Holby City actress Hermione Gulliford has thanked fans of the BBC hospital drama after her character was murdered by evil medic Professor John Gaskell.
Neurosurgeon Roxanna MacMillan had been left unable to communicate or move after John, played by former Doctor Who star Paul McGann, sabotaged her life-saving operation and caused her to develop locked-in syndrome.
During Tuesday’s episode John injected a deadly substance into Roxanna’s intravenous drip after she tried to expose him as a fraud by spelling out a message on a board of letters.
Hermione posted a photograph of herself on set with her co-stars Kaye Wragg (Essie Harrison) and Guy Henry (Henrik Hanssen) on social media and revealed that she would be unable to watch her dramatic exit from the show.
Now this is a message to all u marvellous #HolbyCity fans-I can’t watch tonight as I’m going to the theatre, but I leave u in the immensely capable hands of the brilliant @mrseanglynn who directed tonight’s ep, and thanks SO much for your kind words and support XX pic.twitter.com/BhiE8miU33
— Hermione Gulliford (@hermy1G) September 25, 2018
She tweeted: “Now this is a message to all you marvellous Holby City fans. I can’t watch tonight as I’m going to the theatre, but I leave you in the immensely capable hands of the brilliant Sean Glynn who directed tonight’s episode, and thanks so much for your kind words and support XX.”
Replying to Hermione’s tweet, Kaye wrote: “Love this woman and Mr Glynn. Lovely guy all round. Great craft and storytelling.”
love this woman….and mr Glynn…..Lovely guy all round.Great craft and storytelling. 😘
— Kaye Darling (@Wraggywraggster) September 25, 2018
Hermione first appeared on-screen as Roxanna on a recurring basis in April 2013 before reprising the role in October 2017.
Viewers were swift to send their praise – and commiserations that the character is no more.
One wrote: “Oh @hermy1G You’re really going to be missed so much from us Holby fans. We really hoped Roxanna pulled through. I’ll be cheering your friends on when they go after Gaskell!”
Another said: “Why can’t anyone see through Gaskell in Holby… this is why I’m medicine you can be friends but you have to stay objective external and never just take someone’s word. It’s scary to think there probably are surgeons like Gaskell in the world.”
https://twitter.com/toongirl/status/1044713686122868737
Why can’t anyone see through Gaskell in Holby… this is why I’m medicine you can be friends but you have to stay objective external and never just take someone’s word. It’s scary to think there probably are surgeons like Gaskell in the world. #HolbyCity
— dreaming of medicine (@resp_medicine) September 23, 2018
What a show Holby was last night. Looks like Gaskell has actually killed Roxana off.
— cinders (@cinders404) September 26, 2018
Oh @hermy1G You're really going to be missed so much from us Holby fans. We really hoped Roxanna pulled through. I'll be cheering your friends on when they go after Gaskell! #HolbyCity
— Aʟᴀɴ Cʜʀɪsᴛᴏᴘʜᴇʀ (@hulkerine100) September 26, 2018
I’m gonna miss @hermy1G on Holby so much. It’s not fair. I was hoping there was some way Gaskell could be redeemed but there’s no going back now 😭😭😭
— Tayla (@tee_and_books) September 25, 2018
the acting in holby is outstanding there’s absolutely no denying that for a single second.. but watching gaskell do what he did to Roxanna tonight made me feel sickened. I’m heartbroken. 💔 can’t believe it, I hate gaskell more than I ever have. #HolbyCity
— Carys 🤍 (@LeighsmuffinsX) September 25, 2018
A third typed: “Just caught up on @BBCHolbyCity OMG!! I can’t believe Roxanna is dead, gutted I loved her character @hermy1G you’ll be missed Gaskell needs to be stopped.”
While one viewer tweeted that “there’s no going back now” for Gaskell now…
Many called for the deranged Professor to be found out and thrown in jail.
Will his sick and evil actions be discovered? Or will he kill again?
Holby City continues on BBC One next Tuesday at 8pm.