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Marty Kirkby is a fictional character from the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
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medical drama
A medical drama is a television show or film in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment. Most recent medical drama (film and television), dramatic programming go beyond the events pertaining to the chara ...
''
Casualty
Casualty may refer to:
*Casualty (person), a person who is killed or rendered unfit for service in a war or natural disaster
**Civilian casualty, a non-combatant killed or injured in warfare
* The emergency department of a hospital, also known as ...
'', portrayed by actor
Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi ( fa, شاهین جعفرقلی; born 23 January 1997) is a Welsh actor and singer. In 2009, he finished in seventh place on the ITV competition series ''Britain's Got Talent''. Since then, he has portrayed the roles of Shak ...
. He first appears in the thirteenth episode of the
thirty-fourth series, first broadcast on 17 November 2018. Jafargholi's casting was announced on 1 August 2018 and he was invited to read for the role shortly after finishing filming on ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British 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 Ea ...
''. Marty is characterised as a young and fashionable
student nurse with a "razor sharp wit". He is a confident nurse who has a blunt bedside manner and excellent clinical skills.
Marty is introduced alongside fellow student nurse
Jade Lovall
Jade Lovall is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama '' Casualty'', portrayed by actress Gabriella Leon. She first appears in the twelfth episode of the thirty-third series, first broadcast on 3 November 2018. Leon was cast in June 2018 ...
(
Gabriella Leon
Gabriella Leon (born 29 March 1996) is an English actress, known for her role as Jade Lovall in the BBC One, BBC medical drama series ''Casualty (TV series), Casualty''. Leon is deaf and portrayed the first regular deaf character on ''Casualty'' ...
) and writers paired them as a
double act
A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases f ...
tackling their final university placement in the
emergency department
An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the acute care of pati ...
(ED). Their "
frenemies" relationship was used as light relief from the show's serious stories. Marty's stories include him lying to his boyfriend about being a single father and
coming out
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
to his parents. A negative response from his father sent Marty on a lonely "path of self-destruction", where he starts partying and having
casual sex
Casual sex is sexual activity that takes place outside a romantic relationship and implies an absence of commitment, emotional attachment, or familiarity between sexual partners. Examples are sexual activity while casually dating, one-night ...
with strangers. Writers used the story to challenge his friendship with Jade, which Jafargholi disliked. His casual sex leads to him being the subject of racism and learning he may have contracted
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
.
The character was given a family link to Kian Madani (
Ramin Karimloo
Ramin Karimloo ( fa, رامین کریملو; ; born September 19, 1978) is a Canadian actor, singer and composer recognized for his work in London's West End and Broadway theatre.
He has played the leading male roles in both of the West End's ...
), a character on the show's spin-off series ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
''. Producers chose to explore their relationship and Marty appears in an episode of the show's
twenty-second series. Television critics and viewers alike spoke positively about the character, with Helen Daly from the ''
Radio Times
''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' calling him her "favourite nurse". Marty's friendship with Jade received a more mixed response; Sue Haasler of the ''
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), 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 urba ...
'' thought they made "an excellent double act" but disliked them being placed at odds. His partying story garnered an emotive response from critics, but a same-sex kiss featuring the character received 111 complaints.
Casting
![Shaheen Jafargholi 2016](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Shaheen_Jafargholi_2016.jpg)
On 1 August 2018, Sophie Dainty, writing for entertainment website ''
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 launch in 1999, Digital Spy has focused on entertainment news related to television programmes, ...
'', reported that actor
Shaheen Jafargholi
Shaheen Jafargholi ( fa, شاهین جعفرقلی; born 23 January 1997) is a Welsh actor and singer. In 2009, he finished in seventh place on the ITV competition series ''Britain's Got Talent''. Since then, he has portrayed the roles of Shak ...
had joined the cast of ''Casualty'' as new nurse Marty Kirkby.
Jafargholi expressed his delight at joining the cast as he had been a fan of the show,
and later called it "an honour
..to become a small part of this legacy".
On Jafargholi's casting, Lucy Raffety, the show's
series producer
A television producer is a person who oversees one or more aspects of video production on a television program. Some producers take more of an executive role, in that they conceive new programs and pitch them to the television networks, but upon a ...
, commented, "He is a huge talent with such a warm screen presence and we know he will bring so much to the show."
Jafargholi was invited to read for the part in early 2018, shortly after he concluded filming for his role as
Shakil Kazemi at ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British 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 Ea ...
''. He had planned to have a break but upon reading the script for ''Casualty'', he decided to read for the part.
He then went on holiday and upon his return, he learnt he had been offered the role. He then began filming in July 2018.
The actor commuted between Cardiff, where the show is filmed, and his home in London for the role.
