1. Donna Jackson is a fictional character from BBC medical dramas Holby City and Casualty, played by actress Jaye Jacobs.
55 Facts About Donna Jackson
1. 2.
Donna Jackson ultimately fell in love with agency nurse Kieran Callaghan, and departed to be with him after he was injured in Afghanistan as part of the Territorial Army.
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Donna Jackson made appearances as Donna in both Holby City sister show Casualty, and two crossover editions of the programmes, broadcast as Casualty@Holby City.
4.
Donna Jackson reprised the role a year later in Casualty for a five-month stint.
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Donna Jackson was named "Best Emerging Talent" at the 2005 Screen Nation Awards for her portrayal of Donna, and was nominated for two further awards while part of the series.
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Donna Jackson arrives at Holby City Hospital as a staff nurse on the general surgery ward, making a poor first impression by being disorganised and insolent.
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Mistakenly believing that living with her superior will ensure her an easy time at work, Donna Jackson invites herself to move in with nurse Lisa Fox.
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Donna Jackson refuses to share her winnings with the others and resigns from her job, making plans to travel to Australia.
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Donna Jackson goes on to begin an affair with consultant general surgeon Michael Spence, despite the fact he is married.
10.
When Michael's wife Annalese begins working at the hospital as a locum anaesthetist, she suspects that Michael has been unfaithful to her and confronts Donna Jackson, who confesses the affair and apologises profusely.
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Donna Jackson is shocked when her estranged father Derek is admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with cancer.
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Donna Jackson dies soon thereafter, and when dealing with his effects, Donna learns that he unknowingly fathered another daughter.
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Donna Jackson falls in love with agency nurse Kieran Callaghan, and is devastated when he is called to serve in Afghanistan with the Territorial Army.
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Kieran asks her to marry him, but Donna Jackson refuses, terminating their relationship with the intention of giving Mia stability.
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When Kieran is injured by an improvised explosive device, Donna Jackson reconsiders, supporting him through the amputation of his leg.
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Donna Jackson is seconded for a shift to the ED as they deal with the aftermath of a school shooting, which Donna Jackson finds a challenge.
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Donna Jackson was cast alongside fellow series six newcomer Kelly Adams, as midwife Mickie Hendrie.
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The BBC stated that, despite her lack of ambition, Donna Jackson was likely to succeed on her chosen career path due to her propensity to "land on her feet".
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Donna Jackson's negative characteristics included being easily led and materialistic, easily bored, and "outspoken, stubborn and lazy".
20.
Ultimately, adopting her half-niece Mia forced Donna Jackson to grow up, focussing on her career by attaining promotion to ward sister and accepting the resultant responsibilities.
21.
When Donna Jackson returned in 2017, Jacobs billed her character as "flirty, brash and ballsy", while Simon Harper, the show's acting executive producer, described Donna Jackson as "sparky [and] irreverent".
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Jacobs stated that Donna Jackson's costume reflected that and opined that her dress sense had "regressed" since her departure.
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The reporter added that Donna Jackson returned to the nursing profession "a little worldlier" than before.
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Donna Jackson was raised by her grandmother Shirley, who appears in the series eight episode "Bad Blood".
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Donna Jackson appeared from 14 July to 11 August 2009, suffering from cancer of the splenic flexure, pancreas and abdominal wall.
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Donna Jackson's appearance allowed Donna to confront her father over his abandonment of her as a child, and rendered her devastated upon learning that he had accepted his impending death.
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Later that year, Jacobs stated that her ideal storyline would be for Donna Jackson to find a good man and gain a promotion, hoping she would find someone who would treat her well and help her give up her recreational drug habit.
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Donna Jackson initially disliked him, suspecting him of shirking his work duties, and at one point requested that he never return to her ward.
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Jacobs assessed that Donna Jackson was attracted to him, but would not allow herself to accept it at first, having had so many failed relationships with men ill-suited to her.
30.
Sloane felt that Kieran did not sufficiently explain the extent of his involvement with the TA, and assessed that Donna Jackson failed to understand his "soldier mentality", stating that their problems stemmed from a mutual stubbornness.
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Jacobs stated that despite her matured lifestyle, Donna Jackson would continue to be flirtatious.
32.
Donna Jackson confirmed that Donna would not have a love interest, which she disliked.
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The actress hoped that Donna Jackson would be given a love interest after becoming reestablished within the series.
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Donna Jackson reappears in the fourth edition of Casualty@Holby City, originally broadcast in December 2005, when she is involved in a car crash en route to the staff Christmas party.
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In 2010, Donna Jackson appeared in Casualty itself, for the launch of the show's twenty-fifth series.
36.
Donna Jackson was included in the episode at the request of its writer, Mark Cately.
37.
Jacobs explained that Donna Jackson finds the shift difficult and is "really quite scared", as she is used to working with routine rather than emergency patients.
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In contrast to her typical disorganisation and laziness, Donna Jackson is forced to work hard and "put herself on the line" to keep up with the other staff members.
39.
Donna Jackson had some input in her exit storyline, the focal point of which was Donna's relationship with Kieran, as they moved away to begin a new life together.
40.
Jacobs relayed feedback she had received from the general public with regards to how Donna Jackson should leave, and this was incorporated into her departure.
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Donna Jackson found it easy to relax back into the cast and found it comforting.
42.
Donna Jackson returns following the death of F1 Jasmine Burrows when the hospital's mood is low.
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Donna Jackson tries to lighten the atmosphere, although her upbeat persona is found to be inappropriate in the circumstances.
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Jacobs explained that Donna Jackson is "trying too hard" and that she "wants it all to work out so badly" because she enjoys being at the hospital.
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The actress enjoyed portraying the tension between the characters and preferred it to Donna Jackson being everyone's friend.
46.
The reasons for Donna Jackson's return are unexplained for several episodes.
47.
The actress confirmed that Donna Jackson has developed "skeletons in her closet" after leaving Holby, which she brings with her when she returns.
48.
Donna Jackson has a close relationship with Ric Griffin, who acts as a father figure to her.
49.
Jacobs liked that Donna Jackson had one already established friendship when she returns.
50.
Donna Jackson named Donna's relationship with her father Derek as her favourite storyline.
51.
Writers included scenes of Donna Jackson deliberating her decision to leave the NHS with Bernie Wolfe, who was guest starring in an episode.
52.
Across these episodes, Donna Jackson is involved in a story focusing on the treatment of vicar Lexy Morrell, a long-standing recurring character.
53.
Donna Jackson departs in the series 38 episode "Too Much, Too Young", first broadcast on 16 September 2023.
54.
Donna Jackson was nominated for the "Best Newcomer" award at the 2004 National Television Awards, and the "Favourite Female TV Star" Screen Nation award in 2008.
55.
Donna Jackson named Peters' casting as Donna's father his "Worst TV moment of the year" in 2009, however found their relationship "deeply moving".