Dr. Zara Carmichael is a fictional character from the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
soap opera ''
Doctors
Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to:
Titles and occupations
* Physician, a medical practitioner
* Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree
** Doctorate
** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...
'', portrayed by
Elisabeth Dermot Walsh. Zara was introduced as a new
general practitioner
A general practitioner (GP) is a doctor who is a Consultant (medicine), consultant in general practice.
GPs have distinct expertise and experience in providing whole person medical care, whilst managing the complexity, uncertainty and risk ass ...
at the fictional Mill Health Centre on 4 June 2009 and remained a regular character until April 2012 when Walsh left to go on
maternity leave
Parental leave, or family leave, is an employee benefit available in almost all countries. The term "parental leave" may include maternity, paternity, and adoption leave; or may be used distinctively from "maternity leave" and "paternity leave ...
. She returned for a brief appearance in December 2012, before returning full-time in February 2013. In September 2015, Walsh left again to go on maternity leave. She returned full-time from March 2016 onwards.
Since her introduction, Zara has been involved in a number of different storylines including being kidnapped, dealing with
early menopause, the birth of
her son, her
on-off relationship On-off or Onoff may refer to:
* On-off control, a type of feedback controller
* On-off keying, a type of line modulation
* On-off relationship, a form of personal relationship
* On-Off Singles, a type of tennis game
* On-off switch On-off or Onoff ...
with
Daniel Granger (
Matthew Chambers
Matthew Guy Charles Chambers (born 20 August 1968) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Daniel Granger (Doctors), Daniel Granger in the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors''.
Early and personal life
Matt ...
), her feud with Daniel's daughter,
Izzie Torres (Bethan Moore), and her tumultuous friendship with
Emma Reid (
Dido Miles). For her portrayal of Zara, Walsh won the award for Best Female Acting Performance at the
2015 RTS Midlands Awards. She has also been nominated in the Serial Drama Performance at the
National Television Awards
The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and begun in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted o ...
twice, as well as receiving three longlist nominations for the
British Soap Award for Best Actress
The British Soap Award for Best Actress was an award presented annually by the British Soap Awards from its inception in 1999 until 2019. Alongside British Soap Award for Best Actor, Best Actor, the award was voted for by the public. ''EastEnde ...
.
Storylines
Zara first appears when
Heston Carter (
Owen Brenman
Owen Brenman (born 17 December 1956) is an English actor, known for his roles as Nick Swainey in the BBC sitcom ''One Foot in the Grave'' and Heston Carter in the BBC drama series ''Doctors''.
Early and personal life
Brenman was educated at U ...
),
Julia Parsons
Julia Parsons (also McGuire) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Diane Keen. She was introduced as the ex-wife of Mac McGuire (Christopher Timothy) who begins working as a receptionist at the Riverside H ...
(
Diane Keen) and
Lily Hassan (
Seeta Indrani) are interviewing for a new
GP. Zara is hired for the Mill Health Centre and is introduced to
Daniel Granger (
Matthew Chambers
Matthew Guy Charles Chambers (born 20 August 1968) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Daniel Granger (Doctors), Daniel Granger in the BBC One, BBC soap opera ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors''.
Early and personal life
Matt ...
), who flirts with her, and Zara later turns up at Daniel's apartment. The pair have sex, but Zara ends the relationship immediately after, stating that they needed to get their sexual attraction out of the way before they could work together. After being kidnapped with
Jack Hollins (
Nicolas Woodman), the pair have sex. After an ongoing affair, Jack eventually tells his dad,
Rob Hollins
Rob Hollins is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Chris Walker. Rob was introduced as a police sergeant at Letherbridge police station and made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 July ...
(
Chris Walker), that he has been in a relationship with Zara.
Karen Hollins
Karen Hollins (also Teale) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Jan Pearson. Introduced as a receptionist at the fictional Mill Health Centre, Karen was created by series producer Peter Eryl Lloyd as a rep ...
(
Jan Pearson
Jan Pearson (born 12 April 1959) is an English actress. Pearson grew up in Wollaston, West Midlands, and began her career in various stage productions. She yearned to work in television and was soon cast as Kath Fox in the BBC medical drama '' ...