While filming for the show, Jafargholi would stay in a hotel before returning to his home at the weekend. He did not mind doing this as he found the commute easy.
The actor is also Welsh and expressed his delight at working in Wales.
Jafargholi joined the cast alongside actress
Gabriella Leon
Gabriella Leon (born 29 March 1996) is an English actress, known for her role as Jade Lovall in the BBC One, BBC medical drama series ''Casualty (TV series), Casualty''. Leon is deaf and portrayed the first regular deaf character on ''Casualty'' ...
, who portrays
Jade Lovall
Jade Lovall is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama '' Casualty'', portrayed by actress Gabriella Leon. She first appears in the twelfth episode of the thirty-third series, first broadcast on 3 November 2018. Leon was cast in June 2018 ...
. She was pleased about this and dubbed him her "partner in crime".
He also liked this and thought it would have been scary to start alone, so he was pleased to work with Leon to start with.
Jafargholi was attracted to the role of Marty as it differed to the character of Shakil. He liked that Marty was older and a similar age to himself, but also found that the change in age meant he had to alter "mindset".
Jafargholi was employed to the regular cast and hoped that Marty would establish his own "place" on the show.
The actor struggled to learn the
medical terminology
Medical terminology is a language used to precisely describe the human body including all its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it. Medical terminology is used in the field of medicine
Medical terminolog ...
involved with the show and often relied on the medical advisors on-set for help. He also found himself not knowing what the terminology meant when he was saying it.
Jafargholi explained that he spends a lot of time researching the terminology to understand it better,
and spoke to his mother, who works in a hospital, for advice on how to make the dialogue appear "natural" and "smooth".
He received positive feedback from his mother's colleagues about his pronunciation.
Jafargholi previously appeared in ''Casualty'', as a patient in the
eighteenth series episode "Inside Out", when he was six years old. He had forgotten about the role until he auditioned for the role of Marty,
and joked that he believes that the patient grew up to be Marty.
Jafargholi found that he could relate to co-star
Maddy Hill
Madeleine Kate Hayley Hill (born 19 March 1990) is an English actress, known for her roles as Nancy Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Ruby Spark in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''.
Career
Hill trained at Rose Bruford College d ...
, who portrays
Ruby Spark, as she appeared on ''EastEnders'' before joining ''Casualty'' like him. He said that he "
ookedup" to Hill and enjoyed working with her.
Development
Characterisation
Marty is introduced as a 22-year-old
student nurse who is billed as "sassy", funny and fashionable.
Jafargholi described him as "sharp-tongued and witty",
"sarcastic" and sometimes too much.
Similarly, Raffety said that Marty has a "razor sharp wit".
On his character's sarcasm, Jafargholi commented, "He never misses an opportunity for a sarcastic comment!"
He also labelled the character "mischievous", "cheeky",
fun and "playful".
Marty's wit and intensity can sometimes cause him to clash with other people.
Jafargholi thought that Marty's persona makes him appear as a "know-all",
and believed that he should be less divisive.
He told Katie Baillie from the ''
Metro
Metro, short for metropolitan, may refer to:
Geography
* Metro (city), 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 urba ...
'' that Marty has good intentions, but his actions do not always reflect this and he can often speak out of turn.
He added that his inexperience, resulting from his young age, means he sometimes "puts his foot in his mouth".
Jafargholi thought that although Marty is "very hardworking", he does not focus enough and instead "combines work and pleasure".
Marty is a confident nurse who is ambitious about his career. Despite his blunt
bedside manner, which some patients dislike about him, he has "flawless" clinical skills and technical ability, which establish him as a perfect fit for his job. In Marty's eyes, nursing is the "holy grail of occupations".
Jafargholi stated that in his job, Marty is "eager and keen to do well".
He added that Marty has much "energy and enthusiasm" for his job.
In his career, Marty always wants to improve and achieve a "position of power"; he plans on becoming a nursing manager before he turns 36 years old.
Jafargholi explained that Marty will eventually organise himself and become the nurse he needs to be.
The character's fictional backstory states that he decided to become a nurse at a young age and his ambition to achieve this set him apart from his peers at school. However, his social skills and trend-spotting prevented him from becoming a "social outcast".
Marty is
openly gay
Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity.
Framed and debated as a privacy issue, coming out of ...
and is quick to fall in love, which is his
Achilles' heel
An Achilles' heel (or Achilles heel) is a weakness in spite of overall strength, which can lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, idiomatic references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to ...
. He is often left heartbroken after the breakdown of his relationships and has to remind himself that he cannot plan out of his love life. Despite this, Marty wants to "settle down" and have a family of his own.
Jafargholi dubbed Marty a "hopeless romantic".
