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Jac Naylor
Holby City character
Rosie Marcel as Jac Naylor in 2006
First appearance	8x06, "Bird on a Wire", 22 November 2005
Created by	Richard Stokes
Portrayed by	Rosie Marcel
Spinoff(s)	HolbyBlue, 2008
In-universe information
Occupation	Specialist registrar
Romances	Joseph Byrne Lord Charles Byrne
Ward	Darwin

Jacqueline "Jac" Naylor is a fictional character in the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by actress Rosie Marcel. The character first appeared on-screen on 22 November 2005, in episode "Bird on a Wire" - series 8, episode 6 of the programme.

Creation

Jac Naylor was one of eight new characters to join Holby City's cast in its eighth series. She was created as a General Surgical Registrar, on the surgical firm of established Consultant character Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie). Prior to being cast in the role of Jac, actress Rosie Marcel had made appearances in both Holby City and its sister show Casualty. She appeared in Holby City series 6 episode 7, "Past Caring", as cocaine addicted patient Elinor Morton, and in Casualty in both series 8 episode 17, "United we Fall", as injured graffiti artist Stella, and series 11 episode 1, "Chain Reaction", as patient Dorothea Mikus. Marcel's casting was first announced on 12 September 2005, when she stated that: "I wanted to be a vet when I was younger, so this is as close as I've got to a medical career! Watch out for Jac arriving in black leathers riding on a motorbike!"

Development

Personality

Upon announcing the character's creation, BBC Publicity described Jac as "strong-minded and direct - she's never one to mince her words. She's also a real political player and thinks others who don't play the game are naive". The BBC Holby City homepage expands on this, explaining that Jac is "a sexually manipulative, political animal [who'll] stop at nothing to become a Cardio Consultant and doesn't care who she destroys along the way." Comparing herself to the character, actress Rosie Marcel has stated: "Me and Jac are similar in the sense that we're both strong-minded women. I can be quite competitive too. But that's where it ends. I'm not an ice queen, and I'm not evil or mean." Jac's personality was further developed when the character appeared in a cross-over episode of sister series HolbyBlue. Prior to the episode's broadcast, series creator Tony Jordan explained: "Fans [...] [will] see a very different side to her; John Keenan and Luke French manage to unearth a vulnerable and lost soul which is hidden deep beneath Jac's usually rock hard exterior". Interviewing Marcel, the BBC deemed Jac "headstrong and feisty", but questioned on whether she felt Jac was capable of taking someone's life as accused, Marcel responded: "Jac's job is to save lives, not to take them. She believes in her abilities as a surgeon and wouldn't jeopardise that for anything."

Relationships

During the character's first few months on the show, it was revealed that she had previously had a relationship with established character Nick Jordan, who appeared in Holby City's first series, and returned in series 8. Describing their reunion, when Nick arrived back at Holby City hospital and accepted the Consultancy position Jac had applied for, Marcel explained: "Jac's been feeling really confident. She's incredibly ambitious and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. Her only small concern is that Ric, the head of General Surgery, will choose Diane for the role because they're such good friends. She bumps into Nick outside the hospital and the look of disgust on her face says it all. It's clear they have some really bad history between them. And then to her fury, Nick announces that he's back to stay and has been offered Jac's coveted consultant post. They've worked together before and Jac knows Nick will tread on anyones toes to get to the top. It makes for some great fight scenes". It later came to light that Jac had taken the blame for a surgical error made by Nick, damaging her career in the process.

Throughout Holby City's ninth series, Jac was involved in a love triangle storyline with cardiothoracic registrar Joseph Byrne, and his father Lord Charles Byrne. She broke up with Joseph, using his father to attempt to gain a promotion, but was disappointed when he died before securing her one. Luke Roberts, who plays Joseph, stated of his character after the break up: "Jac has screwed him up royally. But he owes his evolution in part to her. She stole his innocence but also made him tougher, more capable of operating in the real world (well tv land). Understandably he is now rather sceptical about relationships and that may inhibit future romances". When Jac was arrested under suspicion of attacking patient Alan Clooney, Joseph disclosed during a police interview that he believed her to be capable of murder. Asked whether she thought Jac would be shocked by his response, Marcel responded: "Jac would be very shocked and disappointed at Joseph's statement. He's the only person Jac's allowed to get even remotely close to her. She feels he knows her better than anyone. However, she has a lot of history with Joseph, not all of it good, so he probably believes she's capable of anything".

Dubai blargh.