) confronts Zara, and as she is doing this, Zara bends over to pick something up. Karen notices that Zara's underwear is the same of what she found in Jack's room and gets very angry, leading to the pair fighting in reception.
After months of dates and casual sex, Zara and Daniel become a couple. Zara starts to experience hot flushes and menopausal symptoms, and realises that she is undergoing
early menopause. Zara believes Daniel wants to end the relationship, so she ends it before he can. Daniel traps Zara in her office and they get back together. Daniel and Zara try
IVF, but are left devastated when they discover it has not worked. Zara begins showing signs of pregnancy, and Daniel rushes out to a chemist; when he returns, Zara is sitting on the bed with a pregnancy test in her hands. After Daniel tells her that he loves her, she reveals the results of the test, and both she and Daniel are overjoyed to discover that she is pregnant. Zara goes into premature labour at the Mill, with only
Cherry Clay (
Sophie Abelson) and
Kevin Tyler (
Simon Rivers) around to help her. Zara gives birth to a baby boy named
Joe (Emily and Lewis Whitehouse). Daniel arrives shortly after and Zara, Daniel and their baby are taken to hospital. After much debate regarding the welfare of their new baby leaving the safety of the hospital, they return home.
After discovering that Daniel has had sex with Cherry, Zara ends the relationship with him, and leaves with Joe. She returns months later for a meeting with
Howard Bellamy (
Ian Kelsey
Ian Kelsey (born 17 December 1966) is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Dave Glover in the ITV (TV channel), ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Patrick Spiller in the BBC One, BBC medical drama ''Casualty (TV series), Casualty'', DI Rich ...
). As she is about to leave once again, she is persuaded to talk to Daniel, where she reveals that she now has a job in
Bristol
Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...
and sees no reason to come back and leaves once again. She returns once again after leaving her job in Bristol and returns to work at the Mill. Her and Daniel reconcile, but she explains to him that she will be setting strict time limits on their time together and will not be letting Daniel spend any extra time with Joe. They later resume their relationship fully. Zara later takes a sabbatical from, and at her leaving party she gives a speech, telling them all to count down the days until she returns. Zara nervously returns to the Mill and is impressed by new boss
Anthony Harker
''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British Medical drama, medical soap opera which began broadcasting on BBC One on 26 March 2000. Set in the fictional West Midlands (region), West Midlands town of Leth ...
(
Adam Astill
Adam Astill is an English actor, known for his roles as Simon Bennett in the BBC television drama series '' Mistresses'' (2008–2010), Dan Hamilton in the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'' (2011–2012), Anthony Harker in the BBC soap opera ''D ...
). Daniel and Zara attempt to spice up their love life and go to a bar to perform role-play, but they argue and Zara goes outside. While outside, Zara witnesses a stabbing and chooses to give evidence. During this time, Joe is kidnapped, and the family have to be protected by the police due to the possibility of violence and threats from gang members who were involved in the murder. Daniel blames Zara for risking the safety of their family for the sake of assisting with the investigation.
Following disagreements with other staff, Daniel and Zara become the only
partners at the Mill. Daniel's daughter,
Izzie Torres (Bethan Moore), comes to stay with them after arguing with her mother. Zara is still traumatised from the threats and kidnapping of Joe. Zara struggles to get on with her, since Izzie does not express interest in getting to know her. On one occasion, Izzie takes Joe to the shop without telling Zara. When she sees that they are missing, she panics and phones Daniel and the police. Izzie returns while Zara is breaming down by the front door and slaps Izzie. Daniel moves out and does not communicate with Zara about his plans. At a work Christmas party, Zara's best friend,
Emma Reid (
Dido Miles), convinces Zara to take her mind off Daniel's absence. Zara gets drunk and
Sid Vere (
Ashley Rice) comes back to her house and they have sex. Daniel returns home and sees them, but does not confront them, later confronting her and punching Sid. Zara tries for some time to convince Daniel to give her another chance. He finally agrees and moves back in but their relationship is strained and they decide to split up again. Daniel begins a relationship with practice manager
Becky Clarke (
Ali Bastian), which Zara has trouble adjusting to. However, while attending a medical conference at a hotel, Zara and Daniel sleep together in a hotel room.
Zara enters a relationship with
Adam Regan
''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British Medical drama, medical soap opera which began broadcasting on BBC One on 26 March 2000. Set in the fictional West Midlands (region), West Midlands town of Leth ...