Introduction
Marty is introduced in the show's 1106th episode, which is within the
thirty-third series, broadcast on 17 November 2018. He arrives at
Holby City Hospital
Holby is a fictional city in the United Kingdom, the setting for the BBC medical dramas ''Casualty'' and '' Holby City'', and the police drama ''HolbyBlue''. It is based on the real city of Bristol, where ''Casualty'' was formerly filmed, and is ...
's
emergency department
An emergency department (ED), also known as an accident and emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department, is a medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, the acute care of pati ...
(ED) for his final university placement as a student nurse.
Jafargholi told Laura Donaldson of ''
OK!'' magazine that Marty is excited to start work.
He also explained that Marty wants to perform well at work and impress his new colleagues.
To capture his first day at the ED, Marty uses his smartphone to record video messages. Marty is mentored by senior staff nurse
Louise Tyler
'' Casualty'' is a British medical drama television series that premiered on 6 September 1986 on BBC1. The series was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin. It is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, in the equally fictitious city of Hol ...
(Azuka Oforka) and joins the ED with fellow student nurse Jade Lovall (Leon).
Jafargholi explained that Marty and Jade create an unexpected "burst of energy and life" when they arrive in the ED.
The character's introduction was previewed in the show's seasonal trailer, released on 5 October 2018. A preview clip of Marty's debut was released on 16 November 2018 to further promote his introduction.
Marty soon learns that his new work environment is tougher than initially expected. Raffety noted that Marty would soon realise that his new job requires more than "a cheeky wink and a clever one-liner".
Jafargholi told the ''
Radio Times
''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...
'' David Brown that Marty is quickly "put through
ispaces" after he joins.
Following his introduction, Marty finds himself in trouble with Louise and staff nurse
Robyn Miller
Robyn Charles Miller (born August 6, 1966) is the co-founder of Cyan Worlds (originally Cyan) with brother Rand Miller. He served as co-designer of the popular computer game ''Myst'', which held the title of best-selling computer game from it ...
(
Amanda Henderson
Amanda Henderson (born 26 September 1986) is a British actress, known for her role as Robyn Miller in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''. She also appeared in the West End musical '' Oliver!'' and the 2012 film ''Les Misérables''. In 2015, she a ...
), who he works closely with. Jafargholi explained that Louise would start reprimanding Marty for his inappropriate behaviour.
Marty develops an admiration for the department's clinical lead,
Connie Beauchamp
Connie Beauchamp is a fictional character from the BBC medical dramas ''Holby City'' and '' Casualty'', portrayed by actress Amanda Mealing. She first appeared in the series six, episode 35, "In at the Deep End", broadcast on 1 June 2004, and ...
(
Amanda Mealing
Amanda Jane Mealing (born 22 April 1967) is an English actress, director and producer, known for portraying the role of Connie Beauchamp in the BBC medical dramas ''Holby City'' and ''Casualty''.
Early life
The only adopted member of her fam ...
), and her fashion sense. Jafargholi told Sarah Ellis of ''
Inside Soap
''Inside Soap'' is a weekly magazine published in the United Kingdom, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas in the United Kingdom, including '' Coronation Street'', ''Doctors'', ''EastEnders'', ''Emmerdal ...
'' that Marty likes Connie's vigour and personality and sees her as "a goddess", but often forgets that she is his boss.
He added that he wanted writers to establish a friendship between Marty and Connie.
In his early scenes, Marty compliments Connie's
high-heels, which Jafargholi thought summarised his personality.
Marty shares scenes with charge nurse
Charlie Fairhead
Charlie Fairhead, played by Derek Thompson, is a fictional character from the BBC British medical drama ''Casualty''. He is the longest-serving character, having played the role of Charlie for over 36 years, and the only remaining original ch ...
(
Derek Thompson) and Jafargholi said that he enjoyed filming with Thompson.
![Gareth David-Lloyd (23486034682)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Gareth_David-Lloyd_%2823486034682%29.jpg)
Writers reintroduced "dishy doctor" Joshua Bowers (
Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David Lloyd (born 28 March 1981), known professionally as Gareth David-Lloyd, is a Welsh actor and writer best known for his role as Ianto Jones in the British science fiction series ''Torchwood.''
Early life
He was born in Bettws, Newp ...
) as a love interest for Marty.
When he takes Robyn's daughter Charlotte to the hospital
creche, Marty meets Joshua, who assumes that Marty is Charlotte's father. He decides not to correct him, so he can get closer to Joshua.
They continue to grow closer and go on dates involving Charlotte and Joshua's daughter. ''Inside Soap'' 2019 preview for ''Casualty'' revealed that Robyn would discover that Marty has been claiming that he is Charlotte's dad in upcoming episodes.
