Lofty Chiltern’s glorious grandmother Sheilagh has returned to Holby City – and it seems like she could have a huge role to play in Oliver Valentine’s continued recovery from being shot in the head.
Surgeon Oliver has struggled to convince his colleagues he may ever be able to return to medical practice following Fredrik Johanssen’s crazed gun attack that left him with brain damage.
But after recognising Sheilagh’s developing stroke symptoms during last night’s episode, it was clear from the look of achievement and purpose etched on Oliver’s face he still hopes to one day return to his career.
Read more: Holby City SPOILER: Will Oliver Valentine die?
Holby fans couldn’t have been happier to see actress Wanda Ventham – who you may remember as Cassandra’s mum in Only Fools and Horses, Sherlock’s mother in Sherlock and 1970s sci-fi series UFO – back on the ward, too.
Quite rightly, too. Sheilagh’s warm but no-nonsense approach to Oliver’s insistence a nurse should run a vending machine errand for him, her haughty shrugging off Meena Chowdhury’s suggestion both patients should head to bed, as well as Sheilagh pricking Oliver’s self-pity while insisting they play a game together made for an immediately entertaining pairing.
“We’ll go to bed when we’re good and ready” Mutiny on AAU! 😂 #HolbyCity HR pic.twitter.com/VlvTrMvfm8
— BBC Holby City (@BBCHolbyCity) February 20, 2018
Plus, there’s always a lot of Twitter joy when viewers realise she also has a very famous thespian son for the first time. Who’s that? Oh just someone called Benedict Cumberbatch…
Here’s how viewers reacted to Wanda’s cameo on Twitter:
Watching #HolbyCity on BBC One? Wanda Ventham (Sheilagh Chiltern) played Thea Ransome in Image of the Fendahl in 1977… pic.twitter.com/PamyN2j21l
— Who’s On TV (@WhosOnTV) February 20, 2018
Wanda Ventham is bloody brilliant.👍🏻 #HolbyCity
— 🐺 Kim Gill 🐺 (@Kimsunray58Gill) February 20, 2018
Lol loving Loftie’s nan #HolbyCity Wanda Ventham is brilliant!
— Giuseppa Perry (@giuseppaP) February 20, 2018
@chizzyakudolu @BBCHolbyCity Wonderful to see Wanda Ventham again! I’m a huge fan. (And I love her kimono/shawl!)
— lynda (@lynport) February 20, 2018
I love Lofty’s nan/Sherlock’s mum/Benedict Cumberbatch’s mum so so much
— Lauren (@laurter23) February 20, 2018
YAY Benedict Cumberbatch’s mum is back on #HolbyCity tonight 😀 https://t.co/V5vW4eAVI7
— Joy 🌞 Sunkissed Scribbles 🌞 (@sunkisscribbles) February 20, 2018
Even actor James Anderson, who plays Oliver, couldn’t resist dropping her – and her son’s – name.
Tonight I’ll be mostly saving Benedict Cumberbatch’s mum’s life. #yourewelcomebenedict https://t.co/zoWzrEFSCX
— James Anderson (@jimeroo) February 20, 2018
Understandable though – she did thoroughly take the spotlight…
Wanda Ventham completely stealing the show tonight #HolbyCity
— The Fourth Dimension (@Mike_J_Lord) February 20, 2018
… even if some viewers were more interested in the prop she was using…
New TV Prop Magazine alert! The new issue of What Am I Like? magazine being read by Wanda Ventham in tonight’s Holby City pic.twitter.com/wFghpLXDm0
— Dan Hollingsworth (@D_Hollingsworth) February 20, 2018
… but fans are certainly hoping her appearance marks a turnaround in Oliver’s fortunes. Here’s to hoping Sheilagh will be fine, too!
Oh there she is (roxanna) and oh no Sheila (Benedict cumberbatch mum) not again 😭 yay good spot ollie you will be better in no time #HolbyCity
— Lorie Goulding (@LorieGoulding8) February 20, 2018
Is this a good sign? We have everythhing crossed for Ollie ❤ #HolbyCity HR pic.twitter.com/5MLLgrNTRT
— BBC Holby City (@BBCHolbyCity) February 20, 2018
Let us know what you made of Sheilagh and Oliver’s double act by commenting on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix!
The next episode of Holby City is on BBC One, Wednesday 28 February, at 8pm.