Holby City spoilers follow.
With just days to go now until Holby City comes to an end, it's time to get the lowdown from Alex Walkinshaw, aka Fletch.
Fletch has been part of the furniture on the wards since crossing over from Casualty in 2014.
Here, Alex reveals his thoughts on the show ending, the final episode, and whether he'd be tempted to go back downstairs to the ED....
When you first discovered the news and the fans attempted to save the show, what was that like?
It was wonderful. The whole reason you make television is for people to watch it. You don't make television for people to watch it and go, "nah, it's alright". So, when there was a huge influx of petitions, social media comments, letters, emails, it was delightful that so many people wanted to keep hold of it as much as we did. We're all very passionate about it and we all care very deeply about it, it's just nice that it's been reciprocated both ways and we're not just making it for the sake of it, there are people that absolutely adore it. It was seriously humbling that so many people were adamant that it wasn't going to go anywhere, we were all really really touched and thankful to anyone that signed petitions or wrote letters.
What can you tell us about the final episode?
It's huge! The last couple of episodes were huge.
What was your reaction when reading the final few scripts? And how are things left with Fletch and Donna after everything they've been through recently?
What they went through, it's a difficult one to come back from. I think, what we saw, was the initial heated response, the real immediate reaction. We did the battle but I think, Donna being Donna and Fletch being Fletch, they've got maturity and understanding that when the dust settles, they'll go away and just be able to… without any words… they're just working side by side again. I don't think they’ll be running off into the sunset together, mind.
What have you most enjoyed about playing Fletch?
I think I've enjoyed, for me, my character being a single dad of four children and having to hold down a job. Getting it wrong, getting it right, getting it massively wrong, trying to repair the damage, I just think it was really good to see it. A lot of the time we see a single mum, right? I thought it was nice that we've seen Fletch with four children, trying to hold down a job, all the relationships at work and at home too.
I really enjoyed Fletch being a dad. I'm a dad myself and I love it, it was great being able to work with the young actors playing Fletch's children, watching them grow up and move on to other things. That's probably been my best delight, working with the young actors, showing them some little tricks and help them through the day as well as helping them on a set, things to look out for, the things I was taught as a child being on set. I've imparted some of the things I've learnt onto them. I've enjoyed the Fletch storyline and, for me, trying to impart any wisdom onto other people.
Are you looking forward to doing other types of roles?
Holby was such a cool place to work, so many different variants, you get to work with so many different actors, producers, directors, everyone. Everyone changes constantly and it keeps it fresh and alive. If you've got different stories coming through, asking different questions, it's always interesting. Because it is so nice here, that's what keeps it alive, that's what keeps people here.
I'm really excited. I've been doing this for a really long time. I've done Holby for a long time but I've been acting for what feels like forever! I've done other parts and I've played different roles, I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.
Would you go back to Casualty?
I think Fletch is too old to be running round an ED! He could slip and break a hip.
What was it like to say goodbye to Fletch after all this time?
I've done a few long runners and there are a few certain things that are always there. It could just be a mannerism or a movement or something that reminds me of Fletch. Just little things from characters, we've absorbed them into our own personalities.
You've had experience saying goodbye to a long-running show before….
Yes, so fingers crossed I get to kill off a few more shows! I don't think my experience really came into play, everyone is really close, everyone has really great friendships and are really open and honest with each other. Anyone that's feeling anything, it was discussed.
Some people have been here from the absolute beginning, you don't have to rely on the people that pull the faces, it's affecting so many people, everyone gets on so well, you find a source of safety or being able to have a proper conversation on how it feels, what it means, with virtually anyone. We have a huge base of a crew that are here pretty much all of the time.
How do you feel about Waterloo Road coming back?
It was a very big, successful, popular show.
Would you ever go back to that?
I think I'd have to lose a considerable amount of weight if I was going to try and get back in Lycra. And the hair's gone. Old Jez Diamond with the quiff.
What about The Bill?
All the time people say to me, "The Bill's coming back". I've heard that for 11 years! But I think I'd have to sit behind a desk now.
As a TV viewer yourself, has there been shows that have made you feel bereft when they finished?
These days you can smash a box set in a couple of days, and if I really get into it when the box set runs out I absolutely hate it. I hated it when The West Wing finished, The Sopranos, Brooklyn Nine-Nine. I think if you invest in anything it's always sad when it finishes.
My mum has watched Casualty from the beginning, Holby from the beginning, always watched it and been a big fan of it. When I turned up in Casualty and Holby I only ruined it for a little while. But for people like my mum and other people who've watched it for a really long time, if I'm getting upset about four seasons of a show coming to an end, I think it's probably quite a significant loss to your schedule of things that you do every week – it's Tuesday, it's Holby night.
People my age and older are still tied into the schedule and they still sit down and watch their shows when they're transmitted rather than streaming. So I think it might be quite a loss for quite a few people, which again goes back to the petitions and the outcry of wanting us to stay on air.
Finally, did you want to take any 'souvenirs' from the set?
Yes, one of the hospital beds because they're really quite comfy.
Holby City's final episode airs on Tuesday, March 29 at 7.50pm on BBC One.
Read more Holby City spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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