Dominic Copeland

Dominic "Dom" Copeland is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'', played by actor David Ames. He first appeared in the series fifteen episode "Second Life", broadcast on 23 April 2013. Dom arrives at Holby City hospital as an F1 on Keller Ward being mentored by Antoine Malick (Jimmy Akingbola) and later Sacha Levy ( Bob Barrett). The character was originally introduced for several episodes and featured in a storyline with Malick. Producers later decided to reintroduce the character on a permanent basis with Dom returning in January 2014.

Dom is a complex character who enjoys causing trouble and creating different personalities to suit his desired outcome of a situation. His manipulative behaviour has seen him lie under oath and attempt to ruin his colleagues careers. His reintroduction signalled a rivalry with Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) and a friendship with Zosia March ( Camilla Arfwedson). He goes on to develop a close friendship with Arthur that proves significant to his character development. Writers also made changes to his personality by placing Dom alongside senior staff with "strong moral compasses" who help him to become a "better person". The character shares romantic relationships with agency nurse Kyle Greenham (Alan Morrisey) and patient Lee Canon (Jamie Nichols). The latter subjects him to a violent attack which affects his career at the hospital.

Writers carried on victimising the character when they paired him with registrar Isaac Mayfield (Marc Elliott). Their relationship was used to portray domestic abuse within a gay relationship. The story culminated with Dom leaving Isaac and exposing his abuse. Dom was left with a steroid addiction and severe trust issues. His next relationship was developed with nurse Lofty Chiltern (Lee Mead), which results in a doomed marriage. ''Holby City'' producer Kate Hall felt it was important because Dom had been emotionally damaged and could not move on quickly. Writers continued to create dramatic stories for the character when he contracts Hepatitis C from a needle stick injury. Producers later rewrote the character's back story which reveals he was adopted and introduced his biological mother Ange Godard (Dawn Steele). Critic Anthony D. Langford from TheBacklot.com has often praised the character for not being stereotypical. While other reviews have labelled him "bad" and "sneaky".

Development

Casting, characterisation and family

Ames had previously auditioned for a different character but was unsuccessful. Gaining the role of Dominic meant a lot to Ames' family who were already ''Holby City'' fans.

Dom is billed as "complicated, unpredictable and deliciously wicked". His manipulative persona is said to make the show more interesting. Career wise Dom is incredibly ambitious. But he is untruthful and has "demons" from past experiences that continue to trouble him. Ames called him a "scheming, cheeky little mongrel" and finds fun in playing the nasty character. He told Lorraine Kelly that "Dominic is a very complex character and he has a lot to prove and he doesn't really hold back on how he goes about doing that." Ames believed that there are similarities between him and Dom. He told a reporter from ''Gay Times'' that "as a gay man playing a gay man, there’s definitely an element of myself in Dominic’s personality, because one thing I wanted to do with Dominic is to have fun with him."

The character goes on a journey emotionally and through his career at ''Holby City'' his personality changes. Ames assessed that originally his character had "questionable morals and standards". But being around senior hospital staff with "such strong moral compasses" he finds a "good path". Through these connections writers developed him into a "better person, a better colleague and a better friend." In 2017, Ames assessed that the character is "so full of bravado, he is very cocky and he is very full of himself". But Ames also likened his character to someone wearing a mask. When his "mask slips sometimes" and you learn that Dom "is vulnerable and underneath it all he is quite scared and timid." The actor concluded that he was still fascinated by his complex character.

In 2015, Julia Deakin was hired to play Dom's mother Carole Copeland. She was described by a writer from ''Inside Soap'' as being the "overenthusiastic parent" of her "beloved boy" Dom. She likes to know all of his business and wants to be close to him again. With this Carole secures a job at the hospital cafe. When Carole hears gossip about her son, she confronts him on Keller ward in front of patients. Dom is "mortified" by his mother and they have an "embarrassing row" on the ward. The incident also causes Dom to behave unprofessionally with a patient. Dom has to tell his mother to "mind her own business for once".

Guest role and return

Dom arrives on Keller Ward while Antoine Malick (Jimmy Akingbola) is in charge. Dom sleeps with Malick, but he is in a relationship with Nathan Hargreave (Jotham Annan). Malick treats infamous serial killer, Amanda Layton (Ruth Gemmell). He grants her wish to not resuscitate after she tells him the location of her final victim. But he finds himself in trouble and the matter gets taken to court. When Malick rejects Dominic's further advances he wants revenge. Malick is questioned over the DNR and expects Dom to validate his statement. Dom uses the opportunity to get Malick in further trouble over the incident. Ames believed that Dom was under much "psychological stress" at this point.

Dom then proceeds to lie under oath to further enact his revenge. Dom claims that Malick delivered Amanda a fatal overdose. To defend himself he is forced to admit that he kissed Dom. Akingbola told a reporter from ''Inside Soap'' that "Dominic's crush rebounds on Malick, Nathan has been a rock to him, and now Malick worries that he'll lose the love of his life as well as his job." Ames told a reporter from BBC Online that it was Dom's "inexperience and naivety" that got him in to deep with Malick. But Dom's lies at the coroner's inquest are exposed and he leave ''Holby City'' shamed. Ames summed up the departure as Dom leaving the show disgracefully under a cloud.

In September 2013, it was announced that Ames had reprised the role. Executive producer Oliver Kent said that his return would "definitely shake things up at ''Holby City''". Ames told a ''TV Choice

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