Can I just ask, why does Jac being out of a relationship automatically mean that she's unhappy? Is she not able to be content with her life, but single? For all we know, she and Jonny are amicable (though I haven't read the spoilers, so if anyone knows anything contrary to that please don't tell me).

Other characters on the show have been on their own for a long time and not seemed especially bothered by it. Elliot, for example, though he obviously missed Gina considerably and as a result none of his other potential suitors (Lady Byrne, Tara, Sharon) worked out until Brigitte turned up, generally seemed happy enough to get on with his life without being miserable all the time. Same goes for Ric, Serena, Hanssen and Raf. Can Jac not have that?

I think she is fine not many of the characters are really in and out of relationships in Holby anyway. She is actually fine as she is if you ask me.

Yes I would agree that she can be happy without a relationship definitely. I think the issue that has been commented upon is that the writers generally seem to prefer her to be unhappy. She certainly wasn't portrayed as being very happy in the months she was estranged from Emma, but I would say that was more because of her conflicting feelings about motherhood, rather than her love life.

I'd never imply that anybody, fictional or real, needs to be in a relationship to be fulfilled or happy. Indeed i believe quite the reverse, being in a relationship with the 'wrong' person is much more draining and everybody is capable of deriving happiness by themself.

My issue would be more why Jac is single. If it is purely by her choice (and i believe there have certainly been periods in the past when she wanted to be single) then that's fair enough.

But, if it is a case that the relationship has fallen apart because she believes herself to be fundamentally unlovable (as she stated to her Mother after kidneygate) or incapable of 'doing it' (loving or being loved) - having a relationship, being a mother as Jonny stated several times during their various breakups and custody case and was the reason she gave Emma up or that she has a 'cold, dead heart' as Joseph once said - then that is quite another matter.

So, it's not so much the status of her being single as how she views herself re relationships.

All that worries me, is that they would be going with the "Jac can't make any loving relationship work because she is so damaged and toxic" which will naturally lead to more self loathing and therefore unhappiness.

[spoiler]re the the second half of the interview, that is much nore encouraging for several characters.

Ric is actually going to have something to do other than stare into the middle distance grumpily for one scene every few weeks. Yay!!!!! I'm not sure where he could be going that would upset him. He is a General surgeon, a Vascular expert so Kellar is his natural stamping ground and he worked happily there for years so fail to see why it would be upsetting to return there. Unless it is just that he'll be playing second fiddle to Hansenn as GS is also his area but then that was the situation 2010-2013 and it didn't bother him then so....

Hansenn is also getting a storyline - double Yay! Whilst he looms spectaccuarly we actually want him ventre stage some of the time. I'd have to disagree with harper saying that Hansenn was always 'quiet'. Yes, he was in that he was enigmatic and tended to act as a catalyst for other people's storylines bit he was very prominent in screen time - at least for his first 2 years and especially during Season 13 - i think he only missed 3 episodes and he had a major part in every episode - not just one looming scene.

No mention of Adele, which does make me think she might be exiting -triple Yay! I imagine she will be involved in Mo's storyline with William but as a support and she'll have been there 2 years in January so perhaps she'll leave then?

I don't thinl self is joing clinical lead with Jac as he isn't CT. It is probably just going to be that Nuero moves to Darwin so instead of it just being CT, it will be CT and Nuero - much like the situation with Plastics in Season 13. As consultant, guy will need an office, elliot has gone so that probably means he'll share with Jac - which they'll both hate.

Really glad the split is amicable and sharing custody of Emma. That has eased my worries re her 'bitterness' a lot. I'm not entirely sure about them never stating it on screen though, not everybody reads backstage interviews after all and you shouldn't really have to to know what is going on with characters.

Joseph - well i'm fine, more than dine, with a return if it is for a happy, sunset ending and it is good to know Roberts is still open to it. It would also make sense that the storylines have considered how they would write Jac out if needs be as rosie has made no secret of wanting a second baby and might not want to keep working with two little ones.

