Raffaello "Raf" di Lucca is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actor Joe McFadden. He first appeared in the sixteenth series episode "Prince Among Men", broadcast on 28 January 2014. Raf is a Registrar General Surgeon, who joined the Acute Assessment Unit staff. He was introduced along with two other regular characters by the show's executive producer Oliver Kent in a bid to "shake things up". McFadden's casting was announced in September 2013, and he began filming the following month. He initially received a one-year contract with the show. To help him prepare for the role, McFadden watched open-heart surgery. McFadden departed in the nineteenth series episode "Group Animal, Part Two", broadcast on 7 December 2017, and returns for a single episode in the twenty-second series, broadcast on 21 July 2020.
Raf is portrayed as "highly driven", passionate, moral and "very sensitive". McFadden took inspiration for some of Raf's personality traits from his Italian brother-in-law. Raf specialises in trauma and uses cutting-edge techniques in his work. The character's introductory scenes saw him save a young patient's life with improvised equipment, leading to conflict with the hospital's CEO Guy Self (John Michie). Raf's wife, consultant pharmacist Amy Teo (Wendy Kweh), was introduced two months later and it soon became clear that their marriage was strained by their fertility issues. Amy later conceived a child with Raf's rival Harry Tressler (Jules Knight), following a one-night stand.
Raf struggled to comprehend Amy's infidelity and McFadden called the situation "tragic". Raf embarked on a revenge scheme against Harry and attempted to ruin his career by risking a patient's life. The storyline divided the audience, with some believing Harry deserved everything he got, while others thought Raf had gone too far. Following the end of his marriage to Amy, Raf became more humble and he began to lighten up. He also developed a close friendship with Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw). In June 2015, nurse Cara Martinez (Niamh Walsh) was introduced to AAU, and she and Raf had a brief "will-they-won't-they" romance, which became popular with fans. Raf later begins a relationship with Essie Harrison (Kaye Wragg), which results in their marriage. Shortly after, Raf dies after being shot by Fredrik Johansson (Billy Postlethwaite).
Casting On 17 September 2013, Daniel Kilkelly of entertainment website Digital Spy announced that actor Joe McFadden had joined the main cast of Holby City as new registrar Raffaello "Raf" di Lucca. McFadden's casting was announced alongside Petra Letang, who joined the cast as healthcare assistant Adele Effanga, and David Ames, who returned to his role as Dominic Copeland. The show's executive producer Oliver Kent said Raf's introduction would help to "shake things up" and hoped viewers would warm to him, Adele and Dominic. McFadden had previously appeared as a patient in Holby City'''s sister show Casualty, which is set in the same fictitious hospital. Of his casting, McFadden stated "I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the cast of such a successful show and becoming part of the staff at Holby City. I'm looking forward to scrubbing in and showing off Raf's innovative lifesaving skills!" McFadden began filming in October and was initially contracted for a year. To prepare for the role, McFadden watched open-heart surgery. He developed a respect for the surgeons he met, and gained some insight into why his character might have such a large ego. He also watched episodes of 24 Hours in A&E and Grey's Anatomy.
Development Characterisation and introduction
Raf was initially billed as being "brilliant and highly driven". Series producer Simon Harper also described Raf as "a highly-driven and passionate character", and added that he would form "a great dynamic" and rivalry with fellow AAU doctor Harry Tressler (Jules Knight). McFadden said Raf was a moral man and "single-minded" in his career. While the show's official website describes Raf as being "demanding" and "stubborn" when it comes to his career. McFadden also told Rick Fulton of the Daily Record that Raf was "very sensitive" and tries his best to reassure people. Raf is Scots Italian and McFadden took inspiration for some of Raf's personality traits from his Italian brother-in-law. Reflecting on the changes to Raf's personality since his marriage breakdown, McFadden said "Raf was a pain when he arrived at Holby. He came in full of bravado, so to have that ripped away from him is brilliant, he's learning to be humble, and he's learning that he isn't perfect." McFadden was pleased when Raf's personality began to lighten up, and he enjoyed portraying his vulnerable and gentler sides. He added that Raf cares about the hospital very much, but he did not want his character to come across as "a real dictator".
McFadden told Katy Moon of Inside Soap that Raf specialises in trauma and has acquired some cutting-edge techniques from around the world. The actor described Raf's introduction as "hard-hitting", as he implies that Ric Griffin (Hugh Quarshie) and CEO Guy Self (John Michie) would be stupid not to hire him for a registrar's position on AAU. Raf then showed off his skills by saving a young boy's life using an improvised ECMO machine that he builds out of hospital equipment. McFadden explained, "The procedure is pretty unorthodox and very risky. But Raf is prepared to put himself and the hospital on the line for the sake of his patient. It leads to conflict with Guy, though, because he doesn't want to risk Holby's reputation." During the same day, Raf managed to annoy Harry and Mo Effanga (Chizzy Akudolu), but he befriended nurse Mary-Claire Carter (Niamh McGrady). McFadden assured Moon that there would not be a romance between the characters, as Raf was married. Moon and Sarah Ellis added that Raf's plans to move AAU into the 21st century would not go over well with everyone.