The story concludes when Robyn and Joshua meet at the hospital creche. Marty is unable to collect Charlotte as he is experiencing a shift with the paramedic team and becomes worried that his lies will be exposed.
Robyn and Joshua discovering the truth coincides with a bad day for Marty as he lets down Louise with work and paramedics
Iain Dean
''Casualty'' is a British medical drama television series that premiered on 6 September 1986 on BBC1. The series was created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin. It is set in the fictional Holby City Hospital, in the equally fictitious city of Holb ...
(
Michael Stevenson) and
Ruby Spark (
Maddy Hill
Madeleine Kate Hayley Hill (born 19 March 1990) is an English actress, known for her roles as Nancy Carter in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' and Ruby Spark in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty''.
Career
Hill trained at Rose Bruford College d ...
) eject him from the ambulance for his poor attitude. All these events leave Marty "ashamed and remorseful", so he decides to apply for a new placement elsewhere. However, he changes his mind following encouragement from Louise.
Friendship with Jade Lovall
Writers paired Marty with Jade as a
double act
A double act (also known as a comedy duo) is a form of comedy originating in the British music hall tradition, and American vaudeville, in which two comedians perform together as a single act. Pairings are typically long-term, in some cases f ...
tackling their first months working in the ED.
They used them for light relief from the show's serious storylines.
Simon Harper, the show's
executive producer
Executive producer (EP) is one of the top positions in the making of a commercial entertainment product. Depending on the medium, the executive producer may be concerned with management accounting or associated with legal issues (like copyrights o ...
, thought they made a "brilliant, comic partnership",
and Raffety opined that Marty and Jade would bring "a whirlwind of life and fun" to the ED.
The characters regularly clash and were dubbed "
frenemies" who share an "interesting Clash of the Titans friendship" by Leon.
The actress pointed out that there is a difference in "attitudes and personality" between Marty and Jade.
Jafargholi confirmed that the rivalry between Marty and Jade would develop into a friendship,
and said that he enjoyed portraying comedic stories within a "predominantly serious" drama.
Writers established the relationship between Marty and Jade in his first two episodes. Jafargholi noted that the pair's relationship "on a friendship level and a work level as colleagues" is explored.
He enjoyed exploring the dynamics of the friendship and thought that comedic moments were created between them.
They regularly play games and have competitions in their work.
Additionally, they each want to "one-up each other". Jafargholi explained that his relationship with Jade causes Marty's "competitive side" to emerge and leads to Marty doing things that he should not do.
Marty and Jade soon discover whether their humour will work in the stressful work environment.
Marty often accepts praise for Jade's work. Jafargholi and Leon agreed that the characters were both "sneaky".
Leon thought that the characters shared a "real genuine connection" as they joined the ED at the same time and revealed that they would support each other.
The actors enjoyed working with each other and felt it made their characters' connection "organic".
Marty and Jade clash over treating Rufus Addams (Kriss Dillon), a patient who they find attractive. Marty is assigned to Rufus' care but Jade becomes jealous and tries to assist. Upon learning more about Rufus, they become "smitten" with him and argue over who should treat him, deciding to have a competition.
However, Jade takes the competition "too far" and locks Marty in a cupboard, leaving him in danger when he has an
asthma attack
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
.
Jafargholi explained that Marty and Jade's "competitive nature" is the cause of the attack and observed that they would be in a better position if they had supported each other.
In another scenario, Louise reprimands Marty and Jade for not working while on-shift and warns them to reconsider their attitudes. Marty realises that Jade is "dragging him down", so rejects her in favour of his career. On his shift, Marty works hard and when Louise notices, she recommends him for a shift working with the paramedic team. Writers decided to further test Marty and Jade's relationship by having her move into his
share house
A roommate is a person with whom one shares a living facility such as a room or dormitory ''except'' when being family or romantically involved. Similar terms include dormmate, suitemate, housemate, or flatmate ("flat": the usual term in Britis ...
. Off-screen, Jafargholi and Leon live together in a flat, which the former found to be a reflection of the show.
Family
![Ramin Karimloo West End Live 2011](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/Ramin_Karimloo_West_End_Live_2011.jpg)
Kian Madani (
Ramin Karimloo
Ramin Karimloo ( fa, رامین کریملو; ; born September 19, 1978) is a Canadian actor, singer and composer recognized for his work in London's West End and Broadway theatre.
He has played the leading male roles in both of the West End's ...
) was introduced to ''Casualty'' spinoff series, ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
'', in April 2019 and in his character biography, he was established as Marty's cousin. Karimloo was excited about the connection and hoped to guest star in ''Casualty''. He wanted producers to explore the relationship as he felt there was the opportunity for a compelling story, but appreciated that it was difficult as ''Casualty'' is filmed in Cardiff and ''Holby City'' is filmed in
Borehamwood
Borehamwood (, historically also Boreham Wood) is a town in southern Hertfordshire, England, from Charing Cross. Borehamwood has a population of 31,074, and is within the London commuter belt. The town's film and TV studios are commonly known ...