”I’ll never ride a motorbike again!” “You see shots of me driving along on the bike, but I was actually strapped to the back of a lorry,” reveals the actress. “We had a stunt guy to do the most important parts - though it’s my crumpled body lying on the ground at the end of the episode.” “The accident happens because Jac’s so determined to get to the hospital and tell Joseph what she’s found out about Faye,” shares Rosie. “Jac’s still in love with Joseph and wants to win him back - in her eyes, Faye has stolen him from her.”

HolbyBlue

Discussing her character's cross-over appearance in Holby City's sister show HolbyBlue, Marcel told The Sun's Zoe Street-Howe: "You’ll be seeing a very different side to Jac – she’s very emotional and she’s very scared. I think she’s far too strong-minded to ever kill somebody, although she’s got a temper, and there is a definite possibility that she could do something in a moment of rage. Everything's pointing at her." Jac is defended in the episode by colleague Lola Griffin, as Marcel explained: "Lola helped to fight off Alan Clooney in the original episode, and she comes to the police station and she does say, ‘No, Jac would never do anything like this.’ Jac thinks she’s alone though, she’s locked up in a cell, she doesn’t realise anyone’s there. She’s had her clothes taken from her and has to wear a white paper boiler suit – very flattering. It kept ripping in the groin!" The Sun assessed that "despite the indignity, humiliation and downright fear Jac is feeling, she still manages to retain her trademark sarcasm with the police". Marcel agreed with this summation, revealing: "Even when she’s basically being charged with murder, she’s horrible to them. But she has to face the fact she’s being arrested, taken to the station and charged".

Career

A taste of her own medicine "Jac assumes that Lady Byrne will do everything in her power to stop Jac from getting the job," explains Rosie Marcel, who plays the hard-nosed medic. "She's convinced that she'll be judged on her personal reputation rather than her professional merits." So Jac tries to persuade Holby's chief executive officer, Jayne, to have Lady Byrne removed from the panel. "Jayne flatly refuses," reveals Rosie. "Jac pleads with her that it would be unfair for Lady Byrne to be interviewing her, because they have 'history' - but Jac doesn't know that Jayne's aware of her past and knows Lady Byrne very well." Desperate not to let this chance to progress slip by, determined Jac turns to her ex-boyfriend and Lady Byrne's son, Joseph. "Jac's very conniving," Rosie smirks. "You may remember when she turned up at Lord Byrne's funeral, and Joseph hit her very hard in the face. Since then, Jac's been experiencing terrible headaches - so she threatens to expose Joseph as a 'wife-beater' if he doesn't get his mum to recommend her for the promotion." However, Jac's plan goes awry. Not only does she learn that Lady Byrne was set to support her application regardless of her son's pressure, but Lola - who's been concerned about Jac's headaches - then orders her to take some sick leave, meaning she's unable to go for the job! "Being a consultant means everything to Jac," sighs Rosie. "But she's messed up her chances. And for once, nobody was even against her." Clearly Jac's usual manipulative way of dealing with things has done her no favours this time, so should we expect to see her playing by the book in the future? "Perhaps - but she'll do it for her own ends," smiles 30-year-old Rosie. "There are some scenes coming up where she softens though. I'm looking forward to them."

In popular culture

The 17 November 2006 Children in Need charity telethon included a segment featuring the Holby City cast performing a version of Hung Up by Madonna. Marcel as Jac featured prominently in this sketch, performing part of the song's second verse alongside Patricia Potter (Diane Lloyd).

Storylines

Jac arrives at Holby City Hospital in episode "Bird on a Wire", as part of a surgical team undertaking a hemicorporectomy. She uses the opportunity to make an impression on General Surgical Consultant Ric Griffin, hoping to be offered a permanent job at Holby. Although she fails on this occasion, she returns to the hospital several weeks later, determined to work her way up to Consultant. It is revealed that Jac once had a relationship with Consultant Nick Jordan, and took the blame for a surgical error he made, resulting in animosity between the pair. Jac goes on to begin a relationship with Cardiothoracic Registrar Joseph Byrne, hoping to exploit his position as son of prominent medical figure Lord Charles Byrne. She is disappointed when rival surgeon Diane Lloyd is promoted to Consultant ahead of her, and uses Joseph to win her way onto a medical trip to Dubai, organised by Lord Byrne.

Realising that her relationship with Joseph is not advancing her career fast enough, Jac begins a sexual relationship with his father. After weeks of deceit, Lord Byrne eventually reveals the truth to Joseph, and later begins divorce proceedings against his wife, Lady Anne-Marie Byrne. He makes a deal with Ric that he will support Ric's fiance, Thandie Abebe's racism complaint against Consultant Elliot Hope, if Ric will consider Jac for promotion. Despite this, in episode "Temporary Insanity", not only does Ric turn Jac down for promotion, but Lord Byrne dies following a stroke and pulmonary embolism. With her chances of promotion ruined, Jac goes out of her way to hurt Joseph further, attending Lord Byrne's funeral against the family's wishes, and goading Joseph into verbally and physically attacking her.

