Adrian Fletcher (character)

Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher is a fictional character from the BBC medical dramas Casualty and Holby City, portrayed by actor Alex Walkinshaw. He first appeared in the twenty-sixth series episode "Zero Sum Game", broadcast on 7 July 2012. Fletch was a Staff Nurse in Holby City Hospital's emergency department upon his arrival, but was promoted to Senior Staff Nurse in 2013. On 1 April 2014, Walkinshaw announced his departure from Casualty, but revealed that he would be reprising his role as the ward manager of the fictitious AAU ward in spin-off show Holby City. Fletch departed Casualty on 29 June 2014 and made his debut on Holby City on 12 August 2014, over six weeks later. Walkinshaw reprised his role in Casualty for the 30th anniversary episode "Too Old for This Shift", which aired on 27 August 2016.

Creation

The character was announced on 13 March 2012, along with the casting of Alex Walkinshaw and his departure from Waterloo Road as Jez Diamond.^[2] Walkinshaw was due to begin filming the following month at Casualty's new home, Cardiff. Speaking of his character Fletch, Walkinshaw commented: "He's the ultimate cheeky chappy - the kind of entertaining bloke you'd really want to go down the pub and have a laugh with, whether you're male or female. He's into football, rugby, beer and beautiful women - only to flirt with and admire, though - he's a devoted family man which just makes him all the more attractive. Personally, I can't wait to get to know him better myself!"^[2] Casualty's executive producer, Johnathan Young commented: "We're absolutely thrilled to welcome Alex to the Casualty team. He's brings bags of talent, a wealth of experience and a cheeky sense of humour to rival Fletch's!"^[2] Fletch originally trained as a mechanic, but ended up losing his business. When his wife Natalie, originally called Keila, went into labour with their third child and found herself in Holby's ED, Fletch saw the hard work of the nursing staff and decided it was the career for him.^[2] By arriving back in the ED, Fletch is returning to the birthplace of his daughter and his inspiration. It was mentioned that Fletch's first episode would be airing in June and Lloyd would be his mentor.^[2] Walkinshaw's first scenes were scheduled to air on 30 June, but was rescheduled due to the extended coverage of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships. Instead, his first scenes aired on 7 July.^[3]

Speaking about the character, producer Nikki Wilson said; "Fletch is a brilliant character and I'm already completely in love with him! He's a real cheeky chappy who has changed his career later in life. Fletch was a car mechanic who ran his own garage, but his business went under during the recession, so he chose to re-train as a nurse. From talking to the Royal College of Nursing, we discovered that this is quite a regular pattern at the moment - real-life A&Es are seeing a lot of people coming into nursing later in life. Fletch brings a real sense of humour into our nursing team. You'll see a real charm, energy and playfulness from his character, which is absolutely joyous."^[4]

Development

Relationship with Tess Bateman

In an interview with Digital Spy, producer Nikki Wilson said; "I think Fletch and Tess seem to be getting on really well - she quite likes the fact that he's a bit of a joker and that there's a bit of laughter going on in the ED."^[4]

When Fletch's assigned mentee, Aoife O'Reilly (Gemma-Leah Devereux) begins to harbour feelings for Fletch, Tess tries to warn him but he insists they are friends.^[5] This is when Tess Bateman (Suzanne Packer) begins to harbour her own feelings for Fletch. The two later begin an affair after they kiss in a taxi before sleeping together. Tess later ensures that they will not work the same shifts while Fletch suggests they spend more time together.^[6] Fletch later goes on holiday with his family, leaving Tess wondering about having an affair with a married man before discovering she is pregnant.^[7] Following Fletch’s return from holiday, he tells the team how much fun him and his kids had and when Tess is faced with Fletch, following her abortion, she makes her feelings clear by ending their relationship.^[8]

Walkinshaw revealed, on 21 August, that he had been filming some very challenging scenes and that his character would be having a big storyline at Christmas.^[9] Walkinshaw told an Inside Soap reporter, "We're filming Christmas at the moment, and I have some really heartbreaking stuff. The scenes were very emotional and stayed with me for days afterwards. I had an inkling about what was going to happen, but soon realised it was more difficult than I thought."^[9] Talking about his affair with Tess, Walkinshaw admitted; "It's like Marmite - people either love it or hate it. Personally, I'm really enjoying the storyline. It's had lots of interesting twists and turns, and put together two people you wouldn't expect."^[9] Tess’ friend, Zoe Hanna (Sunetra Sarker) picks up on the tension between the pair and confronts Tess, who reveals all. Speaking of the revelation, Sarker said, "Zoe can tell something is wrong between Tess and Fletch so she decides to confront Tess and she gets more than she was expecting when Tess tells her she had an abortion. Zoe becomes annoyed with Tess for not telling her about the abortion and becomes annoyed with herself for not realising what Tess was going through."

