Amy Teo

Amy Teo is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Wendy Kweh. She first appeared in the series fifteen episode "Green Ink", broadcast on 25 March 2014. Amy arrives at Holby City hospital to work as a Consultant pharmacist in the AAU department. She is also married to fellow character specialist registrar Raf di Lucca (Joe McFadden).

When not treating medical conditions Amy's stories have revolved around her marriage to Raf and their quest to have a child. The character undergoes IVF treatment in their attempts to conceive. Their relationship is marred with mistaken pregnancies and Raf being diagnosed with a condition affecting sperm quality. Writers developed a "love triangle" storyline and introduced doctor Harry Tressler (Jules Knight) for an affair. Amy becomes pregnant by Harry causing the eventual break-down of her marriage to Raf. He attempts to adjust to the idea of bringing up Harry's child. Amy gives birth to a son and they decide to move on with their lives. Amy made her final appearance during "Star of Wonder", broadcast on 16 December 2014. The character's infidelity story proved favourable with television critics for its entertainment value.

Casting On the 23 November 2013, producer Simon Harper announced that Wendy Kweh had been cast as Amy Teo. He revealed that she was being introduced as the wife of fellow new character specialist registrar Raf di Lucca (Joe McFadden). He added that the character would take the role of a consultant pharmacist working in the hospitals AAU department and "be at the centre of a very explosive storyline". To accommodate the introduction of the character changes were made to the set. Set designer Nicole Northridge hired the company Cardinal to fit real pharmacy equipment and a dispensary on the set, which Amy would use in her profession as a pharmacist.

Development Characterisation

Amy is described as a confident and loyal character and knows what she wants in life. Her main aim is to create a family unit as she and her husband Raf struggled to naturally conceive a child together.

Marriage to Raf di Lucca Amy and Raf's marriage is described as intense. Kweh explained that "they are both achievers and treat each other as equals in the relationship. It’s what they like about each other."

When Harry Tressler (Jules Knight) is introduced to Amy he feels an instant attraction. When Amy is feeling hormonal about her IVF treatment she kisses Harry because she craves a "sense of connection". Kweh believed that Harry's there to be a connection between the two. She defended the infidelity explaining that "guys like Harry will always arouse some suspicion, but that doesn't mean their connection isn't real. Even cheeky boys have real relationships and sometimes the most awkward set-ups can lead to the most real connections." For Harry the opportunity to snare Amy from Raf was a way to get revenge. Knight told Katy Moon (Inside Soap) that his character was unhappy that the more qualified Raf had more power in the work place.

Kweh told a reporter from What's on TV that Amy avoids Harry because she feels guilty. Amy made a "terrible error of judgement" when she was at her most vulnerable.

Harry makes an error with a patient's medication and Amy takes the blame. Raf notices the pair having secret discussions and becomes suspicious. When he suspects that one of them is lying about the medication error he confronts Amy. He remains angry and feels foolish to have underestimated Amy's loyalty. McFadden stated that it was during these scenes he begins to wonder if Amy planned to sleep with Harry. He questions whether Amy "consciously tried to get pregnant" following months of failed fertility treatment. On-screen the baby's biological father was kept secret until December 2014. Her actions have more serious consequences for Raf. He struggles to get over Amy's infidelity and begins to sabotage Harry's career, he even considers killing his rival. He later explained that it was Amy who had gained viewer sympathy and understanding during the storyline. He had met a female viewer who condoned Amy's affair because of their own need to have biological children. But Male viewers had told the actor that Raf needs to forget about Amy and move on with his life. But McFadden's sympathy also lay with Amy, he said "she did what she had to do" to have the baby she always wanted.

Conclusion to storylines As Amy nears the end of her pregnancy she asks Raf to be her birthing partner. Kweh told another What's on TV interviewer that her character is scared and considers her birthing plan. Amy is upset when Raf refuses and asks for a divorce. Amy's emotional state is worsened and "fears she'll never be totally ready for motherhood." Kweh noted that "Fortunately, she can cover some of her vulnerability; she's had to so many times this year already." Amy made her final appearance in the show during the episode titled "Star of Wonder", which was broadcast on 16 December 2014.

Reception A reporter from the Sunday Mirror likened the love triangle storyline to a boxing match. They quipped "and in the blue corner, it's Harry, in the red, it's Raf. In the middle, looking a little stressed, Amy." A South Wales Echo writer branded it the "Amy/Harry/Raf triangle of shame." A South Wales Echo journalist quipped "the diagnosis for Raf and Amy's marriage is still pretty bleak after her affair". A Daily Record reporter included an episode centric to Amy's baby story in their "Pick of the day" feature.