Doctors is a British medical soap opera which began broadcasting on BBC One on 26 March 2000.^[1] Set in the fictional West Midlands town of Letherbridge, the soap follows the lives of the staff and patients of the Mill Health Centre, a fictional NHS doctor's surgery, as well as its sister surgery, the University of Letherbridge Campus Surgery. Kirsty Millar (Kiruna Stamell) is hired as a receptionist in January, while Wendi Peters made her debut as Dr. Nina Bulsara in February. In March, Rahul Arya joined the cast as Dr. Suni Bulsara, Nina's son. He was followed by his aunt, Binita Prabhu (Nina Wadia), who appeared for a guest stint in April. April also saw the arrival of midwife Malika Dahlan (Aria Prasad), as well as Tanisha Fonesca (Andrea Ali), a love interest for Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee). In May, student Miles Bailey (Louis Saxby) made his first appearance, as well as PC Claudia Briant (Kiza Deen), a police officer and love interest for Bear. September saw a guest stint from Andrea Mason as Frankie Sharp, an angry patient at the Mill. Then in November, midwife Jenny Ackerman (Lois Pearson) debuted. Additionally, multiple other characters appear throughout the year.

Kirsty Millar, portrayed by Kiruna Stamell, made her first appearance on 11 January 2023.^[2] She is introduced as a receptionist at the Mill Health Centre following the dismissal of former receptionist Valerie Pitman (Sarah Moyle). In her first scene, she meets with Ruhma Carter (Bharti Patel), who she has known for years due to working with her at St. Phils Hospital. Ruhma has high praise for Kirsty, informing the staff at the Mill how experienced she is. Speaking of her first episode, What's on TV wrote that Kirsty would divide the existing staff due to her "forthright manner".^[3] On her BBC profile, Kirsty was described as an "organised, loving, opinionated" character that "doesn't suffer fools".^[4] It also stated that her reason for coming to the Mill was to seek a new life.^[4] TVTimes wrote that thirty-something Kirsty would surprise the staff; Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee) "quickly realises she isn't backwards in coming forwards" when she immediately demands a new reception desk due to her dwarfism, while Emma Reid (Dido Miles) is "thrown" when Kirsty intercepts and takes over between herself and an angry patient.^[5]

What's on TV also teased the imminent arrivals of her husband and son, Rich (Richard Atwill) and Ollie (Isaac Benn).^[3] Simon Timblick of What to Watch confirmed that Kirsty's home life would be a focal point of her first storyline in the series. She is shown to not want to be with Rich anymore and a week into her time on Doctors, she tells him to pack his belongings and leave. She also has difficulties with Ollie reluctantly joining the army.^[6] Inside Soap also hinted that Kirsty and fellow receptionist Scarlett Kiernan (Kia Pegg) would have a workplace dispute when the pair "rub each other up the wrong way".^[7] However, a friendship between the pair is eventually developed when Kirsty invites Scarlett to live with her.^[8]

Stamell appeared on the BBC topical series Morning Live in March 2023 to talk about her time on Doctors, where she said that she was grateful to be given a character backstory that did not revolve around being disabled. Presenter Gethin Jones remarked that Kirsty does not reference her dwarfism, which Stamell replied that she is thankful for. She felt that because Kirsty's family and colleagues would be used to her condition, there would be no point in talking about it since it is part of her everyday life. Since Stamell has an Australian-influenced accent from her time living there, Sam Quek asked how she had learned the Brummie dialect. STamell recalled listening to audiobooks narrated by Jess Phillips and Alison Hammond and said that she was influenced by their accents. She struggled to pick up the accent at first, but began to feel more comfortable using it the longer she had stayed in the role.^[9]

Alongside Atwill and Benn, Stamell was nominated for the Best Family accolade at the 2023 British Soap Awards.^[10]

Dr. Nina Bulsara, portrayed by Wendi Peters, first appeared on 20 February 2023. Peters began filming for Doctors in October 2022 and announced her casting on the BBC topical series Morning Live on 2 November 2022.^[11] Prior to being cast as Nina, Peters had portrayed Nicky Connelly in a 2021 episode of Doctors.^[12] Peters clarified that Nina is a different and unconnected character.^[13] On Peters' casting, executive producer Mike Hobson said: "we are absolutely delighted to welcome Wendi to the Doctors cast. She is a familiar face every soap fan will recognise and we know she will be brilliant in this role."^[14]

