Karen Hollins
Encyclopedia
Karen Hollins is a fictional character
from the British BBC One
soap opera
Doctors, portrayed by Jan Pearson
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 23 February 2009 in the episode "Mac's Women" series ten, episode thirty-five of the program. Pearson had made two former unrelated guest appearances in Doctors in 2004 and 2008. Her role in the show is that of Receptionist
and Healthcare Assistant of The Mill Health Centre and The Campus Surgery. Karen was created by series producer Peter Eryl Lloyd as a replacement for former receptionist Vivien March
(Anita Carey
).
. Originally a temp, she took over as head Receptionist from Vivien March
in March 2009. Karen is married to Sgt. Rob Hollins
of Letherbridge Police. They got married on 5 August 1989. Together they have two children; 19-year-old Jack
, who is studying Law
at Letherbridge University
and their 17-year-old daughter, Imogen
who is still at school and occasionally helps at the Mill and Campus.
Not a lot is known about Karen's family background and childhood. Since her arrival in 2009, she has went away to spend time with her dad, but that is all that is known about her father. Karen's mother has never really been mentioned, apart from on two occasions in 2011, when Karen revealed that she made her do Home Economics
at school and when talking to Dr Zara Carmichael it was revealed that her mother had died when she was quite young and that Karen misses her.
to tell her information about her boyfriend, Scott Nielson. However, he had died, with Cherry at his apartment. When Karen found out, she rushed to Scott's apartment to help Cherry. Karen defended Cherry to the police at the flat and then encountered her husband Rob as he arrived at the scene. After Karen saw Cherry arrested and driven off in the police car Karen shouted at him, demanding to know what was going on with Cherry and Scott. Rob refused to tell her. Karen drove back to work where Practice Manager Julia Parsons
was wondering where Cherry and Karen were. Karen and Julia together told the rest of the staff; Michelle
, Lily
and Cherry's close friend, Simon Bond.
, Karen's colleague at the Mill, and Karen's 19-year-old son Jack
were kidnapped and locked in a caravan. They ended up having sex and later embarked on an affair. In November 2009 Jack confided in his father Rob
about the relationship. Karen was later part-informed about the situation and at work on the following Monday questioned each of her colleagues, trying to find out if they were sleeping with Jack. Karen confronted Zara and as she was doing this noticed her underwear matched that which she had found weeks ago in Jack's room. The situation escalated into a fight in Reception. Karen was suspended by Dr. Heston Carter
but returned the following week. The next day, after Jack told her that he saw Zara shooting up. Karen went round to Zara's house and after an argument found out Zara was injecting herself with testosterone
to combat her early onset menopause
.
. He asked if Lewis, his son, could stay at their house over the Easter holidays as he was going away. Karen accepted. However, unbeknownst to Karen and her family, Lewis was suffering from an unspecified serious mental health issue. As the week continued it became clear that Lewis was ill as he became violent towards a college friend, Ellie, and his English literature tutor, Sia, as well as frightening Imogen and Jack with his behaviour and behaving strangely towards his younger brother Ned. However, as he covered his tracks very easily, he was able to conceal what was happening, leading each of the characters to believe they were imagining the situation. When Ellie confided in Sia that Lewis had attempted to attack her in the Hollins' kitchen with a carving knife, she informed Karen's colleague, Dr. Simon Bond, and later went round to the Hollins' house to inform Lewis that she would be telling the police about his actions. However, Lewis denied his attack, and as there was no evidence and Ellie would not talk to the police, nothing could be done. Overnight, Sia's office was torched, and the next day Jack Hollins, who had been persuaded by Lewis that Sia was persecuting him, led a rebellion against the teacher, calling for her dismissal. When Lewis' strange behaviour caused her to realise something was wrong, Imogen
tried to warn her mother, father & brother, but they ignored her. Jack
was the second member of the family to notice Lewis' strange behaviour, but didn't say anything. Then Karen noticed a knife mark in her kitchen table, immediately realising it corresponded with the mark that would have been left by his alleged attack on Ellie. However, she did not act on this. Meanwhile, Rob Hollins informed his son that the police would be keeping an eye on Lewis, as his name had been mentioned too many times for them to be comfortable. The storyline culminated when Imogen then realised that her art project, containing photos of each of the victims of gun crime in the last year was tampered with, with the addition of photos of Jack, Sia and Ellie. She told her mum, who came home and then attempted to contact Jack and her husband. However, Jack had been called to an 'interview' at the University and did not answer his phone. After confirming with the University that there was no such interview, Karen drove there, trying to find Jack. She stumbled across Jack, Ellie, Sia and Ned, Lewis' younger brother, in the same room. All of them had been given a different, false, reason to go to the room at that time. Lewis then arrived with a machine gun and held all the persons present hostage, shooting Sia. Karen tried to talk Lewis out of killing them all, which prompted him to break down, stating that he had not intended her to be there with the rest of the hostages. Karen's husband, Rob
entered the building with a colleague and Dr. Simon Bond. Simon stayed to help the injured Sia while Rob went to call backup. After talking again with Karen and Jack, Lewis shot the gun into the air and Ellie screamed, causing Rob to came running back up and charge in, disarming Lewis. Ned took hold of the gun but then handed it over to Karen. However, Lewis was then shot from long-distance by a police sniper. Lewis was killed and Rob was reprimanded for acting unprofessionally and endangering the operation. Karen, Rob, Jack & Immie all burnt Immie's art work the following day.
