Diane Lloyd is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Patricia Potter. She first appeared in the series four episode "High Risk", broadcast on 2 July 2002. Diane arrives at the hospital to work as a surgical registrar. She is characterised as an "ambitious" female determined to succeed in a "male-dominated world". She is portrayed as unlucky-in-love and has numerous failed relationships during her time on the show.
Writers paired Diane with healthcare assistant Danny Shaughnessy (Jeremy Edwards) but he is unfaithful. She terminates a pregnancy following the death of her lover, charge nurse Steve Waring (Peter de Jersey). Writers also created a romantic connection with consultant Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie), which lasted her entire duration. It was her relationship with consultant obstetrician Owen Davis (Mark Moraghan) that writers fully developed into marriage. This pairing was marred by the constant interference of Owen's former partner Chrissie Williams (Tina Hobley). Writers created a long running "love triangle" story between the characters which culminated in Owen being unfaithful and choosing to be with Chrissie.
Diane has also been featured in the special episode, "Tuesday's Child", which sees Diane travel to Ghana to convince Ric to return to Holby City hospital. Potter, Quarshie and the show's crew travelled to the Ghanaian city of Elmina, where they filmed the episode in sweltering heat. Writers also put Diane's career into jeopardy following two patient deaths which were investigated by the hospital board. The first being Dominic Fryer (Simon Dutton), who had previously sexually assaulted Diane. The second was a patient who died following a surgical error made by Nick Jordan (Michael French). Diane covers for him and is suspended for three months.
Potter decided to leave Holby City in 2007 and producers killed Diane off. She becomes down on her luck, quits her job and commits suicide by stopping her car on the railway track just as a train was passing. Her final appearance was in the episode titled "Past Imperfect", which was broadcast on 3 July 2007. In 2019, Potter agreed to reprise the role for a special episode to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. Diane appears as a vision when Ric Griffin goes into cardiac arrest during brain surgery to remove a benign tumour. The character proved popular with television critics who chose her stories in their "pick of the day" features. Andrea Mullaney from The Scotsman named Diane of the show's best characters. The People'''s Sarah Moolla hailed her one of Holby City's "strongest and most likeable characters".
Casting The character and Potter's casting were publicised in June 2002. A reporter from Inside Soap revealed that Diane would arrive at Holby City hospital to work as a registrar. They added that she is an ex-lover of the established character Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie) and the last time they had seen each other, Ric had asked her to marry him. Of her casting, Potter said "it's a fantastic cast and crew, and everyone's really good friends." She made her first appearance in the episode titled "High Risk", which was broadcast on 2 July 2002.
Development Characterisation
A reporter from BBC Online said that "Diane was an ambitious woman determined to succeed in the male-dominated world of surgery. She was also a fragile, highly-strung soul unable to express her emotions well." Writers have portrayed Diane being very serious about her concentrating on her career and she is determined to prove herself in the hospital. A writer from What's on TV has described her medical skill set as being on par with the male doctors. She is ambitious and her dedication to the role annoys other staff - but she is not afraid to have fun. The character has often been portrayed as keen to find love with various failed relationships.
Potter said that Diane "tries so hard to be professional all the time" but this often leaves her "wound up and emotional". When Diane reaches her thirtieth birthday, she decides that she should try and settle down. But Potter warned that "she doesn't know how to handle relationships very well." The actress also believed she was "much older and wiser" than the unlucky-in-love Diane.
Failed relationships Writers paired Diane with healthcare assistant Danny Shaughnessy (Jeremy Edwards) soon after her introduction. He creates problems between them by bragging to midwife Lisa Fox (Luisa Bradshaw-White) that Diane will do whatever he asks of her. Diane overhears the exchange and is upset, which Danny worsens by flirting with a patient. Writers carried on creating more arguments between Diane and Danny. When the hospital staff accuse a relative, Matt Bradshaw (Dominic Rickhards) of domestically abusing his wife, he directs his anger towards Diane and hits her. Danny fails to remain professional and attacks Matt. Diane is angry with Danny's violent outburst and questions whether she wants to continue their relationship. Their romance ends just weeks later when she catches Danny and Lisa having sex.
Producers then paired Diane with charge nurse Steve Waring (Peter de Jersey) for her second relationship story. Diane thinks she is pregnant and goes to registrar Mubbs Hussein (Ian Aspinall) for an ultrasound scan to confirm it. Diane's reaction is to ask for a termination and she is upset so decides to confide in Ric. He informs his daughter Jess Griffin (Verona Joseph) who has previously had an abortion and she offers Diane advice. She then goes ahead with the termination.
In July 2003, Potter said that it was her favourite storyline because it allowed the chance to portray Diane's differing personality. She described Steve's departure as "terribly sad" with "the added trauma of the abortion", which showed her "vulnerability - she's usually very strong - and I enjoyed having a good cry."