.
In May 2019, Raffety confirmed plans to explore Marty's family life, which was previewed in the show's seasonal trailer, released on 14 June 2019.
The story had been teased in previous episodes. After patient Amy Wakes (
Carol Starks
Carol Starks is a British actress.
She studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and landed her first role with the National Theatre in ''Sweeney Todd''. She later found wider audiences through her ongoing role in the soap opera ''Famil ...
) is injured in a homophobic attack, Marty sympathises with her and reveals that he is not
out to his parents. Marty and Jade later compete for a nursing bursary, which Marty is awarded. Jade is jealous of the results and reads his personal statement.
It details how Marty was bullied as a child and kept his sexuality a secret because of his
Iranian
Iranian may refer to:
* Iran, a sovereign state
* Iranian peoples, the speakers of the Iranian languages. The term Iranic peoples is also used for this term to distinguish the pan ethnic term from Iranian, used for the people of Iran
* Iranian lan ...
background.
Jade is upset that Marty has not told her about his past and when his father, Graham Kirkby (
Philip Wright), calls, she invites him to the award ceremony.
After Marty admits that he is not
out to his parents, Jade panics,
and claims to be his girlfriend to avoid outing him.
Marty's sexuality was further explored by having him come out to his parents. Marty brings Jade to a family party, where she impresses Marty's parents. However, the party ends when Marty's mother, Bibi Kirkby (Badria Timimi), collapses and is admitted to the ED. On the ward, Bibi admits to Marty that she knows he is gay and accepts him, delighting Marty. However, she warns him that she is not confident that Graham will react similarly. Marty ignores Bibi's advice and comes out to Graham, who devastates Marty by rejecting him. The story was mirrored in the episode with that of a patient who wanted to be accepted after coming out as a
trans woman
A trans woman or a transgender woman is a woman who was assigned male at birth. Trans women have a female gender identity, may experience gender dysphoria, and may transition; this process commonly includes hormone replacement therapy and so ...
.
Rejection and partying
Writers incorporated Marty's rejection from his father into his next story as he starts partying frequently. Jafargholi explained that Marty has "a void" following his father's rejection.
Jack Hardwick was cast as Jack Ward, a new love interest for Marty,
which was revealed in the show's seasonal trailer, released on 6 December 2019. Sue Haasler from the ''Metro'' described Jack as "the ideal man – kind, generous and, most importantly, mad about Marty".
Marty is elated with his new relationship and upon opening up about his previous struggles as an
Iranian-British
Iranians in the United Kingdom consist of people of Iranian nationality who have settled in the United Kingdom, as well as British residents and citizens of Iranian heritage. Iranians in the United Kingdom are referred to by hyphenated terms such ...
gay man, Jack confesses his love for Marty, who decides to commit to Jack by deleting his dating apps. However, he becomes upset after receiving a text from Graham, reminding him about his rejection. Marty goes to work where he treats pilot Liam Barnett (
Patrick Baladi
Patrick Bashir Baladi (born 25 December 1971) is an English actor and musician. He is best known for playing Neil Godwin in the BBC sitcom ''The Office'', Michael Jackson in the Sky 1 drama '' Stella'' and Stephen Holmes in the ITV thriller ''Ma ...
), but upon contacting Liam's husband, he discovers that his husband is Jack.
Marty tries to save his relationship with Jack, but he rejects him and claims that they have different backgrounds. Marty leaves the ED "angry and heartbroken" and goes to a local bar.
Jafargholi thought that Marty should start "thinking with his head rather than his heart".
Over a series of episodes, Marty's erratic behaviour was intensified, which also challenged his friendship with Jade.
Writers took Marty on a lonely "path of self-destruction" as he begins to have sex with strangers, taking drugs and getting drunk, following his father's rejection.
Jafargholi was disappointed with the challenges in Marty and Jade's friendship as he found it to be a highlight of the characters. He hoped that they would reconcile eventually.
Jade first becomes concerned about him after he arrives to work hungover and lies to Charlie about needing a day off, but Marty accuses Jade of being jealous.
Marty becomes the subject of racism when an online
hook-up rejects him for his skin colour, leaving him "shocked, and utterly humiliated".
Marty continues to struggle and when he is late for his shift, Jade covers for him. Jafargholi told Ellis (''Inside Soap'') that Jade is trying to be "a good friend" to Marty, but instead becomes involved in his lies.
He pointed out that Marty "relies on Jade in a way he shouldn't" and added that Marty takes Jade "for granted".
