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Gemma Oaten hints at extended stay on Holby City after guest role success

After winning praise from fans, could the former Emmerdale star be joining Holby City on a more permanent basis?

She only joined Holby City for two episodes, but actress Gemma Oaten has hinted that she could be around for a lot longer.

The former Emmerdale star proved to be an instant  hit with viewers as feisty agency nurse Sydney Somers. And she certainly packed a lot into her two episodes of the medical drama, getting covered in vomit and caught up in controversy.

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Sydney flirted with head nurse Fletch (Alex Walkinshaw) before threatening to SUE him, when it was revealed she was the estranged daughter of a patient who had left Fletch a large amount of money in his will.

As viewers praised the 32-year-old’s performance, Gemma made no secret of the fact that she’d love to return to the show more permanently.

She posted a collage of Holby pictures on Instagram before her first episode aired, revealing how she had “loved this role with a passion” and felt very lucky.

“I’d love to be a regular,” she told the Express.

“From the feedback that I had [it sounds positive] but you’ve just got to leave it in the hands of the Gods, I suppose.”

And when asked what she thought about all the positive comments she’d received, Gemma added: “I’ve been a little bit blown away by it all, to be honest.”

Gemma was previously been known for her role as Rachel Breckle in ITV soap Emmerdale, as well as having had a brief romantic fling with presenter Nick Knowles, which ended rather dramatically and publicly when he dumped her.

She admitted the experience had left her “burned” and put her off the idea of dating.

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But things are now very much on the up for Gemma – she could be heading for a role in Holby City, and she’s also happily dating hunky Aussie film producer Scott Walker.

And Gemma wouldn’t be the only former Emmerdale actress to move south and make their home in Holby. Her former co-star Chelsea Halfpenny has a permanent role in Casualty as junior doctor Alicia Munroe.


Nancy Brown
Associate Editor

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