Diane is included in a storyline which helps introduce the surgeon Will Curtis (Noah Huntley). His debut episode takes place at an army base which was filmed on location at woodlands in Watford. There were ten night shoots in cold weather and snow. Potter enjoyed the experience because it was funny to film and added that she looked "foul in combats". Diane and Will share some close moments but Potter warned that he turns out to be unsuitable for Diane. In the episode, which is titled "In The Line of Fire", Diane goes to a field hospital where she trains Will on trauma techniques. A soldier dies while an participating in an exchange of friendly fire. This has a negative effect on their day but they agree that they work well together. Diane then thinks she will not see Will again so asks him out on a date. She is disappointed when he declines the offer. But the pair do have an "obvious attraction" to each other. Will arrives at Holby City hospital to take a job as a registrar. Diane is surprised to see him and realises that their attraction was not real. Huntley told Claire Brand from Inside Soap that "the spark between them isn't so obvious when they meet again."
Diane's stories often feature consultant Ric Griffin and Potter enjoyed working with Quarshie on a regular basis. When Diane was introduced into the show it was revealed she is Ric's ex-girlfriend. The actress told a reporter from BBC Online that "I'd love Diane and Ric to end up as a bickering old married couple."
Ric and Diane would have an on-off relationship lasting her entire duration of the show. The pair rekindle their romance during a trip to Ghana (see below). In March 2007, producers ended their partnership for good. Ric returns following an extended break from the hospital, which causes Diane to talk about him. She states that Ric has never inspired her which Ric overhears. Quarshie told a reporter from Metro that "it’s not exactly the welcome he was expecting." So Ric decides to get revenge by introducing Diane to his new fiancée Thandie Abebe (Ginny Holder), knowing that the former still loves him. Quarshie added that "Diane tries to apologise for her outburst, but she meets Thandie and is speechless." This exchange is "the final nail in the coffin" for their on-off relationship.
Marriage to Owen Davis Diane's relationship with consultant obstetrician Owen Davis (Mark Moraghan) began in 2005. Potter initially thought that Diane and Owen were well suited to each other. She told Alex Tate from The People that explained "Owen is the real Lothario type who isn't too keen on commitment and Diane backs off when any relationship gets serious, so they work quite well together." When Diane's pregnant sister Joanna Lloyd (Hannah Bourne) is involved in a car accident she is rushed to hospital. Diane is angry because Joanna did not wear her seatbelt while driving and accuses her of being a bad mother. Following their argument Joanna's condition deteriorates and she is taken into intensive care. When she is rushed into an operating theater, surgeons fail to save Joanna but they do manage to deliver her baby Jack safely. Joanna's ex-boyfriend Simon Parker (Stuart Laing) tells Diane that he does not want to look after Jack and he is now Diane's responsibility. She is shocked and has to consider her career commitments.
Diane decides to take care of the baby. Potter said that this forces Diane and Owen to "reassess everything" because she feels that she cannot concentrate on him too. This leaves Owen with the task of convincing her otherwise. Potter concluded "she's got to juggle being a surgeon and a mum, so it's up to Owen whether he wants a ready-made family." Diane finds it difficult to carry on working and look after Jack. Her boss Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing) begins to pressurise her into progressing faster in her hospital role and put her career first. Writers began to include Owen's ex-wife, ward sister Chrissie Williams (Tina Hobley) in the story. As Nicola Methven and Polly Hudson from the Daily Mirror noted, Owen and Chrissie had a five-year relationship with constant reconciliation. Chrissie is jealous when she notices that Owen is investing his time in Diane and Jack's life. When Owen offers Diane parenting advice, she tells him to mind his own business. But she soon reconsiders when Simon issues a court summons wanting to regain custody of Jack.
Diane struggles with the possibility of losing Jack. She tells Owen that they must spend more time with Jack, prior to the hearing. This prompts Owen to change his priorities, asking Diane to marry him and move into his home. She accepts and Chrissie is angry that Owen has set up a home with Diane and baby Jack. She feels more upset because their baby died. Moraghan told an Inside Soap reporter that "Owen does love Diane and he is just desperate to have a family and settle down." Other characters make comparisons between Owen's relationships with both Diane and Chrissie, believing he is replacing his deceased child. But Moraghan believed that Owen thinks that his relationship with Chrissie was over for good.
Chrissie does not think the same and begins to romantically pursue Owen. Moraghan explained that Chrissie is "funny like that" and "wants what she cannot have". He concluded that Owen wants Diane but warned that she "is always going to be looking over his shoulder" with Chrissie waiting for Owen. In the following episodes they lose the custody battle and Simon goes to their home to take Jack away. Diane goes to work as normal but soon break down and blames Owen for losing the custody battle. Writers developed even more problems for the couple by introducing Owen's daughter Katie Davis (Anna Diski). She tells Diane that her impending marriage to Owen will not last.