Peters' first episode as Nina was set to air on 8 February 2023 where the character meets with Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) at a medical conference. In the episode, the characters get caught up in an explosion at the hotel hosting the conference. However, due to the episode being set for transmission at a similar time to the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, the BBC decided not to pull the episode from schedules hours before transmission.^[15] The episode eventually aired on 20 February 2023. The trauma of the explosion acts as bonding for Nina and Zara and the two become set on introducing Nina as a partner at the Mill Health Centre. ^[16]

Peters appeared on the Here She Is radio show to discuss her role as Nina. She confirmed that Nina's surname is derived from her dead husband, who was Indian. She also revealed that the pair have a son together who would be arriving in the serial a few weeks after Nina's debut.^[13] Once Zara persuades fellow partner Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers) to allow Nina to become a partner, she states that she wants her son, Suni (Rahul Arya), to be hired at the Mill.^[17]

Peters, who rose to prominence for portraying Cilla Battersby-Brown on Coronation Street, said that Nina is a completely different type of character to Cilla.^[18] Her backstory involves growing up as the daughter of two solicitors. Nina then went on to marry a consultant who died from a stroke. Peters described Nina as a headstrong woman who "knows what she wants" and hoped to see Nina get it.^[19] Hobson billed Nina as "a feisty busybody who wants to be respected" and hinted that she will "ruffle a few feathers at the Mill."^[14] Nina's BBC profile described her as a "headstrong woman who knows what she wants",^[20] while Suni's noted his close relationship with Nina and called him a "mummy's boy".^[21] Peters announced her exit from Doctors in September 2023, having filmed her final scenes that month.^[22]

Helen Daly of the Radio Times described Nina as "a chatterbox who has an opinion on everything and everyone" and opined that while she can be overbearing for her fellow colleagues, she is "a ray of light and will always find the positive in any difficult situation".^[14] Daly wrote that Nina would be a good addition to the cast, as well as Metro's Calli Kitson being intrigued by the character. Peters' co-star Elisabeth Dermot Walsh posted online that she was excited for viewers to meet the "charming, dynamic and maddening character".^[18] Also writing for the Metro, Chris Hallam described Nina as "bossy, interfering and annoying".^[23]

Dr. Suni Bulsara, portrayed by Rahul Arya, made first appearance on 8 March 2023. He was introduced as the son of Nina (Wendi Peters). Nina becomes a partner at the Mill Health Centre and one of her first acts is getting Suni hired as a doctor there as she feels he would be perfect to work there.^[24] Upon his hiring, it was hinted in episode descriptions that he would "ruffle feathers" amongst his new colleagues.^[25] Suni arrives on his first day in a luxury sports car which he parks in the charging port section of the car park. Scarlett Kiernan (Kia Pegg) tells him he cannot park there, but he ignores her since he wants to show off his car in a prominent location. A reluctant Scarlett gives him a tour of the building, but Suni quickly gets bored and wanders into Luca McIntyre's (Ross McLaren) nursing room where he is "favourably impressed by the sight of Luca".^[26]

Suni is bisexual and after flirting with Luca, he also flirts with Scarlett. However, Luca notices that he clams up when Nina walks in on the pair talking, and eventually learns that Suni is not out to his mother.^[27] A few weeks into his tenure, Suni was the focus of a standalone episode that saw him helping Jason Neale (Darryl Mundoma) with his mental health, as well as flashing back to see his reaction to Nina getting him a job without telling him. It touched upon his memories of his dead father when Suni hoped that he would be proud of him.^[28] Suni is shown to be insecure within his friendships and tries to impress the colleagues at the Mill by treating them to lavish meals and experiences, which Sid Vere (Ashley Rice) notices and gets annoyed by.^[29] Metro's Chris Hallam noted how Suni makes a bad first impression on almost everybody at the Mill and suggested that he may be "too flash and not really cut out to be a doctor".^[26]

Binita Prabhu, portrayed by Nina Wadia, appeared between 6 and 17 April 2023. She was introduced as Suni Bulsara's (Rahul Arya) aunt. Metro's Chris Hallam described Binita as "a dreadfully overbearing relative",^[23] with What to Watch's Simon Timblick adding that she is "hard to please".^[30] When Binita's sister-in-law, Nina Bulsara (Wendi Peters) learns that she plans on visiting them, she clears the house of all microwave meals, as well as hiring a cleaner to avoid criticism from Binita. Suni assumes that Nina is overreacting, but Nina is "soon vindicated".^[23]