When Jac and Joseph both apply for a position working on Louise Clifford's stent trial, Jac removes her makeup and reveals her bruised face to Louise, informing her that Joseph inflicted the marks on her. She thus attains the position ahead of Joseph. Later, when applying for a vacant Consultancy position, Jac discovers Joseph's mother is on the interview panel. She blackmails Joseph into ensuring Lady Byrne supports her, claiming to have been experiencing migraines since he hit her, and threatening to expose his attack. She is later embarrassed to learn Lady Byrne intended to support her anyway, and that upon learning of her 'headaches', Lola Griffin has signed her off on sick leave, rendering her ineligible for the Consultancy.

In September 2007, Jac is assaulted by patient Alan Clooney. She is rescued by Lola before Clooney is able to rape her, but declines to report the assault, not wanting to be seen as a victim. Six months later, in March 2008, Clooney reappears when his wife is admitted to hospital. After an altercation with Jac, he is found bleeding in the stairwell, and subsequently dies from his injuries. Jac is arrested and charged with his murder, but is released when the real killer, one of Clooney's victims, confesses. Following her release, Jac attempts to make amends for her previous wrongdoings, making an effort to be friendlier to her colleagues, and showing an interest in Catholicism. She is distrustful of Joseph's new lover, Ward Sister Faye Morton, and goes as far as to follow her outside of work in an attempt to prove she is being unfaithful to Joseph. Believing herself to have discovered Faye is secretly married, Jac hurries back to Holby to tell Joseph, but crashes her motorbike and is badly injured. It later transpires that her supposition was incorrect, and Faye is in fact divorced. Her injuries leave Jac on crutches, and she becomes more determined to separate Joseph and Faye, interfering in their wedding plans, and exposing Faye's secret son. She uses the discovery that Faye's son Archie has Lowe Syndrome to damage their relationship further, aware that Faye is unwilling to have anymore children, and taunting her that Joseph will never settle for living a childless life.

Reception

While Jac has been deemed "one of Holby City's most popular characters" by series creator Tony McHale, Marcel has opined that: "Jac is a very strong character and there's really not much to like about her!" The Sun's Zoe Street-How has agreed with this assessment, writing that "outspoken Jac isn’t the easiest person to like", while The Mirror TV critic Jim Shelley has referred to her unfavourably as a "man-eating android". Other Mirror critics have been similarly disparaging, with Jane Simon writing of an argument between Jac and Faye: "[T]he women of Holby! My God, you wouldn't want to meet one of them down a dark alley. [...] Faye and scary Jac have another of their showdowns over the pathetic Joseph. Terriers scrapping over a rag doll spring to mind", and Maeve Quigley reviewing: "How far will Jac Naylor go to further her own career? That's like asking, how long is a piece of string. [...] That deathly pallor of hers isn't the most reassuring shade to see skulking about the wards of an evening. When she's not bending the rules to try and bump off patients, Jac's main hobby is scoring points off Faye (Patsy Kensit). [...] Detectives are digging up the body of Faye's first husband (the one who left her rather a lot of money). To have one husband die in suspicious circumstances is unlucky, but two is, like Jac, beyond the pale".

The character's cross-over with sister series HolbyBlue proved more popular, with the episode which saw Jac arrested receiving 7 million viewers and a 30% audience share. In contrast, the second highest viewed show in the timeslot was Who Wants to be a Millionaire on ITV, which was watched by just 3.9 million, 17% of the audience." The Guardian writer Gareth McLean was critical of the following HolbyBlue episode, writing: "Should the appearance of Holby City's spiky Jac in HolbyBlue, on suspicion of attempted murder, be greeted with interest or indifference? Certainly, the dull cop show needs all the help it can get [...] Jac's plot is so well signposted that you're left not anticipating its resolution but frustrated that it took so long."

Jac has proved somewhat popular with Holby City fans. In the 2006 official holby.tv awards, supported by the BBC and voted for by fans of the show, Jac was named fourth 'Fave Newcomer of Series 8'. In 2007, she was voted fans' fifth 'Fave All-Time Female', and the love-triangle storyline with Joseph and Lord Byrne placed as third 'Fave Series 9 Storyline'. In 2008, Marcel was awarded fifth 'Best Acting Performance in Series 10' for Jac's storyline with rapist Alan Clooney, while the character was also voted fifth 'Fave Female of Series 10'.

External links

• Character page at BBC's Holby City Homepage
• Profile at Holby.tv Database

Category:Holby City characters Category:Fictional surgeons