Spoiler pictures were later released, showing a shock for Tess following weeks of trying to move on from her secret fling with Fletch.^[10] It was revealed that Natalie would visit the ED to see Fletch but then faints and staff become determined to discover what is wrong with her. Tess is dismayed when she finds herself tasked with telling Natalie she is pregnant with her fourth child. Despite Zoe telling her she should focus on other patients, Tess remains determined to show how professional she can be by continuing to focus on Natalie.^[10] In reality, the situation is far too much for Tess to handle and this leads to her making a huge error by giving the wrong medication to a patient, Peter. It’s clear Tess has made the error due to being distracted, but as she leaves work for the day, she is completely oblivious to the consequences of her actions as Peter goes into a cardiac arrest.^[10] Fletch takes the blame, leading to a full investigation into it being made. Tess feels guilty and tries on several occasions to say it was her fault but, Fletch keeps stopping and insists it was he was to blame. Old feelings between the pair arise but they resist. Zoe notices this and tells Tess he isn’t worth it, unaware what Fletch has done for Tess.^[10]

Relationship with Natalie Fletcher

Following from Fletch's affair with Tess, Natalie becomes suspicious that he is cheating on her. Her suspicions arise further when Fletch does not return home as he is covering for nurse, Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson) whose kitchen has flooded.^[11] Just as Fletch is trying to help a patient that keeps lying to him, Natalie turns up to complain about her husband not being at home and ignoring her calls. Natalie even tells Fletch about her concerns regarding him seeing another women.^[11]

He later reveals he had a fling but tells her it was with an agency nurse. Natalie tells Fletch he will need to say goodbye to their children and he will move out the family home. On New Year's Eve, Fletch arranges to meet Natalie and the children. He meets Natalie and there she tells him that the children are too tired to come. A disappointed Fletch then leaves the bar and becomes embroiled in an explosion in a bar opposite the one he was in.^[12]

After Natalie gives birth to Fletch's son, she agrees to reunite with him. Speaking about the couple’s reconciliation, Walkinshaw said; “Part of the reason Natalie begins to accept Fletch back into the family home is because Tess helps sell his story. She speaks up for Fletch to Natalie even though it’s obviously very difficult for her, the near tragedy of potentially losing two children in this episode forces everyone to make some big decisions. It’s hard for Natalie, but after she and Fletch have a heart-to-heart she asks him to move back in.” Walkinshaw continues, “Fletch realises his affair has caused massive problems. He regrets jeopardising everything and desperately wants to get his family back. Natalie would be absolutely devastated about Tess and Fletch. Tess has lied to her by backing up Fletch’s story. Natalie would be really hurt and betrayed if she ever found out." Walkinshaw also said there is much more to come for trio and secrets will explode.

Holby City introduction and Casualty return

On 1 April 2014, it was announced Walkinshaw would be leaving Casualty and reprising his role as Fletch in its spin-off show, Holby City. Fletch will leave the ED in hope to pursue a new challenge.^[13] It was also revealed that his transition to the new department would not run smoothly as he will come face to face with someone from the past, director of nursing, Colette Sheward (Louise Delamere). The unresolved issues between the two will make Fletch's new role far from straightforward.^[13] Speaking on the ITV programme Lorraine, Walkinshaw said "My Casualty days are over. With the storyline and the way it has panned out with the gambling starting - that spirals out of control for Fletch and he has to do certain other things to make up the shortfall in his wages and puts himself under pressure. He makes things difficult for himself and lots of other things happen. His relationship with Tess all comes back up and they have to deal with certain things about that. It has to play out and to play out, it means Fletch has to leave Casualty."^[13] Oliver Kent, executive producer of both shows, said: "We at Holby City were thinking of a new male nurse to play alongside Jonny and lock horns with Colette. When Alex suggested he might get in the lift and come upstairs to Holby City, we accepted like a shot. Alex as Fletch has been a wonderful asset to Casualty and I am very excited about him bringing his unique blend of warmth and blokiness to the wards."^[13] Walkinshaw's departure from Casualty aired on 29 June 2014 and he made his Holby City debut on 12 August 2014, over six weeks later.^[1] His introduction saw him offered a job working as the ward manager of the AAU ward and revealed as Colette's ex-fiancé.^[1]