But, I still would consider it far from a done deal. As i've often commented, even if an actor wants to return, sometimes it just isn't possible due to scheduling or even contracts. Quite often, contracts, have exclusivity clauses, meaning that an actor legally can't do something else, even if they weren't needed for filming of their 'usual' show that week (or more likely month as i'd think they'd want him back for a couple of episodes. This is particularly the case in America and Roberts can hardly be expected to turn a role down in a tv show which could last year's just on the off chance that he needs to film Holby for a couple of episodes - much as he might want to do it for Rosie. /SPOILER]

Whoops. I don't know why but the spoiler tags haven't worked and it is too late for me to edit it now. So either the Mods need to or just leave it. I don't think i have actually said anything that spoiler in it about simon Harper's interview i anything about people leaving is pure speculation.

If anybody do have a problem, please alert the Mods so they can delete it.

Also, just to elaborate on the Jac being single indicating unhappiness whereas it didn't with Elliot - the difference is that elliot had a successful, close, loving marriage for over 25 years with Gina. He knew he could 'do it', could be loving and loved so didn't have the same hang ups. There was sadness of course, there always will be when a soul mate dies but at least there is the comfort of knowing that you have been loved.

I think Jac can be perfectly fine without an on-screen relationship. She can't be "happy" or she wouldn't be Jac, but that is not the same as her being miserable. There is no need for her to be miserable now on a personal basis.

i imagine that the "angst" for Jac will be on a professional level, with conflict between her and Self/Fran and possibly Mo/Adele/Zosia/Ollie.

I would love Ollie to be on her side, though.

With Elliot gone that only leaves Sacha who sees through the Ice Queen facade to the genuine, loyal, funny and caring person underneath.

Ollie sees through it. For a long time he has got her

Yes, but with Zosia being his love interest now my fear is he might side with her (she and Mo seem to be getting close and Self is her dad so she could turn against Jac) if conflict arises.

Yeah but he has never exactly been on her side... They just get each other. They have bit of a kid brother relationship as in he likes to annoy her but they have a cheeky affection.

I hope it stays that way, as I said, it would be nice for at least one Darwin person to have her back occasionally.

Yes, although they do 'get' each other, Ollie has always been willing to go against her if the plot demands it - such as when she bullied Tara (though, really she deserved to be challenged on that) and theyb suddenly decided that Ollie had always been closest to Elliot, forgetting that Jac was actually his mentor for years.

Well they don't really have each others back do they? Ever. They are fundamentally very different people and relate to each other in an affectionate, teasing way (him) and a sarcastic putdown one (her) even though he knows she was the only one that could challenge him and she knows he was her most promising student ever but they have never had each others backs and he can't get the emotional support he needed friends wise from her after his beriefments; and she doesn't get that unspoken understanding of her nature from him. He just teases her like a little brother. It's an affection ate acknowledgement for the part they played in each others lives... But anything deeper isn't there.

I have high hopes for this episode after the last two weeks Adelfest!

Also on RICWATCH! There's a few pics of him with cast members on twitter (including one with Catherine and her tounge )

Oh FFS Adele! Stop your whining and go clean a commode.

yeah isnt she still just a HA ? Or did she buy a magical pill that gave her god level medical knowledge

Ollie and a child *swoon*

Ollie being hit on the head with a book may be the best moment of the year

Oh if only there was a 'like' button.

She's still annoying.
"Why the pep talk Maureen"? How about, because Elliot has left, Jac is on Maternity Leave, as far as we've been told they haven't got a Locum in so as a Senior Registrar who has been there for 3 and a half years, she is best placed to 'steer the ship' for a while?

Also, maybe you should remember that she is a Senior Surgeon who is in a higher position than you when at work - not just your Cousin/Sister that you can cheek.

She's got god given knowledge of everything.

Hmmmm, shouldn't Fletch be reprimanding Cara since she is a Nurse and he is in charge of the Ward?

Sacha is brilliant tonight.

It's not that HCA'S don't have medical knowledge (NOT GOD level!) But her attitude ARRRRRRRGH!

Someone please slap her face with a large rotton fish!

We all know that she's moved into the office!

Go on Mo HIT HER!

BTW the Reg's Sacha, Raf and Mo are bussy tonight!

Portsmoth folk well known for their west country accents I think they meant Plymouth.