, Karen's daughter, met a girl called Elise Stone at school. They were very close and eventually they kissed. Later that evening Imogen told Karen that she was a lesbian
, Karen was extremely shocked and dropped the chicken, that she was holding, on the floor.
After a while of being confused an experimenting, Imogen decided that she wasn't a lesbian and that is was just a phase. Karen supported Imogen throughout this confusing time.
in 2005, then he told Karen to have an abortion. Karen then kicked Rob out and after spending the night with Jack
at University and then he went to a B & B, telling Imogen
that he was staying with PC colleague, Brian. It was revealed that Karen became pregnant in about 1995, two years after giving birth to Imogen. She had a miscarriage, it was a baby girl.
After Karen had stopped with her father for a while, she came back and told Rob she wanted to have another go at their marriage. After having Rob saved her from a burning building, Rob came over for a romantic meal, which was constantly disturbed but Rob and Karen slept in the same bed that night. Even though Karen's friend Angie Briggs tried to get her to see other men, Karen refused and stuck by Rob.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the British BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Doctors, portrayed by Jan Pearson
Jan Pearson
Jan Pearson is an English actress currently known for playing Karen Hollins in the BBC's daytime soap Doctors which she joined in February 2009. In 2010, Jan won the award of Best On-Screen Partnership for her role as Karen Hollins alongside with Chris Walker.-Early life:Born and brought up in...
. She made her first on-screen appearance on 23 February 2009 in the episode "Mac's Women" series ten, episode thirty-five of the program. Pearson had made two former unrelated guest appearances in Doctors in 2004 and 2008. Her role in the show is that of Receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
and Healthcare Assistant of The Mill Health Centre and The Campus Surgery. Karen was created by series producer Peter Eryl Lloyd as a replacement for former receptionist Vivien March
Vivien March
Vivien March was a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. She was played by Anita Carey and made her first appearance on 17 May 2007....
(Anita Carey
Anita Carey
Anita Carey is an English actress, best known for playing Joyce Smedley in Coronation Street and more recently for playing Vivien March in Doctors. Carey has had starring roles in British television dramas since the 1970s.-Career:...
).
Character's Background
Karen Hollins is the head Receptionist at The Mill Health Centre and the Campus Surgery at the Letherbridge UniversityUniversity of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. Originally a temp, she took over as head Receptionist from Vivien March
Vivien March
Vivien March was a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. She was played by Anita Carey and made her first appearance on 17 May 2007....
in March 2009. Karen is married to Sgt. Rob Hollins
Rob Hollins (Doctors)
Rob Hollins is a fictional Character in the BBC daytime soap opera, Doctors. Played by Chris Walker Rob first entered the soap on the 24 July 2009.-Characters Background:...
of Letherbridge Police. They got married on 5 August 1989. Together they have two children; 19-year-old Jack
Jack Hollins
Jack Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. Portrayed by Nicolas Woodman, Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009.-Character:...
, who is studying Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at Letherbridge University
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and their 17-year-old daughter, Imogen
Imogen Hollins
Imogen 'Immie' Elizabeth Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. She is portrayed by Charlie Clemmow and first appeared in the show on 4 August 2009 in an episode titles "Tears for Souvenirs". Imogen is the daughter of Karen and Rob Hollins and the sister of Jack Hollins...
who is still at school and occasionally helps at the Mill and Campus.
Not a lot is known about Karen's family background and childhood. Since her arrival in 2009, she has went away to spend time with her dad, but that is all that is known about her father. Karen's mother has never really been mentioned, apart from on two occasions in 2011, when Karen revealed that she made her do Home Economics
Home Economics
Home economics is the profession and field of study that deals with the economics and management of the home and community...
at school and when talking to Dr Zara Carmichael it was revealed that her mother had died when she was quite young and that Karen misses her.