Upon her arrival, she uses Nina "like a human coat hanger" and makes comments about how she is not feeding Suni enough. Binita then attempts to set Suni up with an Indian scientist that she knows, as well as offending Nina by billing her work at the Mill Health Centre a hobby.^[23] Hallam hinted that both Nina and Suni would not be able to put up with more of Binita's behaviour over time.^[23] Her guest stint climaxed with a showdown between the three of them when Nina and Suni tire of Binita's judgements.^[31]

Malika Dahlan, portrayed by Aria Prasad, first appeared on 19 April 2023 and made her final appearance on 6 June 2023. Prasad was contracted on the soap for a three-month guest stint to cover an extended break of regular cast member Bharti Patel.^[32] Malika was introduced as a temporary midwife at St. Phils Hospital who covers for Ruhma Carter (Patel), who is sent to work at East Letherbridge for three months. Malika's first episode sees her meet "troubled young couple" Katie Seary (Heather Campbell-Ferguson) and Ben Tate (Elliot Norman).^[33] Prasad's second appearance on Doctors saw her star in a standalone Ramadan-themed episode where her character "faces a heartbreaking tragedy".^[34] A mother in her care dies, which causes Malika to call in sick. She seeks advice from Ruhma, who tells her to confide in her colleagues. She is then invited to a community iftar to lift her spirits.^[34]

Malika struggles with the heavy workload within the NHS and is advised by former colleague Maisie Owens (Jacqui-Lee Pryce) to become a private midwife for her wellbeing. Patient Kim Lewis (Lorraine Tai) also makes a judgemental comment about the NHS' services, which makes Malika confront Kim and defend her decision to work for the NHS.^[35] She is again shown to be a headstrong and knowledgeable character when she reprimands Dr Penny Phillips (Angelina Chudi) for not listening to her expertise as a midwife.^[36]

Tanisha Fonesca, portrayed by Andrea Ali, first appeared on 19 April 2023 and made her final appearance on 11 May 2023. She was introduced as someone who went to university with Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee). They meet at a meeting about online accounting systems and after "the two old friends immediately hit it off again", they decide to leave the meeting early to go on a date.^[33] On the date, Tanisha tells Bear how she stopped working for the NHS and eventually went into the private sector. Afterwards, the pair have sex. Bear "tries to play it cool" when telling housemate Sid Vere (Ashley Rice) about meeting her, but makes it clear that he feels "a spark" between them.^[37] What to Watch journalist Simon Timblick hinted that Tanisha and Bear would have a romantic storyline.^[37]

Bear gets a visit from Tanisha at the Mill Health Centre, where he works as a business manager. He gives Tanisha a tour but is worried about what Tanisha thinks of the Mill. She tries to be respectful but tells Bear that he should move into the private sector since she feels he is better than a small NHS clinic.^[38] She arranges a job interview for Bear with one of her bosses without informing him prior to the day of the interview. Bear refuses to go and the pair argue, after which Tanisha storms out.^[39]

Miles Bailey, portrayed by Louis Saxby, first appeared on 18 May 2023 and made his final appearance on 22 June 2023.^[40] He is a second-year medical student at Letherbridge University who is instructed by Professor Abid Anwar (Sartaj Garewal) to give Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) a tour of the campus prior to her joining as a lecturer. Miles "doesn't hold back" by slating a number of the other lecturers and expresses his happiness that Zara will be teaching his course.^[41] After seeing her, he finds a video of her online and sits watching it. On her first day teaching, Zara is greeted by Miles, and What to Watch's Simon Timblick confirmed that Miles has a "crush" on Zara.^[42]

Continuing to be her "admirer", Miles insists on escorting Zara to her class.^[43] He helps her with a technical issue in class, and while doing so, he flirts with her. Classmate Chloe Fisher (Martha Breen) picks up on his interest in Zara and teases him, but he continues to make suggestive remarks during lectures. Zara grows tired and warns him to stop making flirtatious comments.^[43] Miles persists and kisses Zara, who returns his kiss, while Chloe takes a photo of them. Chloe then posts anonymous comments online about a lecturer taking advantage of a student, which Miles is enraged at.^[44] Once she posts the photo of them kissing, Daniel "decides to go and confront Miles at the University" under the impression that she pushed him away.^[40] Miles tells him what actually happened and shows him a video of the kiss.^[40]

