Season 20 - Episode Guide

Ric arrives in prison to begin his sentence. A popular prisoner takes him under his wing, but Ric starts to question who he should trust on the inside.

Sacha finds his allegiances tested as he struggles to judge whether his patient can be trusted or not. Jac is keen to prove she is back on form, but can she step up when she faces competition from a visiting surgeon? Essie finds emotional support in Meena, and impresses Gaskell with an unexpected choice.

Essie struggles to use her head over her heart as she gets involved with Gaskell's trial. Oliver is transferred to AAU for a change of scene, but how will he react to old and new faces? Fletch gets an unexpected delivery.

Torn between guilt and duty, Hanssen is pushed to the brink. Frustrated by her injury and longing to avoid the memorial, Jac turns to an old friend for support. Lofty is thrown when an unexpected patient turns up on Keller.

The clinical trial is heating up and it's time for Gaskell to live up to his reputation. Nicky tests Sacha's patience in a bid to prove her abilities. Frieda has to play tough in order to win Jac's trust.

Hanssen steps down as CEO, with Serena agreeing to take over temporarily. When Ric is admitted to Holby, Serena and Donna treat the injuries he sustained in prison. Distressed by Ric's situation, Serenainvestigates what happened the day Elaine Warren died.

Oliver's physiotherapy is cut short when his therapist collapses, triggering his surgical instincts. As he attempts to diagnose her and other patients, Dom, Lofty and Roxanna try to temper his expectations. Oliver starts to wonder if he can still be a doctor.

Jac must locate the rare vinyl she took from Raf's collection before Fletch purchases a replacement. This suspicious behaviour leads Frieda to uncover the true nature of Jac's motivations. Knowing Jac may have feelings for Fletch gives Frieda an opportunity to needle her mentor.

Roxanna has been living at the hospital in her relentless effort to aid Oliver's recovery. The bullet is starting to leak poison into his brain and must be removed. Can she convince him to go under the knife again and risk more damage to his mind and body? Fletch's security measures inadvertently put a bike courier in a Darwin bed. Jac finds a replacement for the lost vinyl from Raf's collection and lectures Fletch on the perils of snooping on Evie's phone messages. Nicky, Meena and a reluctant Frieda compare their respective Valentine's card hauls. Jason's girlfriend Greta turns up on AAU with breathing difficulties. A shocked Serena discovers the truth of her condition and expresses concern over the couple's future. Donna tries to find ways to extend Ric's recovery in order to delay his return to prison.

A hungover Nicky must cope with an overbearing new registrar on her first night shift. Fletch and Jac are thrust together on an overnight transplant case. Frustrated with being treated like children, Oliver and Sheilagh team up to reclaim their dignity.

Jac refuses to take time off when her pain becomes unbearable, fearing it will jeopardise her supremacy on Darwin. Frieda must find an alternative solution and convince Jac to take it before she puts her patients at risk.

Roxanna believes an experimental treatment could be the answer to Oliver's recovery. With Gaskell sceptical and Serena reluctant to commit funds, Roxanna must call on a weary Hanssen for help before Oliver loses all hope. But is Hanssen ready to return?

When Sheilagh receives an unsettling diagnosis, Dominic is determined to help Lofty plan her ongoing care. But is he doing it for the right reasons, or does he still carry a torch for Lofty?

Gaskell battles to protect his trial and save his patient. Serena is determined to find a solution, as she begins to fear that Ric is losing hope. Jac returns with a spring in her step, but will the secret to her new-found happiness be discovered?

Roxanna tries to cure Oliver, but in the process opens old wounds. Dom and Lofty find themselves at odds over Sheilagh's care. Donna and Fletch race to save Ric, when they discover a possible clue to his case.

The events surrounding Elaine Warren's death are relived in court. With new revelations emerging, can Ric fight for freedom? Desperate to no longer be Roxanna's pet patient, Ollie pushes himself to the brink. But what future awaits him on the other side? Jac has eyes for Fletch, but when things take a turn for the worse Frieda is the one she turns to for help.

Essie's determination to know how John's trial patient died comes at a cost. Fletch struggles without Jac. Hanssen helps Ollie come to terms with the fact he will never be a doctor again.

Fletch questions new CEO Abigail Tate's motives. Roxanna grows concerned over a paranoid John. Ric is unhappy to learn that the Trust board only wish for him to treat minor injuries.

A revelation about Gaskell forces Roxanna to choose where her loyalties lie. Still on probation, Ric risks his job to save a familiar face.

Frieda forces new mentee Nicky to question what kind of doctor she ultimately wants to be. Meena puts her friendship with Nicky on the line when a chance to impress Gaskell arises. Serena tests Xavier's mettle, putting him in charge of Sheilagh's recovery.