Friendships Raf befriended his colleague Serena Campbell (Catherine Russell) as he treated her mother. Russell called it "a real genuine, burgeoning friendship and warmth between Serena and Raf." She also said the characters would have some fun and share some "drunken evenings" together. Raf also developed a friendship with AAU Ward Manager Adrian "Fletch" Fletcher (Alex Walkinshaw). Fletch became "a real ally" for Raf during his marriage troubles. McFadden described Fletch as being "a guiding light", as he helped Raf through some dark times. The actor approved of the friendship and said he enjoyed working with Walkinshaw. Raf later invited Fletch and his children to move in with him. He often helped Fletch out by assisting with their care. Their friendship was tested when Fletch asked Raf to babysit while he took the hospital's new psychiatrist Naomi Palmer (Lorna Brown) out on a date. Raf was "disgruntled" and reminded Fletch that he had responsibilities at home.
Amy's affair and rivalry with Harry Ahead of the broadcast of his first episode, McFadden revealed that Raf was married to a consultant pharmacist called Amy, who would eventually be introduced to the show. Two months later, Raf's wife Amy Teo (Wendy Kweh) began working at the hospital, as a consultant pharmacist. It soon emerged that Raf and Amy were struggling to conceive a child and their fertility issues were putting a strain on their marriage. They undergo IVF treatment, but it fails. While Raf feels that "it wasn't meant to be", Amy refuses to accept it and the couple are briefly estranged. Shortly after the failed IVF attempt, Amy announces that she is pregnant. However, Raf was unaware that Amy had had a one-night stand with Harry, meaning he might not be the baby's father. Amy later proposed that she and Raf move to Copenhagen, but Raf quickly "shoots down" the suggestion.
Raf became suspicious when he learnt Amy was risking her career to cover up a mistake Harry made, causing her to admit that she cheated on him with Harry. Raf did not react with anger or violence, instead he was calm about the revelation. McFadden explained, "A lot of people would lash out if they discovered their spouse had cheated on them. But Raf believes there are better ways to get revenge. Rest assured, Harry will pay for what he's done!" McFadden called the situation "tragic" for Raf, as he had been so excited when he learned Amy was pregnant, and he never expected her to have an affair. Raf felt his world was crashing down around him, and McFadden thought Raf might have underestimated how far Amy was willing to go to have a child. Raf and Harry were then forced to treat a patient who had been shot in the face with a crossbow because he was having an affair. The patient's wife attacked him when she learned the truth, which contrasted with Raf's reaction.
McFadden told Katy Moon of Inside Soap that he would have punched Harry if he was in Raf's shoes, but thought his character was clever for biding his time instead of lashing out. The actor also said that Raf and Amy had to re-establish the trust in their relationship, which would be "a lengthy process" and something McFadden was not sure Raf could do. In the wake of Amy's confession, Raf struggled to focus on his work. He later demanded that Amy take a paternity test to determine if the baby was his or Harry's. Obstetrician Derwood Thompson (Ben Hull) explained to Amy that Raf's chances of being the father were low due to his fertility issues. She then told Raf that she was going to keep the baby no matter what the results of the paternity test were.
While driving Amy to work, Raf accidentally crashes his car, resulting in a visit to Mr Thompson to check on the health of the baby. The scan revealed that Amy was expecting a son, which "only serves to highlight the growing cracks" in Raf and Amy's marriage. Raf continued to struggle with Amy's betrayal, causing problems for the couple. As part of his revenge scheme against Harry, Raf risked a patient's life in an attempt to ruin Harry's career. During confession, Raf told his priest that he had been having thoughts about killing Harry for having sex with Amy. As Raf goes "into free fall", he turned to the Church for support. McFadden commented, "His Catholic beliefs are entrenched in him, even if they have been kept in the background up till now." Back at the hospital, Raf decided to hide Harry's patient's medical notes, so when she almost dies, Harry is suspended for negligence. Raf felt "appalled" by his actions and it left him questioning whether he should still be a doctor. Knight believed the storyline worked so well as it divided the audience. Some thought Harry deserved everything he got, while others thought Raf went too far by framing Harry.
When Harry returned to Holby, he set about trying to clear his name, but struggled to convince Serena that Raf set him up. Knight explained that no one believes Harry, as he has made previous mistakes and is accusing a senior doctor of trying to kill a patient. Meanwhile, Raf was struggling with his guilt, forcing him to confess to framing Harry. Amy names Raf as her birthing partner despite their estrangement, but he responded by asking her for a divorce. Kweh said Amy was "flummoxed" by Raf's demand, but she then found herself going into early labour. Both Raf and Harry are present at the birth, and Amy later hears that Raf has been to see the baby and that he blames himself for their marital problems. Kweh added that Amy "feels hope and sadness" by the moment.
Relationships Cara Martinez