(Tuesday 9^th – Thursday 11^th June 2020)

Ruhma arranged to take Tanya away for a few days.  Not only was Tanya’s baby crying in the background when she spoke to Bear, also lurking in the background were Tanya’s phone calls to her mother, trying to organise moving away from Ruhma at the right time.

Deborah was really beginning to grate on Emma, keeping pestering her for basic advice on her patients.  When Emma complained to Daniel, he dismissed her.

New temp receptionist (shouldn’t they prioritise looking for a nurse first?!), Lily, played by former Emmerdale actress, Verity Rushworth, started, bonding with the staff much more easily than poor, old Deborah did, namely connecting with Al.  She even helped him organise Jimmi’s birthday, starting by reminding him that it was his birthday in the first place!

On Wednesday, there was one of the best episodes ever, where Bear accidentally locked Lily in the building, where there was promptly a power cut.  With her phone in her handbag in her car, there was no way out for poor Lily until a young, autistic man happened by.  He had set the smoke alarm off in his house and the noise had sent him to The Mill which he knew was a safe place to get help.  Lily succeeded in directing him into her car to get her phone.

The bond that formed between them turned out to be very special as across town, Sid and his new trainee were attempting to save the life of his father, who had just attempted suicide.  As a standalone episode, I would recommend this episode to everyone.  It was absolutely fantastic and the actor that played Zachery was outstanding.  He stole the show!

Regarding recruiting a new nurse, I can’t say Zara has not put her best effort in.  After her announcement on the radio, applications from vastly inappropriate people have come flooding in!  Everyone wants to work at The Mill!  In the meantime, Zara persuaded Al to play nurse for the day.  He almost finds a newfound respect for nurses.  Almost.

Daniel became very worried about the level of stress his partner was under with so much on her plate with work, including everything that recently happened with Ayesha.  He was concerned when he witnessed her having a panic attack and then hurt when she turned to Harper’s meditation app to calm herself down instead of letting him help.  When the school called to alert him to a problem with Joe’s homework (he has been cheating using Harper), he decided to deal with it himself instead of worrying Zara with it.  Joe got into further trouble that night when he continued to cheat despite having already been caught out!

Karen was devastated that Jay was being moved on and Jay did not want to go.  He opened up to Rob about his past and Rob in turn was honest about his own father.  The two of them had a lovely day together, with Rob able to reassure Jay that nothing that has happened to him in his life has been his fault.

And so, today, we look forward to the very exciting, history-making, extended-length Isolation Episode, although sadly, this leads us into a summer break…  I always miss this show when it’s not on.  It is one of my most favourite soaps.

After today, Doctors will go on its summer break.