Holby's Amanda: Connie will never give up!

Holby's Amanda: Connie will never give up!
Holby's Amanda: Connie will never give up! (Image credit: BBC)

Even Amanda Mealing, who plays Holby City's ruthless surgeon, wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Connie! How does Connie find out about Annalese failing her drink test? "Connie has a big operation that’s going to be filmed and Michael is supposed to be assisting her, but he doesn’t turn up. Connie is furious. She senses something’s up – she’s one of those people if she smells blood she’s in there! She’s also desperate to get Ric on something, and as soon as she susses out that Annalese is in some kind of trouble, she keeps going until she finds out the truth. Once she finds out about the failed alcohol test she knows she has Ric at last, because as Director of Surgery, he’s responsible. But in the process of trying to displace Ric, other people get hurt" Does she feel bad about Annalese? "She does, but she feels worse that she might lose Michael. She has to convince him to let his wife take the fall. It’s damage limitation. She understands what he’s going through, but she forces him to make that choice out of respect for him as a surgeon." Do you enjoy Connie’s battle scenes with Ric? "It’s great to see a woman play the powerful political game, especially a woman like Connie who is essentially a loner – she doesn’t need to make friends and isn’t concerned about who she upsets. She’s a wily old cow – you knock her down, she gets up again." Do you admire Connie? "She’s a phenomenal surgeon, you can’t take that away from her. She’ll always have someone behind her on the board because she’s so good. She’s absolutely driven. It’s great to see a woman in this position who can play men at their own game!" What’s the response to Connie from viewers? "Almost every woman who comes up to me loves Connie. Of course, she’s great if she’s on your side, but you wouldn’t want to come up against her!" Is she anything like you? "No – I think some viewers are disappointed when they meet me, because I’m such a softy. I have scruffy hair and wear wellies, I look nothing like her! And I have a life outside work, which I treasure. With Connie, it’s all about work and nothing else!" Get exclusive access to your favourite stars. Subscribe to TV Times magazine

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.