Maddy Young - Reception

Reception

Within six months of arriving at Holby City, Lewington was long-listed for the 'Most Popular Newcomer' award at the 2007 National Television Awards, for her portrayal of the character. In the 2007 official fan awards, Maddy was voted fans' 'Favourite Newcomer of series 9', as well as third 'Favourite Female of series 9', fourth 'Favourite All-Time Female' and fifth 'Favourite series 9 Storyline', for the plot strand with her twin sister. Informed of Maddy's strong fan base, Lewington commented: "How lovely! I think it's because she's identifiable. People understand her motives and see that she has no hidden agenda. She's emotional but strong, cheeky but kind. I rather like her so I'm glad others do to!"

In October 2007, drinks' industry body the Portman Group made an official complaint to communications regulator Ofcom about a scene in Holby City episode "Trial and Retribution", which depicted the characters Maddy and Sam Strachan each taking five shots of tequila following a stressful day at work. The body's chief executive David Poley claimed that in failing to show the negative consequences of this action, the series was presenting a "highly irresponsible portrayal of excessive and rapid drinking". The Daily Telegraph noted that the complaint came shortly after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith expressed concern about televisual glorification of drunkenness, having told the Labour Party conference such a thing would be branded unacceptable as part of a "zero-tolerance" approach to anti-social behaviour. In response to the Portman Group's accusation that "We would expect the BBC to take greater care with the portrayal of alcohol in programmes", the BBC released a statement explaining that: "Holby City takes the issue of the negative effects of alcohol abuse very seriously. On occasions when our continuing drama series deal with alcohol within a storyline we always seek to handle the issue sensitively".

The series 10 episode "Love Will Tear Us Apart", which saw Maddy stood up by Dan on a return visit from France, was selected as a televisual pick of the day by The Guardian, the Daily Mirror, and the Birmingham Mail. The Guardian critic Gareth McLean was critical of the episode, writing: "Now here's an idea for another Holby spin-off - one set in the hospital's STD clinic. Of course, given the ceaseless intra-departmental shagging that goes on in that hospital, there might be too much crossover with existing shows, with not a look-in for characters who aren't actually on staff. Here, sexist surgeon Clifford returns to complicate Maddy's life, though since she's been sleeping with Sam, who's slept with Connie, Chrissie and Faye, she appears to need no help in that area.She's going to die." The Sun journalist Anita Baig has also commented critically on the character, noting that when it comes to medicine, Maddy "always seems to be having difficulties." Daily Mirror critic Jim Shelley has discussed the outlandish nature of the character's storylines, dubbing the line "I don't know why people complain about the NHS" from a 2007 episode his 'Naive statement of the week', explaining: "Hmmmm let's see. Abra covering up that he was operating on his arms-dealer father. Maddy hiding the fact she killed her junkie sister's daughter. And secret cokehead Jesus Of Nazareth (Robert Powell) keeping quiet about counselling Elliot's son for heroin addiction. Oh yeah, and in Casualty, in Holby's A&E department, nurse Ruth Winters secretly fixed her dad's breathalyser test. Anyone detect a theme emerging?" Shelley has, however, also deemed Maddy to be one of Holby City's "few really good, realistic, characters".