Marty bonds with terminally ill patient Dean Dunston (
Tony Hirst
Anthony Hirst (born 21 January 1967) is an English actor, theatre director and narrator best known for playing Mike Barnes on the soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' and in ''Coronation Street'' as Paul Kershaw, the love interest of Eileen Grimshaw. Hirs ...
) and confides in him about his struggles. Dean encourages Marty to speak to Jade, but before they can talk, Jade ends their friendship, having covered for Marty again. He is devastated and feeling isolated, he seeks out another hook up.
''Casualty'' introduced the use of NHS rainbow badges in their costumes to coincide with Marty's story. The suggestion was made by ''
This Morning'' resident doctor,
Ranj Singh
Ranjit "Ranj" Singh Sangha (born 26 June 1979) is a British doctor, television presenter, author and columnist. He is best known as a celebrity dancer on the BBC One dance series '' Strictly Come Dancing'', and co-creating and presenting the C ...
, who asked Harper if the drama could feature them as a reflection on the NHS, who use the badges as a message of inclusion. Harper liked the idea and incorporated the badges into Marty's story. To maintain continuity, the badges were also introduced to ''Holby City'' and were incorporated into a sexuality story.
Writers created a turning point in the story when Marty discovers his casual sex and drug taking has put him at risk of contracting
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
. When HIV-positive patient Danny Butler (Anthony Selwyn) is admitted to the ED, it becomes apparent that Marty, who is treating him, recognises him. Danny does not remember Marty and admits that he has not been taking his
HIV medication, leaving Marty "devastated" as they had unprotected sex the previous night.
Struggling with his discovery, Marty breaks down and is comforted by Jade, who promises to support him after he opens up to her about his recent struggles. Marty sees the experience as "a much-needed wake-up call" and arranges an appointment at the local
sexual health clinic
Sexual health clinics specialize in the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
Terminology
Sexual health clinics are also called ''sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics'', ''sexually transmitted infection (STI) clini ...
, before deciding not to prioritise partying over friends.
The story was developed in an episode which was pulled from broadcast. The episode, which features the ED team dealing with a viral outbreak, was deemed "inappropriate" because of parallels to the current
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
. The following episode, which aired in its place, began with an extended preview of the missed episode and revealed that the episode was "integral to Marty's character development".
Plans to air the skipped episode, titled "
Code Orange", were announced in September 2020, four months after being cancelled.
Kate Oates
Kate Oates (born 1979 or 1980) is a British television producer, who was born in Nottingham and graduated from Warwick University. She began her career working as a researcher and editorial assistant for Germaine Greer, before becoming a script ...
, the Head of Continuing Drama at
BBC Studios
BBC Studios is a British content company. It is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC that was formed in April 2018 through the merger of the BBC's commercial production arm and the BBC's commercial international distribution arm, BBC Worldwide. ...
, expressed her pride at the episode and thought that viewers would be "delighted to watch the never-before-seen moments". The episode features Marty being tested for HIV and addressing his issues with drugs and partying, before arriving for chaotic shift as the ED deals with a lockdown following a chemical attack.
In the department, Marty soon encounters Graham, who tells his son that he cannot accept his sexuality; Marty confronts Graham over his behaviour and reveals that he may have contracted HIV, worrying Graham. However, Graham soon becomes unwell after being infected by the chemical nerve agent, devastating Marty as he is unable to reconcile with his father.
However, upon speaking to Graham's neighbour, Julia Ford (
Kate Anthony
Kate Anthony (born 11 April 1964) is an English actress best known for her role as Pam Hobsworth on the ITV (TV network), ITV soap ''Coronation Street''.
Career
She has appeared in ''Doctors (2000 TV series), Doctors'' playing Ellen Murray, ...
), he realises that Graham does love him.
Marty's relationship with Graham was revisited in an episode broadcast in January 2021, which was set post-pandemic. Graham is admitted to the ED and praises his son for his work as a nurse during the pandemic.
Marty rejects him, pointing out that he cannot choose what parts of his life to accept. While treating a patient in Resus, Marty is held hostage by a suicide bomber; he decides to stay with the patient during a hospital evacuation. Graham tries to convince Marty to leave, but he refuses, so Graham stays with Marty.
Under pressure, Marty has to perform a difficult procedure on his patient alone.
Graham is "overcome by
arty'sbravery".
The episode forms the conclusion of Marty's story as his father finally accepts him and his sexuality.
Other appearances
A crossover event, "
CasualtyXHolby
"CasualtyXHolby" is a two-part crossover of the British medical dramas '' Casualty'' and ''Holby City''. The first part aired on 2 March 2019, and the second on 5 March 2019 on BBC One. Both episodes were written by Michelle Lipton and directed b ...