Death of Scott Nielson
In November 2009 Karen tried to call her colleague, CherryCherry Malone
Cherry Malone is a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. She is played by Sophie Abelson and made her first appearance on 6 April 2009.-Character:...
to tell her information about her boyfriend, Scott Nielson. However, he had died, with Cherry at his apartment. When Karen found out, she rushed to Scott's apartment to help Cherry. Karen defended Cherry to the police at the flat and then encountered her husband Rob as he arrived at the scene. After Karen saw Cherry arrested and driven off in the police car Karen shouted at him, demanding to know what was going on with Cherry and Scott. Rob refused to tell her. Karen drove back to work where Practice Manager Julia Parsons
Julia Parsons
Julia Parsons is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera Doctors, played by Diane Keen. She made her first appearance on 13 January 2003...
was wondering where Cherry and Karen were. Karen and Julia together told the rest of the staff; Michelle
Michelle Corrigan
Michelle Corrigan is a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. She is played by Donnaleigh Bailey and made her first appearance on 8 June 2006. The character left Doctors on 13 August 2010 to join the Army.-Character:...
, Lily
Dr. Lily Hassan
Dr. Lily Hassan is a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. She is played by Seeta Indrani and made her first appearance on 28 October 2008. She made her final appearance on March 31, 2010.-Character:...
and Cherry's close friend, Simon Bond.
Fight with Zara Carmichael
In late September 2009, ZaraDr. Zara Carmichael
Dr. Zara Carmichael is a fictional character in the British soap opera Doctors. She is played by Elisabeth Dermot-Walsh and made her first appearance on 4 June 2009.-Character:...
, Karen's colleague at the Mill, and Karen's 19-year-old son Jack
Jack Hollins
Jack Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. Portrayed by Nicolas Woodman, Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009.-Character:...
were kidnapped and locked in a caravan. They ended up having sex and later embarked on an affair. In November 2009 Jack confided in his father Rob
Rob Hollins (Doctors)
Rob Hollins is a fictional Character in the BBC daytime soap opera, Doctors. Played by Chris Walker Rob first entered the soap on the 24 July 2009.-Characters Background:...
about the relationship. Karen was later part-informed about the situation and at work on the following Monday questioned each of her colleagues, trying to find out if they were sleeping with Jack. Karen confronted Zara and as she was doing this noticed her underwear matched that which she had found weeks ago in Jack's room. The situation escalated into a fight in Reception. Karen was suspended by Dr. Heston Carter
Dr. Heston Carter
Dr. Heston Carter is a fictional character in the soap opera Doctors. He is played by Owen Brenman and made his first appearance on 14 October 2008.-Character:...
but returned the following week. The next day, after Jack told her that he saw Zara shooting up. Karen went round to Zara's house and after an argument found out Zara was injecting herself with testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
to combat her early onset menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
.
Trigger King
In late January 2010 Karen was approached by Gerry Cutler, the father of a University friend of her son, JackJack Hollins
Jack Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. Portrayed by Nicolas Woodman, Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009.-Character:...
. He asked if Lewis, his son, could stay at their house over the Easter holidays as he was going away. Karen accepted. However, unbeknownst to Karen and her family, Lewis was suffering from an unspecified serious mental health issue. As the week continued it became clear that Lewis was ill as he became violent towards a college friend, Ellie, and his English literature tutor, Sia, as well as frightening Imogen and Jack with his behaviour and behaving strangely towards his younger brother Ned. However, as he covered his tracks very easily, he was able to conceal what was happening, leading each of the characters to believe they were imagining the situation. When Ellie confided in Sia that Lewis had attempted to attack her in the Hollins' kitchen with a carving knife, she informed Karen's colleague, Dr. Simon Bond, and later went round to the Hollins' house to inform Lewis that she would be telling the police about his actions. However, Lewis denied his attack, and as there was no evidence and Ellie would not talk to the police, nothing could be done. Overnight, Sia's office was torched, and the next day Jack Hollins, who had been persuaded by Lewis that Sia was persecuting him, led a rebellion against the teacher, calling for her dismissal. When Lewis' strange behaviour caused her to realise something was wrong, Imogen
Imogen Hollins
Imogen 'Immie' Elizabeth Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. She is portrayed by Charlie Clemmow and first appeared in the show on 4 August 2009 in an episode titles "Tears for Souvenirs". Imogen is the daughter of Karen and Rob Hollins and the sister of Jack Hollins...
tried to warn her mother, father & brother, but they ignored her. Jack
Jack Hollins
Jack Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. Portrayed by Nicolas Woodman, Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009.-Character:...