In 2016, Casualty celebrated thirty years on-air and a ninety-nine minute feature-length special episode was created, which would celebrate thirty years of Charlie Fairhead (Derek Thompson working in Holby City Hospital.^[14] Walkinshaw was confirmed to have reprised his role of Fletch in Casualty for the episode, "Too Old for This Shift", on 28 June 2016.^[14] The episode featured a road collision and helicopter crash which endangered the lives of Connie (Amanda Mealing) and Grace Beauchamp (Emily Carey) and caused destruction to the hospital. The storyline continued into the episode of Holby City which followed the special episode. ^[15] Having portrayed the character of Fletch in both shows, Walkinshaw was central to transition between the episodes. Fletch treats the woman, Steph Sims (Tonicha Lawrence), that caused the road collision who is under police guard, causing her to become "desperate" to leave the hospital.^[15] A trailer was released by the BBC for the Holby City episode, revealing that Fletch would be at the centre of the attention when he is stabbed.^[16]

Storylines

Casualty

Fletch misses his induction with his mentor, Lloyd Asike (Michael Obiora), to fix senior nurse, Tess Bateman (Suzanne Packer)' car. Fletch mentors Aoife O'Reilly (Gemma-Leah Devereux) and they form a father-daughter relationship, but Aoife develops unrequited feelings for Fletch. Fletch and Tess begin to have an affair, she gets pregnant but then has a termination. Natalie suspects Fletch is having an affair but he denies it. This prompts Tess to end their relationship. Fletch discovers that Tess had an abortion and he tells Natalie he has been unfaithful; she ends their marriage.

Fletch is caught up in an explosion but manages to provide medical attention to those around him. He also saves Peter, a patient who was forced to make an official complaint against Fletch by their abusive partner. One of them are Peter, who had filed a complaint against him because his abusive partner made him. Evie becomes trapped in an unstable building but Fletch saves her before it collapses. Natalie has a car accident while travelling to see Evie in hospital. This causes her to go into labour and she gives birth to a son and Fletch takes paternity leave to care for his child. Tess is injured in a train crash and Fletch risks his job by going on to the crash scene after his senior colleague Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing) warns him not to. He manages to save Tess' life moments before the train explodes. Natalie visits the hospital to make sure Fletch is unharmed. But she is shocked when Fletch declares his love for Tess. She tells Fletch that they cannot be together and he decides to quit his role in the emergency department.

Two years later he attends a party celebrating Charlie Fairhead's 30 years at Holby City Hospital. However the celebration is cut short when an emergency helicopter crashes outside the Emergency Department, causing mayhem and death.

Holby City

CEO Guy Self (John Michie) gave Fletch a job as the ward of manager of the AAU ward. Director of nursing Colette Sheward (Louise Delamere) was shocked to find Fletch as he is her ex-fiance. Fletch is keen to impress Colette and introduces a new way of management, however Colette is less than impressed by an agency nurse (Helen Flanagan) that Fletch has hired, believing he has done so based on her looks rather than her qualifications. Fletch begins a friendship with registrar Raf di Lucca (Joe McFadden) and helps him move on from his wife's affair. Following a disastrous day, Colette decides to leave Holby and shares an emotional goodbye with Fletch. Fletch's divorce was finalized and Natalie arrives on AAU with her friend Bex during a night of drinking. Tensions arise between the pair when Natalie begins revealing Fletch's past to staff and patients, but he is immediately on hand to help when she collapses. Fletch supports Natalie through tests, but when she goes for surgery, she eventually dies, devastating Fletch and their children. Fletch struggles in the aftermath of Natalie's death and begins taking his upset out on patients. His eldest daughter Evie (Macey Chipping) supports him and helps him overcome his issues. Fletch is optimistic when Evie begins a new school, but is devastated when she is admitted following a crash. Scared that Evie will have an injury similar to her mother's, Fletch orders an MRI scan for her and is relieved when Evie reveals she didn't get on the bus because she was being bullied. Another patient from the bus crash helps Fletch overcome his personal issues and he continues to suffer from financial strain.