Dominic's romantic bliss is shattered when he is confronted by a ghost from the past. A dangerous old flame crashes back into Frieda's life. Will she break the rules to help him? And Sacha wants to be the perfect boss when Hanssen returns to work under his leadership.

An exhausted Fletch clashes with Abigail when an unexpected visitor turns up on the ward. Nicky tries to keep her head in the game as her personal issues distract her from a big case. Xavier's patience is tested by a tricky patient when details from his past comes to light.

As the pressure builds from all sides, Gaskell takes a huge risk to save his trial. An unwelcome discovery threatens Dom's career and his relationship with Lofty. An angry relative tests Fletch's professionalism.

Fletch is sent spinning with the arrival of several unexpected visitors on AAU. Roxanna's fears grow for Hanssen as he buries himself in his work. Nicky and Sacha bond over bacteria.

Healthy competition turns sour when Meena and Nicky treat the same patient. Frieda finds an unexpected friend in Fletch when matters of the heart push her out of her comfort zone. Serena takes an undesired approach to Jason's impending fatherhood.

Frieda has to decide what to do when Roman crashes back into her life. A withdrawn Dom just wants to have a quiet night, but things don't go to plan. Determined to shake up his life, Sacha seeks out new experiences, with surprising results.

Desperate to prove her worth, Meena prepares a bespoke care plan for Gaskell's next patient. But while researching previous cases Meena discovers more than she bargained for. Dare she raise her concerns withthe great Professor Gaskell? And has she taken her eye off the ball elsewhere?

Bernie's trauma ward in Nairobi is ready to open and she wants Serena by her side. But with Holby still in recovery and Jason and Greta's baby on the way, can Serena choose between the woman she loves and the family she's devoted to?

When Abigail invites Fletch on a weekend away, he wonders if she's taking their relationship to the next level. This was just a bit of fun, wasn't it?

The pressure's on for Gaskell to fix Jac, and the whole hospital is watching. With past decisions weighing on his mind and an inquisitive research student shadowing his every move, will Gaskell risk proceedingwith Jac's surgery?

When a medical emergency strikes too close to home, Serena's priorities are tested and Bernie fears for the future of their relationship. Does she still hold a place in Serena's life?

Fletch and Abigail are forced to confront their feelings for each other in the most public way possible. Is it time to cut their losses?

Hungover, tired and caught out by a surprise assessment, a split-second mistake by Nicky causes things to get a whole lot closer between her and Zav than either of them bargained for.

With pressure piling on and Gaskell nowhere to be found, a troubling discovery causes Roxanna to question her loyalties.

Dom's commitment to his new relationship is tested when he is offered a great professional opportunity that he can only take up by breaking his promise to Lofty.

The party celebrating 70 years of the NHS is put on hold when a major incident pushes Holby to the limits. Serena is reminded of a patient she saved many years ago - with the odds stacked against her, and withRic's help, can she do the same again?

Jac and Abigail find themselves at odds over a patient set for a heart transplant. But with Jac back at work, is the transplant Abigail's only concern?

Sheilagh reflects on her stay at Holby and the importance of the NHS. Encouraged by Dom's feelings for her grandson, she gives Lofty one last present before she goes.

Torn between a chance to make history and her conscience, Roxanna faces a tough decision. Will she cross the line?

Hanssen's recovery is put to the test with Essie's arrival, but he'll have to overcome painful memories if he wants to save her life.

When Donna's hopes for her family seem out of reach, Zav is the last person she expects to save the day - has she misjudged him?

When nothing else seems to be going Sacha's way, he tries his hand at a new romance. Tensions rise as Meena moves in on Nicky's turf up on Darwin. Unconvinced by his slippery charm, Donna puts Zav to the test.

Jac is back on form after her surgery and determined to prove she is a doctor not a patient. Dom and Lofty find themselves at cross purposes, which puts their future in the balance. Essie sees Holby afresh through the eyes of a fellow patient.

Fletch is shocked when someone from his past walks back into his life. Hanssen attempts to express his feelings to Roxanna. Serena and Ric decide to teach Nicky and Meena a little humility.

While trying to help a secretive patient get the care he desperately needs, Fletch's attention is divided by Evie demanding he let her see her grandad. But with so many years of bitter disappointment between them, can Fletch really afford to welcome Steven back with open arms?

Essie receives news about her cancer, calling into question her future at Holby. Determined to help fellow patient Julie and her son Josh, Essie must turn once again to Gaskell for answers.

Dominic fears for his compatibility with Lofty after a contagious incident on AAU shows they aren't on the same page.

Roxanna questions Gaskell's leadership when his focus seems off. Can they work together to save a patient's life, or is the the trust between them fractured forever?

Troubled Fletch throws himself into work as a distraction. When his micro-managing of Nicky puts a scared patient at risk, can Fletch find a way to forgive himself in time to put things right?

Overworked and underappreciated, Serena is in no mood for games when a porters' prank goes awry. But is her short fuse making Serena too quick to judge?