(
Edward MacLiam
Edward MacLiam (born Edward Wilson in 1976) is an Irish actor, known for his roles as Greg Douglas in the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'' and identical twins Adam and Gareth Regan in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors
Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor ...
), but while waiting for him to come home from work, his twin brother
Gareth
Gareth (; Old French: ''Guerehet'', ''Guerrehet'', etc.) is a Knights of the Round Table">Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. He is the youngest son of King Lot and Morgause, Queen Morgause, King Arthur's half-sister, thus making hi ...
(
Edward MacLiam
Edward MacLiam (born Edward Wilson in 1976) is an Irish actor, known for his roles as Greg Douglas in the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'' and identical twins Adam and Gareth Regan in the BBC soap opera ''Doctors
Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor ...
) pretends to be Adam, and tries to rape Zara. She fights him off, spraying hairspray in his eyes and stabbing him in the leg with the heels of her shoe, later calling the police. Due to her seeing Gareth's face when she looks at Adam, she ends the relationship. With both of their partners having left Letherbridge, Zara and Daniel reconcile their relationship again. After Daniel misdiagnoses
Rowena Mitchell (Bobby Wilkinson), who has
endometriosis
Endometriosis is a disease in which Tissue (biology), tissue similar to the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, grows in other places in the body, outside the uterus. It occurs in women and a limited number of other female mammals. Endomet ...
, Emma points out that his actions could have had fatal results and accredited his mistake with being an uninformed male doctor. Zara is defensive of Daniel despite Emma's points, and the pair continuously argue with each other at the Mill, leaving them both getting warned by practice manager
Bear Sylvester
Bear Sylvester is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Dex Lee. Lee began filming for the role in June 2019 and Bear made his first appearance on 18 November 2019, in scenes that show him attending an intervie ...
(
Dex Lee
Dex Lee (born 16 May 1993) is an English actor. He began his professional career as a dancer in a touring production of ''Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs'', before going on to make acting appearances in numerous theatre productions. Then in 201 ...
). To spite Emma, Zara considers becoming a
force medical examiner to infringe on Emma's workplace, as well as not informing Emma of the partners' decision to purchase another surgery, Sutton Vale. Emma gets drunk and phones Zara to rant at her, and whilst on the phone, Emma trips and injures her hip. Despite her grudge against Emma, she finds her and gets her into hospital. The pair eventually forgive each other.
Development
Characterisation
Zara's
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
profile revealed that in her backstory, she became a "daddy's girl" and established a close relationship with father
Jed Grey (
Paul Shelley
Paul Shelley (born Paul Matthews; 15 May 1942) is an English actor.
Shelley was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, and trained at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). Since then he has mainly worked in the theatre as a classical actor. ...
) after her mother died.
The profile wrote that she "turns heads wherever she goes, and is always suited and booted".
It added that she "has no time for pleasantries, and is a master of sarcasm".
Zara does not like the trivial side of being a doctor, as it bores her, and she chooses not to indulge rambling patients.
Zara does not have empathy for people who do not agree with her approach to life and her profile noted that her professional approach "consists of problems and solutions" rather than being concerned with other aspects.
Walsh defended Zara's abrupt manner despite her not being "the most popular doctor in the practice" and opined that she would like Zara as her own doctor in real life.
She liked that Zara is honest and straight-talking, but acknowledged that she can come across as frightening due to her "high shoes, short skirt and cleavage".
Speaking of Zara, Walsh said in an interview with ''
OK!
''OK!'' is a British weekly magazine that primarily specialises in royal and celebrity news. Originally launched as a monthly magazine, its first issue was published in April 1993. In September 2004, ''OK''! launched in Australia as a monthly ...
'' magazine: "I think it would be fair to call Zara a bit of a handful! She's quite the volatile personality, and I grabbed the character with both hands. She’s been a bit of a home-wrecker in the past, but I like her; even when you’re playing a baddie, you have to play a baddie like you’re playing a heroine. She behaves appallingly. I don’t think I’d particularly want her as a friend, but she’d be a great fun ride if you’re with Zara!". When asked if she prefers playing Zara's bitchier moments or her more vulnerable side, Walsh replied: "Well, nothing beats a good putdown line or a bitchy comment! We have some brilliant writers, so Zara does get the last laugh so often. But that makes it all the more enjoyable when she doesn't get the last laugh and ends up with egg on her face. That only really works if she's had a few weeks of really getting away with everything, and then when it all goes wrong for her, she simply can't believe it!"