When his former ED colleague, Kathleen "Dixie" Dixon (Jane Hazlegrove), brings a patient to AAU, Fletch begs her to place a bet on his behalf. Aware of his gambling past, Dixie does not place the bet and instead, Raf loans him the money. Fletch promised to take Evie out for her birthday as a treat despite his financial issues, but instead after a stressful set of events, which involved Fletch considering to pawn Natalie's engagement ring, Fletch and Evie had a heart-to-heart on the hospital roof. Fletch gave Evie Natalie's engagement ring as a birthday present. Fletch inadvertently reveals his money woes to Clifford George (Geff Francis) who gives him a bag of duty-free cigarettes and alcohol to sell for his own profit. When Clifford suggests stealing pharmaceutical drugs, Fletch rejects the idea causing Clifford to become nasty with him. Fletch and his children are evicted from their home and stay overnight in the hospital basement before staying in a grotty B&B. Fletch agrees to help Clifford until he discovers that the drugs are going to dealers and the van driver is a friend (Ray MacAllan) who had offered him money. Clifford confessed he was in debt to drug dealers and that they knew about Fletch and his children, but Fletch still refused to cooperate. The drug dealers then attacked Adele Effanga (Petra Letang), believing her to be Clifford's daughter Mo Effanga (Chizzy Akudolu). Fletch urges Clifford to tell the police, but instead he leaves Holby. Fletch confesses the truth surrounding Clifford and Adele's attack to Mo who tells Fletch that she won't call the police unless he leaves Holby in a month.

Fletch breaks down and confesses his debt to Raf, who lends him the money he needs and lets him and his children stay with him. Clifford and Danny Jarvis (James Bowers), the drug dealer who attacked Adele, were admitted onto AAU, both with serious injuries. Danny threatens Fletch's children, causing Fletch to allow Mo to confront him about the attack on Adele. Danny dies in theatre and Clifford is arrested, whilst Fletch reveals he has taken a job at The Grange hospital, but Mo says he can stay. Ron Renwick (John Bowler), a grieving widower, returns to hospital in search of Guy Self (John Michie). Fletch invites him to AAU and tries talking Ron down when he activates a live grenade and makes Guy hold it. Ron is shot by the police and Fletch grabs the grenade and throws it outside, where it explodes. Ron dies as a result of his injuries and Fletch is hailed a hero. Raf, Fletch and his children spend Christmas with AAU clinical lead Serena Campbell (Catherine Russell) and Cara Martinez (Niamh Walsh) at Serena's house and on the anniversary of Natalie's death, he is sent home to be with his children. Pschyrasit Naomi Palmer (Lorna Brown) arrives on the ward to treat a patient and Fletch takes an instant shine to her, admitting to Raf that he wanted to ask her out on a date. Raf becomes irritated when Fletch starts relying on him to look after his children too much, especially when Raf is late for a shift because he was collecting Mikey (Kai O'Callaghan) from school.

Mikey waits with Fletch and helps a patient cure their agoraphobia. Fletch and several other colleagues created a dance routine for Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) as a way to say goodbye before he left to travel the world. Before he left, Arthur collapsed and Fletch is devastated when he dies. Naomi agreed to another date with Fletch, who asked a reluctant Raf to babysit. Naomi later sets her sights on Raf, but Fletch continues to flirt with her. Fletch is upset when Naomi dumps him and begins arguing with Raf when he discovers that he fancies her. Annoyed, Fletch announces he will move out, but changes his mind following some advice from Serena that he should prioritize his children. When Mikey comes to work with Fletch, he manages to burst a patient's abscess, leaving Fletch unimpressed.

Reception

Walkinshaw was nominated for "Best Actor" at the 2015 TV Choice Awards.^[17]

References

External links

• Adrian Fletcher at BBC Online
• Adrian Fletcher at BBC Online