Jac Naylor is a fictional character born in Scawsby from the BBC medical drama Holby City, portrayed by Rosie Marcel. She made her first screen appearance during the series eight episode "Bird on a Wire", which was originally broadcast on 22 November 2005. The character is introduced alongside Luke Roberts and Tom Chambers as Joseph Byrne and Sam Strachan, respectively. Jac is characterised as a highly ambitious, forthright surgeon who is career-oriented. Her backstory states that her mother placed her in foster care aged twelve. She is also well known for her close in-show relationship with her brother Ash Naylor.
Marcel took maternity leave in 2014 and Jac temporarily departs in the seventeenth series episode "Go the Distance", originally broadcast on 14 April 2015, after reuniting with Jonny Maconie (Michael Thomson). Marcel returns for two appearances during her maternity leave, before returning in the eighteenth series episode "A Delicate Truth", originally broadcast on 24 November 2015. Marcel worked with producers to emphasise Jac's bitchy characterisation on her return. After noticing a connection between Marcel and Alex Walkinshaw, Jac was paired with his character, director of nursing Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher, in 2017. Jac was written out in series 22 but made an unannounced return in the following series. Her departure was originally advertised as permanent but Marcel later claimed it was a publicity stunt. In 2021, the BBC cancelled Holby City and producers decided to end the series with Jac's death. They created a terminal brain tumour storyline and portrayed Jac determined to find a cure. Producer Ben Wadey has stated he believed Jac's death was the show's end and thought a miracle cure would have been unrealistic. Jac's death and final scenes occur in the final episode of Holby City, which was broadcast on 29 March 2022. Additionally, Jac has made multiple appearances on Holby City sister shows, HolbyBlue and Casualty.
Development Casting and introduction Prior to her casting, Marcel had appeared in Holby City in an unrelated role, as a drug addict named Elinor. After joining the main cast of Holby City as Jac, Marcel signed a three-year contract with the drama, securing her on the show until 2008. Marcel was introduced to the series alongside Luke Roberts and Tom Chambers, who portray cardiothoracic registrars Joseph Byrne and Sam Strachan, respectively. Jac is introduced during the episode titled "Bird on a Wire", which was broadcast on 22 November 2005. A writer from Inside Soap reported that Jac arrives at the hospital determined to impress consultant Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie). She offers to help on a double amputation procedure and insists that Ric will be so impressed he will offer her a permanent role at Holby. Medical trainee Dean West (Paul Henshall) accidentally cuts Ric's hand and this puts him in a bad mood. Jac has to work harder to impress Ric as he insists he no longer needs her help. Following the broadcast of her introductory scenes, Jac returns in January 2006 determined to secure a full-time Surgical Registrar post. In two series twelve episodes, Cydney Dubavin-Hands played a teenage Jac in flashback scenes.
Writers soon developed a rivalry between Jac and fellow registrar Diane Lloyd (Patricia Potter). The story sees the pair fight for the role of locum consultant, which Diane goes onto secure. A writer from the Liverpool Echo stated that Jac took credit for work Diane had done. They added "Diane and Jac's working relationship hasn't exactly been an easy one to date, and it doesn't look as if it's going to improve". The pair later argue over patient care. When a paroled murderer is admitted to Darwin ward, they disagree on the cause of his pain. Jac decides to take over the case and orders x-rays to confirm her diagnosis. She goes to see consultant Dan Clifford (Peter Wingfield) and complains about having to work alongside Diane. He sides with Diane and throws Jac's diagnosis in the bin. When Diane realises that Jac was correct about the man's condition she is forced to apologise.
Characterisation According to the official Holby City website, Jac is "strong-minded" and forthright. Professionally, she is a highly ambitious "political player", determined to become a consultant and attain recognition for her surgical skills. She is willing to hurt others to achieve her goals, and has a "professional façade", developed as a result of pursuing a career in a male-dominated field. A BBC Online reporter thought that Jac's "determination to be brilliant might just kill her". Jac demonstrates a willingness to flout rules and endanger patients to advance her own career. Marcel liked Jac's original characterisation of a woman "who would gladly sell her soul to the devil in exchange for a better job". Bob Barrett, who portrays Sacha Levy in the drama, dubbed the character "Ms Darwin" after she is promoted to clinical lead of cardiothoracic ward, Darwin. Outside of work, Jac is "charming and hugely sociable". Placed in foster care by her mother aged twelve, she finds it difficult to form relationships due to an inability to commit and "let herself go". Her experience in foster care made Jac more independent as she believes that she cannot rely on other people. Marcel explained that Jac believes that "no one is ever going to fight for you so you just need to crack on and do it yourself and just get on with it basically!" Barrett was inspired by the exploration of Jac's characterisation and backstory when exploring his own character.
