Daily Record – February 3, 1999

THERE was love in the air conditioning at Holby City as Nick Jordan’s hormones began jumping again.

No sooner had he appeared from the linen cupboard, followed by blushing nurse Ellie, than he was grappling with fellow doctor Kirstie.

It was David Wicks all over again as ex-EastEnders star Michael French got his tongue round his new role. The actor even looked like a reincarnation of Albert Square’s used car dealer, with his sharp suit and intense gaze.

It was never going to be long before the surgical registrar got to grips with his colleague Kirstie. The pair have been dribbling over each other since the medical drama started.

But what became patently obvious last night was that Nick only wants what he can’t have. And according to Kirstie, he can’t have her.

She was desperate to get her white coat off when he finally made a move on her in an empty operating theatre. The ambitious young female doctor was experiencing all the symptoms of desire, from heaving chest to fluttering eyelashes.

Being a true professional, she backed off before Nick proved he was Holby City’s smoothest operator. Kirstie wants him, but until she knows she is not just some antidote to his failed marriage, she won’t fall for his charms.

The scene was as electrifying as you can get before the watershed and without a single flash of cleavage.

Kirstie is not the best looker on Holby’s staff, with her stringy hair and nostrils you can see up from the other end of the ward, but she smouldered like Marilyn Monroe in Nick’s arms.

The sign of great drama is when a scriptwriter and director can make a symphony out of a few notes and Holby City’s creators have done that. It doesn’t have the budget of er, but it is proving just as compelling.

When George Clooney comes sweeping on to our screens for his final er series tonight, he will have Michael French to contend with.

George might have the looks to give female viewers palpitations, but he has never raised the temperature in a linen cupboard.

Move over Dr Ross, your job might just be on the line.