Walsh went on to say: "Equally with her vulnerable moments - I think they really work when there are fewer of them, because then they're more of a surprise. We see her hard exterior, but then we know that in private, she's just like the rest of us and is full of doubts and fears."
Relationship with Daniel Granger
Since the beginning of their relationship, Zara's connection with Daniel has continually been shown to be tumultuous. The ''
Birmingham Post
The ''Birmingham Post'' is a weekly printed newspaper based in Birmingham, England, with distribution throughout the West Midlands. First published under the name the ''Birmingham Daily Post'' in 1857, it has had a succession of distinguished ...
''s Roz Laws wrote that arguing is common for the couple and felt that they have a "love/hate relationship".
At the initiation of their relationship, Walsh said that the pair love each other but felt that neither of them would admit it to the other. She accredited this to the two characters being very similar, with Walsh billing Zara as "a female version of Daniel".
Walsh liked that there is a complexity to their relationship and felt that Daniel initially deserved Zara's poor treatment of him, such as her blackmailing and bribing him, due to the hearts Daniel had broken before her.
In September 2010, Walsh revealed details of an upcoming storyline involving Zara and Daniel. Speaking at the ''Inside Soap'' Awards, she said: "There's a fantastic five-part story coming up in the next few weeks involving my character and Daniel. I don't want to give everything away, but something terrible happens to Daniel's baby daughter and Zara steps in to help. It's all very dramatic!"
She added: "It's nice to be the good guy for a change. Normally Zara plays the baddie and for once she gets to play the heroine, which makes a nice change for me!"
Speaking of Zara's feelings towards Daniel once her character returns from her break in Bristol, Walsh explained: "Well, it's very complicated. She gives him a very hard time and she's keeping his access arrangements to their baby as they were before - very minimal. However, if she hated him that much and really did want him out of her life, my question is: what is she doing back? Zara obviously can't live with Daniel and can't live without him. Their relationship is so complicated."
In June 2020, Walsh talked about Zara's relationship with Daniel on a live-streamed interview. She talked about a two-year arc that producer Peter Eryl Lloyd devised for Zara and Daniel, with the breakdown of their marriage, Zara having sex with Sid, their separate relationships and their eventual reunion after the afore events. Walsh does not typically like to know about storylines in advance as it aids her to portray Zara's natural reaction to events, but she felt that it was useful to know the outcome for their relationship. She added that if their relationship was simple, it wouldn't be interesting for viewers. On their
slow burn relationship, she stated that it was "exhausting but such a pleasure to play long form", and hinted that their reunion would be as complicated as their marriage breakdown. In 2023, Chambers announced his exit from ''Doctors'', but confirmed that Walsh would be staying on the soap.
Pregnancy
Speaking to
Digital Spy
Digital Spy (DS) is a British-based entertainment, television and film website and brand and is the largest digital property at Hearst UK. Since its initial launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television pro ...
, Walsh talked about how she prepared for Zara's labour scenes saying, "It was very daunting, really - especially as we know that so many people watching ''Doctors'' are people who are staying at home with their children. It will be fresh in their memories, so I didn't want to do it wrong! But of course, when you start researching, you discover that it's different for every woman - and if you ask people about giving birth, everybody will say something different. I've been preparing for it for a long time, though, as it's what my character has wanted ever since she came into the show. That was nearly three years ago, so to finally get the thing that I've played her as wanting for so long was quite emotional to shoot." On calling the baby Joe, she said, "I think it's really appropriate, because Daniel's father figure was Joe Fenton (
Stephen Boxer
Stephen Boxer (born 19 May 1950) is an English actor who has appeared in films, on television and on stage. He is known for his role as Joe Fenton (Doctors), Joe Fenton on the BBC soap opera ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors''.
Career
Stephen ...
), who was on the show for years and was the patriarch of ''Doctors'' for a long time. So that's a very significant name for Daniel, and I think it's very loving of Zara that she doesn't insist on calling the baby something like Lysander or Demetrius - as she'd teased him that she would!" Walsh also stated that it has been "amazing" working with babies.