", between ''Casualty'' and its spinoff series, ''
Holby City
''Holby City'' (stylised on-screen as HOLBY CIY) is a British medical drama television series that aired weekly on BBC One. It was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', and pr ...
'', was planned in 2018. The casts of both shows were featured in the crossover, including Jafargholi as Marty. Harper explained that both casts would be featured "striving heroically against the odds in two episodes of pure, nail-biting, taut, emotional medical drama."
In the episodes, Marty works with consultants
Dylan Keogh
Dylan Keogh is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', played by William Beck. He first appeared in the twenty-fifth series episode "Only Human", broadcast on 12 March 2011. The character was introduced as a replacemen ...
(
William Beck) and
Serena Campbell
Serena Campbell is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama '' Holby City'', played by Catherine Russell. She first appeared in the fourteenth series episode "Coercion", broadcast on 1 May 2012. Serena is a consultant general surgeon a ...
(
Catherine Russell) to treat a patient. The episode was filmed in November 2018 and first broadcast in March 2019.
Marty appears in a ''
Children in Need'' interactive sketch, released on 9 October 2019 for the 2019 telethon. In the sketch, Marty and other characters, including Connie, Charlie,
Archie Hudson (
Genesis Lynea
Genesis Lynea Edwards (born 20 October 1989) is a Bermudian-born British actress, dancer and singer. She originated the role of Anna of Cleves in ''Six''. On television, she is known for her roles as in the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'' (2019 ...
) and
Ethan Hardy
Ethan Hardy is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Casualty'', played by actor George Rainsford. He first appeared in the series twenty-eight episode "Bad Timing", broadcast on 11 January 2014. Rainsford's casting was announced ...
(
George Rainsford), ask viewers various medical questions.
The sketch was directed by Mealing and was filmed in a single take.
As part of plans to increase crossovers between ''Casualty'' and ''Holby City'', Jafargholi reprised the role of Marty in ''Holby City'' again. Plans for the crossover were announced in August 2019 by ''Holby City'' series producer Jane Wallbank, who explained that Marty's relationship with Kian would be explored. She teased that they share some "family secrets". Marty appears in the 1010th episode of ''Holby City'', which is within the
twenty-second series, broadcast on 15 January 2020. Marty's appearance coincides with a story exploring Kian's mental wellbeing. Worried about his cousin, Marty visits Kian at his office and warns him to "slow down".
When Kian does not listen to him, Marty speaks to his colleague
Jac Naylor
Jac Naylor is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'', portrayed by Rosie Marcel. She made her first screen appearance during the series eight episode "Bird on a Wire", which was originally broadcast on 22 November 2005. ...
(
Rosie Marcel
Rosie Ellen Celine Marcel (born 6 May 1977) is an English actress. Marcel is known for her role as Jac Naylor, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon lead in the BBC drama series ''Holby City'', a role she has also played in sister series ''Casualt ...
), who also ignores Marty's concern.
However, after he collapses, Kian reveals to Jac that he had a
morphine addiction
Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a pain medication, and is also commonly used recreationally, or to make other illicit opioids. There ...
and Marty had helped him recover.
Reception
For his portrayal of Marty, Jafargholi was nominated for Best Drama Star at the 2020
''Inside Soap'' Awards. ''Inside Soap'' Laura-Jayne Tyler dubbed Marty a "cheeky nurse", and Emma Bullimore, writing for ''
What's on TV
''What's on TV'' is a weekly television listings magazine published by Future PLC.
Overview
''What's on TV'' is a weekly UK television magazine. It publishes features, TV listings, news and gossip from soap operas, as well as puzzles and compe ...
'', labelled Marty the "enthusiastic new student nurse".
Her colleague, Elaine Reilly, called him the "hospital gossip". Brown (''Radio Times'') dubbed Marty the "upbeat new nurse" and liked his attitude towards Connie because he found it irregular,
Haasler (''Metro'') described Marty as "bright, lively, very vain and rather fabulous",
and Lewis Knight of the ''
Daily Mirror
The ''Daily Mirror'' is a British national daily tabloid. Founded in 1903, it is owned by parent company Reach plc. From 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was simply ''The Mirror''. It had an average daily print ...
'' called Marty a "fan-favourite". Joe Julians, writing for the ''Radio Times'', branded Marty "good-humoured and very much a people person" and noted that his "weakness is a heart that always seems to get broken", while his colleague Helen Daly called Marty her "favourite nurse". ''What's on TV'' magazine included Marty's introduction in their TV highlights for the week 17−23 November 2018. Milward (''
Daily Express
The ''Daily Express'' is a national daily United Kingdom middle-market newspaper printed in tabloid format. Published in London, it is the flagship of Express Newspapers, owned by publisher Reach plc. It was first published as a broadsheet i ...
