SHOCK romance for Sacha set to rock Holby City as the drama returns next week

Sacha Holby W5 MAIN
(Image credit: BBC)

Holby City will see a familiar face from Emmerdale arrive to cause a stir...

Holby City is returning to our screens after three months away, and it's safe to say the drama is back with a bang.

The wait is almost over for Holby City fans with the show back to next week, but there's a shock as huge new storylines unfold.

The most shocking of all is the fact a new romance has been lined up for Sacha Levy, just weeks after his partner, Essie's, tragic death.

Holby City BBC One

Fans were left sobbing after Essie's tragic death in August (Picture: BBC)

Fans will remember that back in August Essie lost her battle with cancer just moments before being due to tie the knot with Sacha.

But fast forward a few months and Sacha is to have his head turned by someone new.

More: Holby City legend Hugh Quarshie is leaving after 19 years - will Ric be killed off? 

Moving on

Former Emmerdale actress, Sian Reese-Williams, who played Gennie Walker in the soap, is joining the Holby City cast as newcomer Jodie, who is set to cause a stir for Sacha.

Sacha will meet Jodie when she comes to the hospital as a patient next week and he soon takes pity on her they become friends.

Sacha Holby City

Sacha's grief sees him making bad decisions next week (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC)

However the pair's friendship soon turns to something more, leaving Sacha's friends horrified that he has moved on so soon after Essie.

Jodie causes a stir 

Speaking of her new role in Holby at a recent press event, Sian said: "It's been such a lovely time! It was very much out of the blue.

"I wasn't expecting the call, especially as things are right now."

Sian added that her character's romance with Sacha might not be all it seems, and that he is still very much still grieving for Essie.

Sacha Holby City

Sacha moves on with Jodie but is it what he really wants? (Picture: BBC) (Image credit: BBC)

"Sacha goes down a spiral of hell and Jodie is unwittingly a part of that.

"She desperately craves love and it doesn't really bother her whether it is real and whether is it genuinely reciprocated.

"Jodie is desperately trying to get love from absolutely the wrong person.

"But Sacha has allowed that to happen for obvious reasons - he is grieving and you do crazy things when you're grieving.

Sian played Gennie Walker in Emmerdale between 2008 and 2013 (Picture: ITV)

Sian played Gennie Walker in Emmerdale between 2008 and 2013 (Picture: ITV)

"Somebody with a more stable view of the world would probably be like, 'actually, I'm going to leave you to it, and maybe you call me in a year's time'.

"But that's not what she wants, she's looking for kindness and Sacha shows that and then she falls in love immediately."

Holby City returns to BBC One on Tuesday 10th November at 8.15pm. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.