Temporary exits and returns
In April 2012, Walsh announced on the
ITV programme ''
This Morning'' that she was expecting a baby and would be leaving to go on maternity leave. When asked how Zara would depart, producer Peter Eryl Lloyd told Digital Spy: "We're so pleased for her and she's loving being a mum, though of course we miss her - she'll leave our screens at the end of August. Don't panic, it's not forever; rest assured she will return maybe in the festive season. But yes, how to get rid of Zara? It was a real challenge to motivate such a dramatic exit, particularly when she has to take Joe with her and have a reason to come back. Things do get very dark for Zara and Daniel - with an act that changes many lives at the Mill. That's all I'm saying for now, but there's a major clue just before the Olympics."
Walsh returned to film scenes in October 2012, making a brief appearance in December 2012. Her exit storyline saw Zara leaving Letherbridge after learning of Daniel's affair with Cherry. Zara returned on screen full-time in February 2013. Speaking of her return in an interview with Digital Spy, Walsh said that it was amazing to be back: "As they say, everything changes but everything stays the same! I filmed Zara's departure scenes in April last year, and then I did two weeks in September for her return at Christmas, which was a bit early because my baby was so little! I then returned full-time in November. It's madness as I'm just busier than ever! I'm doing the same job, but of course I've got my baby now too."
Walsh took maternity leave again in 2015, with her onscreen exit being written in as her character taking a sabbatical leave. The character began appearing again from March 2016.
Reception
Walsh and Chambers were nominated for
Best On-Screen Partnership at the
2012 British Soap Awards, but lost out to
Jake Wood
Jake Dylan Wood (born 12 July 1972) is a British actor and podcaster from Westminster, known for his role as Max Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He has also made guest appearances in series including ''Only Fools and Horses'' a ...
and
Jo Joyner
Joanne Mary Joyner (born 24 May 1977) is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Tanya Branning in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Mandy Carter in the Channel 4 school drama '' Ackley Bridge''. From 2018, she has starred as Lue ...
who play
Max
Max or MAX may refer to:
Animals
* Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog
* Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE)
* Max (gorilla) ...
and
Tanya Branning
Tanya Branning (also Cross and Jessop) is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'', played by Jo Joyner. She made her first appearance on 27 June 2006. Joyner left the show temporarily on 25 December 2009 for maternity le ...
on ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
''. They have since been nominated in 2013,
2017
and 2018.
She was also nominated in the
Best Comedy Performance in 2017.
For her portrayal of Zara, Walsh won Best Female Acting Performance at the 2015
RTS Midlands Awards
The Royal Television Society (RTS) is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present, and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen r ...
. Walsh shared her delight on Twitter, admitting that she was overwhelmed to receive the prize on her first day back at work following her initial maternity leave. She has also been nominated for Serial Drama Performance at the
National Television Awards
The National Television Awards (often shortened to NTAs) is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and begun in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted o ...
in 2019 and 2020. In 2022, Walsh revealed that people are unkind to her in the street since they dislike her character, but explained that she takes their rudeness as a compliment to her acting, and admitted that Zara does divide viewers.
''
Metro
Metro may refer to:
Geography
* Metro City (Indonesia), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urban area with high ...
''s Calli Kitson then described her as a "''Doctors'' legend".
In 2023, Walsh was nominated for the
British Soap Award for Best Leading Performer
The British Soap Award for Best Leading Performer is an award presented annually by The British Soap Awards. The award was introduced to the ceremony in 2022, succeeding the categories for Best Actress and Best Actor as a gender neutral repla ...
.
See also
*
List of ''Doctors'' characters (2009)
*
List of soap opera villains
A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
References
External links
Zara Carmichaelat
BBC Online
BBC Online, formerly known as BBCi, is the BBC's online service. It is a large network of websites including such high-profile sites as BBC News and BBC Sport, Sport, the on-demand video and radio services branded BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds, t ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Carmichael, Zara
Doctors (2000 TV series) characters
British female characters in soap operas
English female characters in television
Fictional British medical doctors
Fictional blackmailers
Fictional female doctors
Fictional physicians in soap operas
Female villains
Television characters introduced in 2009