'Holby City' and 'Casualty' are to embrace a real-life NHS diversity initiative in upcoming episodes.
Charlie Condou
Characters in the medical dramas will be seen sporting rainbow badges - which are worn by NHS staff to promote a message of inclusion - following a suggestion by TV medic Dr. Ranj Singh.
The badges will first be spotted on next Tuesday's (17.03.20) episode of 'Holby City', with 'Casualty' following a week or two afterwards, and will be introduced to tie in with Charlie Condou's exit storyline as Ben Sherwood from the former, as well as connecting to Marty Kirkby's (Shaheen Jafargholi) struggles in the latter.
Executive producer Simon Harper told Digital Spy: "My friend Dr Ranj told me about the badges and this wonderful initiative and asked if it was something we could depict on 'Holby City'.
"We thought this was a brilliant idea and we have rolled them out on both 'Holby City' and 'Casualty' in fact, as it's in the same hospital after all.
"It is in 'Holby City' however where they are at the heart of the big story where Ben struggles to accept his sexuality and come out of the closet."
Charlie first joined the soap last year but admitted he was only going to be on screen for a "brief period", though he was unsure if there would be scope to return at a later date.
He previously said: "I am only there for a brief period. I am not sure what will happen long-term or if they've got any plans to bring me back at some point."
The 47-year-old star previously admitted he "hasn't got a clue what [he] is talking about" when he is reeling off medical jargon in 'Holby', but is helped out by the show's medical advisors.
He said: "It's hard learning lines anyway.
"But I've got into the habit of being able to do it quite quickly.
"But the medical jargon, there's so much of it. I haven't got a clue what I'm talking about.
"Luckily, they've got really good medical advisors on set who are there.
"When you're there and you're working through a scene and you're saying, 'What does this mean? What is it? What's the operation?'
"They tell you everything."
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