly prove that violent behaviour runs in the family, and when their actions on the ward become unacceptable, events begin to spiral out of control. Meanwhile, Iain and Jez find Lily unconscious in the car park, after Gem accidentally hit her while driving erratically. Racked with guilt, Gem decides to hand herself in, but Lily's prospects remain grim

Louise confronts Jez about his infidelity, but when he comes clean and reveals his secret squeeze is Mickey, she is left stunned. A revelation about the events of the previous week leaves Ethan reeling, and Charlie makes it is personal mission to restore the spirits of everyone in the ED

Now that Grace is living with Sam, Connie and Hugo have become a contented family unit of their own. However, when Hugo's father Jim gets in touch, and tells Connie he is planning to take Hugo back, the troubled youngster runs away. Determined to keep him from harm, Connie, Jim, Jacob and Phil, a policeman receiving treatment in the ED, mount a search. Meanwhile, Lily returns to work to get closer to Iain, but proves she is still not quite at the top of her game when she fails to notice a patient rescued from the ruins of a collapsed building has tell-tale track-marks on her arm

Elle agrees to deliver a career talk at her son Blake's school, but her speech is derailed when she discovers some unexpected truths about her child and his friends. Luckily, Josh and Jacob are on hand to help.

Violence at a right-wing rally outside a local Muslim community centre brings plenty of patients in to Holby's ER, including Mickey, who Jez is dismayed to learn has still been supporting his racist family. Ethan discovers Scott Ellisson has been released from police custody without charge, and when he turns up at the hospital alongside his injured brother, Ethan spots a chance to confront him about Cal's death. Meanwhile, Iain worries Lily is overdoing it as she prepares for her consultancy exams, and Duffy tries to help Charlie process his grief, as he ignores his own emotions in an attempt to help his colleagues deal with Cal's untimely demise

The day of Cal's funeral arrives, and when details emerge of how his brother spent his final moments, a troubled Ethan turns to drink. Meanwhile, a school trip to France comes to an abrupt end when a scuffle on board the coach causes it to crash. As a result, the ED is inundated with teenage patients, including Sean, whose unusual vitamin tablets ring alarm-bells for the staff, and Sky, whose mother is a long-term advocate of alternative medicine, and is not happy about her daughter receiving an X-ray scan

Alicia's concerns about Ethan escalate when she discovers he hasn't been sleeping, and has instead been keeping watch outside of Scott Ellisson's flat. Elsewhere, Iain and Lily begin the day with a spring in their step after their night together, but cracks begin to show in their blossoming relationship when they disagree over how to deal with an elderly couple hospitalised following a botched suicide pact. Plus, sparks fly between Connie and Sam

The ED staff are surprised when Sam shows up to work in scrubs instead of his usual suit. He reveals he has stepped down as medical director, and is now joining the department as a speciality doctor. Dylan struggles to cope in the wake of Cal's death, and ends up having a panic attack while trying to treat a feisty retired nurse who admitted herself to hospital with a self-diagnosed heart attack. Luckily, David is on hand to reach out to the difficult patient, and get to the bottom of what's bothering Dylan

Ethan discovers Scott's brother Mickey is in a secret relationship with Jez, and he seeks to befriend the lad and turn him against his sibling. However, when Mickey proves to be too terrified to help, Ethan turns to blackmail instead, earning disapproval from both Jez and Alicia. Meanwhile, Connie pulls rank on Sam when he asks for time off to take Grace to a physiotherapy session, and later, Sam spots a chance to undermine Connie while treating a bride who mysteriously collapsed at the altar

Tensions between Jez, Iain, Mickey and Scott look set to reach fever pitch after Mickey is brought in to the ED, having been injured during a police chase following a race-related assault on a shopkeeper. Desperate to keep his relationship secret from his hardline brother Scott, Mickey puts on a front and insults Jez, but when Iain realises Scott has intimidated the shopkeeper's wife into silence, he decides to make use of his knowledge to ensure justice is done. Meanwhile, Max takes an interest in attractive mortuary assistant Tara during a speed-dating session at the Hope & Anchor, but the situation becomes complicated after Tara faints, resulting in an illuminating trip back to the hospital

Scott is admitted to the ED after taking a nasty fall during a fight with Mickey, and while Ethan is initially assigned to take care of him, the powers-that-be quickly realise this is a bad idea. Meanwhile, with both her sons in hospital, Ellisson matriarch Denise turns up on the ward, and it is not long before she discovers the reason her boys were scrapping. Connie delights in bringing Grace into the department to show off her recovery, but when the youngster gets in the way of her mother's work, it becomes clear their relationship still isn't on an even keel

Jez saves a woman from a burning building. Duffy takes charge of two college students observing life in the emergency department. Louise feels the pressure when Noel falls ill.