Development
Elliot is described on the BBC Online Holby City homepage as "a disorganised genius" who "comes across as a bumbling eccentric" but has surgical expertise which is "second to none". Bradley has deemed Elliot "a medical Columbo", who is "shambling, untidy but good with patients and a genius medically", as well as "a brilliant surgeon who does everything in an off-the-wall way." He has been described as "genial" by The Mirror's Shelley, while fellow Mirror critic Jane Simon has deemed him "shambling" and "not the most convincing medic we've ever seen". Comparing Elliot to fellow cardiothoracic consultant Connie Beauchamp (Amanda Mealing), Bradley explained: "Connie is text book brilliant, whereas Elliot is more inspired. He may seem eccentric but he really listens to his patients - he's very straight forward and not at all stuck up. They are chalk and cheese. Connie's side of the office is very neat and tidy. But Elliot's is a total mess. She's quite uptight, and anybody as relaxed as Elliot really gets on her nerves." On 17 November 2006, Bradley appeared as Elliot in a Children in Need segment featuring the Holby City cast performing a version of "Hung Up" by Madonna.
Elliot's wife Gina suffers from Motor Neurone Disease. An October 2006 storyline saw her travel to a clinic in Switzerland, where euthanasia is legal. The assisted suicide storyline was the first time the subject had been addressed in a soap. Gillian Bevan, who plays Gina, explained: "Gina can't bear to be a burden to her husband any longer. She is adamant that Elliot wouldn't understand her decision." Although Elliot comes to understand Gina's decision, and is by her side as she dies, his relationship with his children becomes strained as a result. Sam Stockman, who plays Elliot's son James, explained in October 2007: " still blames Elliot for helping his Mum die and then just posting her suicide note to him, which was the first he heard about her death".
The Holby City 2007 Christmas episode, "Elliot's Wonderful Life", was a reimagining of the 1964 film It's a Wonderful Life featuring Elliot, and guest-starring Richard Briers as his guardian angel. It was filmed in North London over three weeks. Series producer Diana Kyle described the episode as Elliot "go on a major emotional journey and tak time to reassess his life". Bradley explained: "Elliot goes into this complete breakdown and decides to kill himself", and discussed Elliot's motivation in considering suicide: "Something in his brain snaps. He's overworked and emotionally overwrought." He explained that, while the episode is based on It's a Wonderful Life: "the screen doesn't go wobbly so you know you're in fantasy world. It's played very straight. There are some really interesting things going on - angels in the corridors and nobody knows who this old man is. But it's not all doom and gloom, there's humour in there and it's a bit of an adventure." Bradley was pleased to work with Briers, commenting: "Richard has always been a hero of mine. He's an actor I've always wanted to be like. We got on so well; we were exhausted from laughing!" Briers added of the storyline: "It's extraordinary to pinch a marvellous idea from a great film."
Read more about this topic: Elliot Hope
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