When Gaskell suggests a risky unapproved solution, Essie has to choose between Josh's quality of life and her ethical concerns.

Stressed out by her flaky clients and ailing beauty business, Donna is consumed by self-doubt and comes close to giving up her side hustle. Can Xavier help her see she's got what it takes?

Meena tries to keep smiling when Gaskell banishes her to AAU after suspecting that she's spying on the trial. However, when faced with troublesome patients and a disinterested Xavier, Meena is forced to face a harsh reality.

Sacha breaks a promise to Connor, a young patient, when catastrophic problems arise in surgery. Devastated, he struggles to keep his emotions in check as he faces his personal demons.

Hanssen tries to bury himself in his work, but when Gaskell makes a move he hadn't bargained for, he can no longer ignore his conscience. Fletch is burning the candle at both ends, leaving Evie picking up the slack. Desperate to make things right with his daughter, Fletch faces a tough decision. Feeling more isolated than ever, Meena turns to an old flame for comfort.

Frieda is back and taking no prisoners. Tensions run high when Jac puts her to the test, is Darwin big enough for the both of them? Roxanna makes a devastating discovery… but will it be enough to persuade Gaskell to see sense?

Meena finds herself friendless and in need of help, how much can one junior doctor take?

In America, in 1987, three young Holby familiars make a pact to push the boundaries of medicine no matter the cost. With the life of a friend hanging in the balance, Gaskell must question his unshakeable belief in Project Laszlo.

A distraught Hanssen holds vigil at the hospital, while Gaskell agonises over his actions. Fletch is missing Evie and angrily blames Steven for pulling his family apart. Sacha makes a tentative return to Holby after time off for his depression.

As Holby reels from tragic news, Sacha takes on a marathon operation. But Dom worries he's taking on too much too soon. Serena is pulled in all directions when Leah, a sparky new junior doctor, struggles with a problematic first patient. Fletch sets about stealthily engineering some quality time with Steven.

Xavier's secrets are laid bare when his grandfather arrives wounded on AAU. Gaskell's increasingly erratic behaviour puts a patient at risk, leaving Hanssen troubled. Serena tries to put some professional distance between herself and Leah.

Gaskell fears exposure when Hanssen confesses to having doubts about recent events. Jac discovers Steven has been keeping a potentially life-changing secret from Fletch. Donna tries to repair Xavier's broken bonds with his family.

Fletch finally confronts Jac over their feelings for each other. The death of a patient leads Jason to make a life-changing decision. Eager to protect his relationship with Dom, Lofty hides his true feelings about their future.

A tricky case causes Xavier to lose his cool with Jason. Jac and Fletch do their awkward best to avoid each other. Lofty, Meena and Leah confront their problems when they are thrown together.

The lines between past and present blur as Hanssen tries to bring the hospital back from the brink. Gaskell's descent into chaos leaves Jac fearing for her life. Meena's crusade for truth faces a set-back when she loses the only ally she had left.

Unbearable truths emerge as Hanssen faces Gaskell for one last time...

With Gaskell's dastardly invention inside of her, Jac fears for her life - but the only one who can remove this ticking time bomb is the man himself. Can she convince him to try?

Meena throws caution to the wind and outs Gaskell's nefarious deeds, enlisting Essie's help in unravelling his web of lies.

Fletch and Sacha race against the clock, even calling on some familiar faces for help in Jac's hour of need. Hanssen is determined to bury Gaskell's legacy but is forced to unlock its final secret. Donna is driven to make sense of her relationship with Xavier when he takes his personal pressures out on Jason.

Serena fights chaos on the ward during a hospital inspection as Meena grapples with a momentous decision. Nicky goes all out to impress Mo and prove she deserves her place on Darwin. Hanssen's wounds remain raw as he tries to lock Gaskell and his crimes in the past.

A much-loved face from the past forces a guilty Serena to think about her future. Will she be able to keep her terrible secret? Dom and Lofty find themselves at a crossroads when a game highlights the cracks in their relationship. When Frieda and a difficult patient reach a place of understanding, she finds herself taking in an unlikely companion.

Love is in the air, but can Serena and Bernie overcome their issues? Dom fights for his relationship. Mo pushes Nicky to reach her full potential.

An acquaintance from Nicky's past puts her in a difficult position, but will she do the right thing? With a little nudge from Hanssen, a struggling Sacha finally opens up to a loved one. Serena is forced to acknowledge what is really troubling her.

Christmas Day opens up old wounds for Fletch, while an explosive family secret is exposed. Meanwhile, a mysterious Santa walks the halls of Holby. Events cause Hanssen to doubt his suitability for CEO, but when the team are faced with saving an esteemed colleague's life will he change his mind? Christmas doesn't hold great memories for Xavier, but will an unlikely source encourage him to make happier ones?