Xavier Duval

Xavier "Zav" Duval is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama ''Holby City'', played by actor Marcus Griffiths. He first appeared in the series twenty episode "Hard Day's Night", broadcast on 20 February 2018. Xavier arrives at Holby City hospital to work as a doctor and surgeon on the Acute assessment unit (AAU). Xavier is characterised as a "very confident and charming" doctor who sometimes lacks empathy. He is the show's "alpha male" and upon his arrival, this attitude irritates other characters. Xavier has a "flash" sense of style and Griffiths likened him to a "Milan catwalk model" rather than a doctor.

Xavier wants fun and dislikes the idea of settling down. In line with his characterisation, Xavier formed a casual relationship with F1 Meena Chowdhury (Salma Hoque). He was later paired with senior staff nurse Donna Jackson (Jaye Jacobs), which developed into a serious relationship. Griffiths later remarked that Donna became Xavier's "lighthouse" who helped him resolve his issues and become a better person. Griffiths became worried that Xavier would be forever portrayed as an "entitled brat". He requested that producers create a backstory for Xavier and introduce friends and family. Writers obliged, creating an unlikely friendship with hospital porter Jason Haynes (Jules Robertson) and introduced his entire family, including his mother Nanette Duval (Suzette Llewellyn), who suffers from bipolar disorder.

Griffiths left the series after two years. His final story featured a feud with CT1 Cameron Dunn (Nic Jackman). Xavier sets out to prove Cameron left surgeon Evan Crowhurst (Jack Ryder) to die in his care. Cameron ruins Xavier's career and he is killed after being hit by a bicycle and sustaining a fatal head injury. Xavier's final appearance occurred in the fourteenth episode of series 22, which was broadcast on 14 April 2020. The character was well received by critics of the genre, due to his charming persona and appearance. His departure and death were branded "shocking" and "biggest twist" of the series by various journalists. Provided by Wikipedia