'') predicted that Marty's introduction would "bring a breath of fresh air" to the show. Baillie (''Metro'') thought that Marty's "boistrous personality and cheeky charm" would "ruffle a few feathers" with his colleagues.
The pairing of Marty and Jade received a mixed response. Haasler liked it and opined that it "works brilliantly".
She later wrote that they made "an excellent double act" and thought they worked as light relief in an otherwise "bleak" episode.
She was more critical about writers placing them at odds and disliked their "annoying squabbling". ''Radio Times'' critic Alison Graham called Marty and Jade the "two very annoying new nurses", and thought they were examples of "abysmal" discipline towards the ED's staff. She criticised Marty for making "inappropriate jokes in front of gravely sick patients". Brown expressed his interest in Marty and Jade's friendship, calling it "a sweet work partnership" which he wanted to be further explored. Dainty (''Digital Spy'') dubbed Marty and Jade "friendship goals", and Rebecca Miller of the ''Daily Express'' called Marty and Jade a "fan-favourite duo",
In one story, Jade and Marty compete for a nursing bursary, which Jade does not have faith in herself to win. Haasler (''Metro'') was surprised as she thought "Marty didn't seem to do much at all". On Jade pretending to be Marty's girlfriend, Haasler (''Metro'') wrote, "This will probably work out just as well as when Marty pretended to be Robyn's daughter's father."
Dainty liked the character of Marty, but wrote mixed reviews about his stories. She opined, "The cheeky chappy has been a breath of fresh air since joining the ED, and he's certainly got potential where the job is concerned".
However, she disliked his relationship with Joshua, dubbing it "a non-medical mess".
She later included Marty in a list of characters to "watch out for in 2019", describing him as the "effervescent new nurse".
She wrote unfavourably on his romantic plots, but observed that he is "fast-becoming a favourite among his colleagues in the ED."
Writing about the success of ''Casualty'', Dainty named the introductions of Marty, Jade, Archie and
Will Noble (
Jack Nolan) as reasons behind it. She commented, "Jade and Marty's arrivals also injected a much needed sense of fun in the show, which has acted as a refreshing break from some of the heavier stories".
Following the release of the Summer 2019 trailer, Dainty commented, "it looks like viewers will be seeing a more vulnerable side to the cheerful nurse over the summer months".
An ''Inside Soap'' columnist wrote that Marty is "brought back down to earth with a bump" when he learns about Jack's infidelity. Haasler (''Metro'') sympathised with Marty after learning Jack is married, commenting, "Of course we don't care about Jack but we do care about Marty", but disliked his manipulation of his grieving boss, Charlie. The episode featuring Marty's relationship with Jack was selected by Ali Catterall of ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' as a television highlight of the day. A same-sex kiss between Marty and Jack received 111 complaints, despite the pair being fully clothed and the kiss airing after the
watershed
Watershed is a hydrological term, which has been adopted in other fields in a more or less figurative sense. It may refer to:
Hydrology
* Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins
* Drainage basin, called a "watershe ...
. Multiple media outlets, including ''
Attitude
Attitude may refer to:
Philosophy and psychology
* Attitude (psychology), an individual's predisposed state of mind regarding a value
* Metaphysics of presence
* Propositional attitude, a relational mental state connecting a person to a pro ...
'' magazine, the ''Daily Mirror'', the ''Metro'' and ''
Queerty
''Queerty'' is an online magazine and newspaper covering gay-oriented lifestyle and news, founded in 2005 by David Hauslaib. As of June 2015, the site had more than five million monthly unique visitors.
History
''Queerty'' was founded by David ...
'' magazine, criticised the complainents.
Shaun Linden from ''
ATV Today
''ATV Today'' was a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ATV, serving the English Midlands.
The programme aired from 5 October 1964 until 31 December 1981 – the final day of broadcasting from ATV before the co ...
'' named an episode featuring Marty's rejection issues their television highlight of the day, and the episode featuring Marty's HIV discovery was listed in the television highlights for 4 April by ''What's on TV'' Elaine Reilly. Milward (''Daily Express'') branded Marty a show "favourite" who has been "taking the spotlight in recent months" with his partying antics, and dubbed Marty a "beloved character".
Of Marty's partying, Brown (''Radio Times'') opined that Marty is "secretly in torment" as his "hedonistic lifestyle is about to catch up with him". Susannah Alexander, writing for ''Digital Spy'', noted that viewers were disappointed about the missing episode as they felt it was "important" to Marty's character development. When the episode was aired, it received a four star rating from Reilly (''What's on TV'').
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kirkby, Marty
Casualty (TV series) characters
Television characters introduced in 2018
Male characters in television
Fictional nurses
Fictional gay males
Fictional LGBT characters in television