was the second member of the family to notice Lewis' strange behaviour, but didn't say anything. Then Karen noticed a knife mark in her kitchen table, immediately realising it corresponded with the mark that would have been left by his alleged attack on Ellie. However, she did not act on this. Meanwhile, Rob Hollins informed his son that the police would be keeping an eye on Lewis, as his name had been mentioned too many times for them to be comfortable. The storyline culminated when Imogen then realised that her art project, containing photos of each of the victims of gun crime in the last year was tampered with, with the addition of photos of Jack, Sia and Ellie. She told her mum, who came home and then attempted to contact Jack and her husband. However, Jack had been called to an 'interview' at the University and did not answer his phone. After confirming with the University that there was no such interview, Karen drove there, trying to find Jack. She stumbled across Jack, Ellie, Sia and Ned, Lewis' younger brother, in the same room. All of them had been given a different, false, reason to go to the room at that time. Lewis then arrived with a machine gun and held all the persons present hostage, shooting Sia. Karen tried to talk Lewis out of killing them all, which prompted him to break down, stating that he had not intended her to be there with the rest of the hostages. Karen's husband, Rob
Rob Hollins (Doctors)
Rob Hollins is a fictional Character in the BBC daytime soap opera, Doctors. Played by Chris Walker Rob first entered the soap on the 24 July 2009.-Characters Background:...
entered the building with a colleague and Dr. Simon Bond. Simon stayed to help the injured Sia while Rob went to call backup. After talking again with Karen and Jack, Lewis shot the gun into the air and Ellie screamed, causing Rob to came running back up and charge in, disarming Lewis. Ned took hold of the gun but then handed it over to Karen. However, Lewis was then shot from long-distance by a police sniper. Lewis was killed and Rob was reprimanded for acting unprofessionally and endangering the operation. Karen, Rob, Jack & Immie all burnt Immie's art work the following day.
Imogen's homosexuality
On Monday 1st February 2010, ImogenImogen Hollins
Imogen 'Immie' Elizabeth Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. She is portrayed by Charlie Clemmow and first appeared in the show on 4 August 2009 in an episode titles "Tears for Souvenirs". Imogen is the daughter of Karen and Rob Hollins and the sister of Jack Hollins...
, Karen's daughter, met a girl called Elise Stone at school. They were very close and eventually they kissed. Later that evening Imogen told Karen that she was a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, Karen was extremely shocked and dropped the chicken, that she was holding, on the floor.
After a while of being confused an experimenting, Imogen decided that she wasn't a lesbian and that is was just a phase. Karen supported Imogen throughout this confusing time.
Shock pregnancy (Christmas 2010)
On 16 December 2010, after feeling ill, Karen confronted colleague, Dr Zara Carmichael about her symptoms. After worrying and having some tests Karen found out that she was pregnant and she conceived early in the month. It is unaware what Karen does over the Christmas break, but on 17 December at the Christmas party, she refuses Champagne. She told Rob that she was pregnant and they had a row. Firstly, Rob accused Karen of having an affair as he had a vasectomyVasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
in 2005, then he told Karen to have an abortion. Karen then kicked Rob out and after spending the night with Jack
Jack Hollins
Jack Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. Portrayed by Nicolas Woodman, Jack first appeared on 4 August 2009.-Character:...
at University and then he went to a B & B, telling Imogen
Imogen Hollins
Imogen 'Immie' Elizabeth Hollins is a fictional character in the BBC soap opera, Doctors. She is portrayed by Charlie Clemmow and first appeared in the show on 4 August 2009 in an episode titles "Tears for Souvenirs". Imogen is the daughter of Karen and Rob Hollins and the sister of Jack Hollins...
that he was staying with PC colleague, Brian. It was revealed that Karen became pregnant in about 1995, two years after giving birth to Imogen. She had a miscarriage, it was a baby girl.
Abortion (2011)
On 1 February 2011, Karen went for her abortion. After Imogen told her she couldn't go, as she felt uncomfortable, Jack confronted Imogen to tell her neither did he want to attend. Jack told his dad and Rob had the day off work and turned up at the clinic. Karen reavealed that her daughter, who she miscarried in 1995, would have been born on 29 May and this child would have been born on 23 August. Karen also revealed that she is going to stay with her father and that when she returned she wanted Rob to leave as their marriage is over.After Karen had stopped with her father for a while, she came back and told Rob she wanted to have another go at their marriage. After having Rob saved her from a burning building, Rob came over for a romantic meal, which was constantly disturbed but Rob and Karen slept in the same bed that night. Even though Karen's friend Angie Briggs tried to get her to see other men, Karen refused and stuck by Rob.