PC Claudia Briant, portrayed by Kiza Deen, first appeared on 24 May 2023 and made her final appearance on 11 October 2023. She is a police constable that pulls Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee) over for speeding. Bear, who has previously been the target of racist stop-and-search situation, assumes that it is happening again and "prepares for trouble".^[45] However, since Claudia is a black female officer, his attitude is challenged. Bear is surprised when Claudia visits him at the Mill Health Centre later on in the day and worries that he is somehow in further trouble. Simon Timblick of What to Watch hinted that Claudia "has something rather unexpected to ask Bear".^[45] BBC episode descriptions confirmed that Bear and Claudia would go on a date, but that it would not go well.^[46] Bear then becomes "determined to fix things with Claudia".^[47] The pair later begin dating.^[48] Claudia later begins sharing scenes with established police officer character Rob Hollins (Chris Walker) when the pair begin working together.^[40]

Shortly into their relationship, Claudia becomes awkward with Bear after meeting one of his casual exes, Serena Bradley (Tisha Merry). Claudia "storms out" of their date, leaving Bear alarmed.^[49] She shows more tension when she meets Bear's colleague, Nina Bulsara (Wendi Peters), who she does not take well to.^[50] After feeling ill at a concert Bear takes her to, Claudia takes a pregnancy test and learns that she is pregnant. Bear becomes worried that he has done something wrong when Claudia continues not being "a ton of fun" and she reveals the result of the pregnancy test to him.^[51] She later confides in Emma Reid (Dido Miles) that she wants to abort the pregnancy, not realising that Emma works with Bear.^[52] Bear is upset that she wants to abort the baby and tries to change her mind, but she continues with her decision. She is later offered a job position with a domestic violence unit, which she accepts.^[53]

Frankie Sharp, portrayed by Andrea Mason, appeared from 5 to 13 September 2023. She was introduced as an angry patient that needs her repeat prescription renewed, but due to a lack of appointments for a doctor to review it, receptionist Kirsty Millar (Kiruna Stamell) informs her she may have to wait two weeks. An unhappy Frankie returns during evening surgery and takes out her anger on Scarlett Kiernan (Kia Pegg). She refuses to leave until she is seen by Al Haskey (Ian Midlane) and she soon tries to attack Scarlett in a "shock event".^[54] She is soon escorted out of the Mill by Al.^[54]

Frankie was introduced to Doctors as part of a topical plot for Scarlett's development and was inspired by real-life news stories about the violence healthcare workers face. The storyline sees all of the Mill colleagues raise questions about the staff's welfare and how they can protect the staff from further aggressive behaviour.^[55] Frankie returns two days later with "heavies": her husband, Vic Butt (Neil Sheffield), and one of their scary friends.^[56] Al and business manager Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee) confront Frankie in the reception area but Bear soon calls his girlfriend, police officer Claudia Briant (Kiza Deen), who arrives with backup.^[56] Frankie and Vic later wait outside of the Mill for Al and the pair attack him.^[57]

Jenny Ackerman, portrayed by Lois Pearson, first appeared on 8 November 2023 and made her final appearance on 5 December 2023. She was introduced as a newly-hired midwife that joins Ruhma Carter (Bharti Patel) at the Mill Health Centre. In her backstory, she was a nurse who did a midwifery rotation and enjoyed it so much that she decided to train in the specialism. Simon Timblick, writing for What to Watch, described her as a "bright and confident" character despite being new to midwifery.^[58] However, Ruhma becomes unnerved when she notices Jenny making mistakes on the job, including not being able to find a foetal heartbeat during a baby scan, which worries patient Tina Evans' (Eliza Williams). Timblick added that Ruhma's "pair of helping hands [would] actually going to end up creating extra work for her".^[58]

Jenny and Ruhma have "a day from hell" on the maternity ward when it is understaffed and overpopulated with pregnant patients.^[59] The events of the day see Anne Richards (Elinor Coleman) almost die after giving birth, with her partner, Dez Cruz (Daniel J Carver), vowing to avenge her. He reports her and Ruhma, which results in a meeting with head midwife Sian Howell (Alex Murdoch). After suffering from health issues, Jenny decides that she no longer wants to be a midwife.^[60]