Shortly after joining the cast, producers spoke to Marcel about turning the character of Jac into "a massive bitch", which excited her. The actress explained in June 2018 that Jac's nastier personality combined with the stories written for is the reason she has remained on Holby City. In 2008, Jac had firmly been established as a "rude" and "bitchy" character. Marcel told an Inside Soap reporter that "she's too honest for my liking. There's a fine line between being honest and rude. I'd want to hit her over the head!" Scriptwriter Patrick Homes found it easy to write stories for Jac due to her "defined" characterisation. Marcel reflected on her character's characterisation in 2015, stating that she enjoys how Jac "says the things that people wouldn't normally say, or would at least think about first". Three years later, the actress opined that Jac is more gentle than she was upon her introduction. She hoped that the character would toughen up, but expected her to experience some painful stories first.
Though Jac rarely falls in love, she is not averse to using sexual manipulation to achieve her goals, for example she has had romances with several of her colleagues; consultant Nick Jordan (Michael French), who she let "too close and was burned", and foundation doctor Oliver Valentine (James Anderson). Noting this trait, television critic Jim Shelley described Jac as a "man-eating android".
In 2011, writers planned to rejuvenate Jac's nasty persona. Producers created a medical story which leaves Jac conflicted in the face of treating an infant patient. When Jac is introduced to baby Freya who requires heart surgery, she behaves in her usual nasty manner. When Freya's mother abandons her, Jac bonds with the baby. Marcel told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Jac relates to Freya because her mother also abandoned her. Jac operates on Freya and she nearly dies during the procedure. She said that "Jac's becoming attached" and when Jac saves her life "that's when the real bond develops". Marcel explained that Freya "has a big impact" on Jac and it was the start of a long-running story in which her character changes.
In 2019, Marcel assessed that Jac is still mean but also does "so much good for people" via her job. She explained that Jac has had a "hard life and come out the other side." She added that Jac is a fighter because she carries on through the bad and wanted viewers to be inspired by Jac's driven persona. She later noted that Jac is "a little bit of what we all want to be – a bit more honest and more open".
Relationship with Joseph Byrne Producers paired Jac with fellow registrar Joseph. Jac originally only slept with Joseph in a bid to further her career. She had previously been involved in an affair with Joseph's father Lord Byrne (Ronald Pickup). He later moves on with ward sister Faye Morton (Patsy Kensit), which causes a feud. Jac and Joseph later sleep together and tricks Joseph into believing that she is pregnant with his child. When Faye discovers the truth she breaks-up with him. Kensit said that "he's done the most unforgivable thing". Joseph manages to convince Faye to marry him, but she soon takes a romantic interest in Linden Cullen (Duncan Pow). Jac continues to interfere in Joseph's relationship, becoming wary of Faye and Linden and Kensit stated that Jac had the right to be suspicious.
Jac and Joseph briefly reunited prior to Roberts' departure from the series. Marcel told Inside Soap's Moon that "Jac will always love Joseph." When Roberts left he made Marcel a promise that he would return to the show if she ever chose to leave, so that Jac and Joseph could leave together. Marcel later assessed that Jac gave up on a ready made family with Joseph and Harry. Roberts told Victoria Wilson from What's on TV that Jac and Joseph's relationship was "tumultuous" and "very passionate" despite Joseph's treatment of Jac. He concluded that Jac and Joseph class each other as the "one that got away".
In 2019, Roberts returned to the show for one episode as Joseph. Marcel was surprised that Roberts agreed to return having previously stating that he would only return amid a departure for Jac. Marcel told Laura Jayne-Tyler from Inside Soap that even after ten years, Joseph is still "the love of her life". This is because they parted on good terms and Jac has constantly compared subsequent partners with Joseph. He returns with Faye and Marcel believed that Jac seeing them together again "is one of the most difficult things she has ever had to do." Joseph is at the hospital to support Faye through a heart transplant. Roberts stated that Joseph's heart has always belonged to Jac. He described it as "an eternal love that will never go away." So Joseph is on a "rescue mission" to save Faye, but ultimately "Jac's magnetic pull hasn't weakened" and they end up revisiting old feelings. He later told Sophie Dainty from Digital Spy that "he's so drawn to her – he is almost looking for an excuse. Otherwise, why is he there? He's nervous and it's a collection of emotions. He doesn't know what to do with it."
Assault and murder investigation In September 2007, writers made Jac the victim of an attempted sexual assault. In the episode titled "Friends Reunited", Alan Clooney (James Weber Brown) is admitted to the Darwin ward following a car accident. He is instantly attracted to Jac and enjoys receiving medical attention from her. Marcel told Katy Moon from Inside Soap that Jac only gives Alan "professional attention" but he "gets the wrong idea". Jac is preoccupied with another patient Graham Fenton (Ben Jones), whom she recognises from her school days. This aggravates Alan and makes him jealous. When Graham reveals that he now works for a US pharmaceutical company, she forges a romantic interest in him. Marcel explained that Jac used to bully Graham for being overweight and suffering from acne. He is now good looking and successful, and "in Jac's mind, the fact that he works for a pharmaceutical company in America also represents an opportunity for her to further her career." Graham is fooling Jac to enact revenge for the bullying ordeal she inflicted on him. When she meets with him for a date, he kisses her and reveals he is married with children. Marcel said that Graham "just wanted to embarrass her" in public.