Dominic Copeland

Dominic Copeland
Holby City character
David Ames as Dominic Copeland
First appearance	"Second Life" 23 April 2013
Portrayed by	David Ames
Information
Occupation	CT1 (2016-) F2 (2015-2016) F1 (2013, 2014-2015)
Family	Barry Copeland (father) Carol Copeland (mother)

Dominic "Dom" Copeland is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actor David Ames. He first appeared in the series fifteen episode "Second Life", broadcast on 23 April 2013. Dom arrives at Holby City hospital as an F1 on Keller Ward being mentored by Antoine Malick (Jimmy Akingbola) and later Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett). The character was originally introduced for several episodes and featured in a storyline with Malick. But producers decided to reintroduce the character on a permanent basis with Dom returning in January 2014.

Dom is a complex character who enjoys causing trouble and creating different personalities to suit his desired outcome of a situation. His manipulative behavior has seen him lie under oath and attempt to ruin his colleagues careers. His reintroduction signaled a rivalry with Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) and a friendship with Zosia March (Camilla Arfwedson). Critic Anthony D. Langford from TheBacklot.com has often praised the character for not being stereotypical. While other reviews have labeled him "bad" and "sneaky".

Storylines

Dom arrives on Keller Ward while Antoine Malick (Jimmy Akingbola) is in charge. He develops an attraction to Malick and they kiss. But when Malick rebuffs further advances, Dom becomes vengeful. When Malick acts on a DNR on an infamous serial killer, Amanda Layton (Ruth Gemmell), Dom fabricates the version of events. He later lies in court to ruin Malick's career. But when he is found out he is suspended.

Dom returns to work on Keller Ward which causes friction with Malick's friend F2 Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere). But he quickly befriends FT1 Zosia March (Camilla Arfwedson) who invites him to move in with herself and Arthur. When Arthur is left in charge of Keller, Dom undermines him and gets him into trouble with registrar and mentor Sacha Levy (Bob Barrett). But Dom and Arthur's behaviour sees them both reprimanded by their mentor. When Arthur continues to rival Dom on the ward, he insinuates that he will commit suicide which makes Arthur back off. Dom treats a patient whose mother drowned whilst saving his pet dog. Dom insults Zosia over her dead mother. When she demands to know why he has taken issue, he recants the patient's story claiming that his mother died under the same circumstances. Dom is confronted with an old school friend and he tries to remove him from the ward. Arthur questions him and exposes Dom's lies about his mother. But Zosia is not bothered and only finds him more fascinating. Dom volunteers to do a shift on AAU, fails impress deputy CEO Serena Campbell (Catherine Russell) and spars with CT2 Harry Tressler (Jules Knight). Dom is attacked by a patient using a false identity. He manages to prevent her from leaving the hospital - a move which saves her life and earns respect from Serena.

In the series 18 episode "A Partnership, Literally" (aired 9 February 2016), during a fight with ex-lover, Lee, which sees Lee wielding a knife and attacking Dominic, Dominic stabs Lee and is seen being taken away by the police.

Development

Casting and characterisation

Ames had previously auditioned for a different character but was unsuccessful. Gaining the role of Dominic meant a lot to Ames' family who were already Holby City fans.

Troubled and trouble in equal measure, Dom’s a wily schemer who is always working an angle. Intelligent and sharp-witted, he’s actually very sensitive and is easily wounded, often believing himself to be the victim and justifying his actions as self-defence. Fiercely protective of, and generous towards, those he favours, Dom can also be surly and vindictive towards those he feels have betrayed him. When it comes to fact versus fiction, Dom prefers to glamorise.

— BBC Online.

Dom is billed as "complicated, unpredictable and deliciously wicked". His manipulative persona is said to make the show more interesting. Career wise Dom is incredibly ambitious. But he is untruthful and has "demons" from past experiences that continue to trouble him. Ames called him a "scheming, cheeky little mongrel" and finds fun in playing the nasty character. He told Lorraine Kelly that "Dominic is a very complex character and he has a lot to prove and he doesn't really hold back on how he goes about doing that."

Guest role and return

Dom sleeps with Malick, but he is in a relationship with Nathan Hargreave (Jotham Annan). Malick treats murderer Amanda. He grants her wish to not resuscitate after she tells him the location of her final victim. But he finds himself in trouble and the matter gets taken to court. When Malick rejects Dominic's further advances he wants revenge. Malick is questioned over the DNR and expects Dom to validate his statement. Dom uses the opportunity to get Malick in further trouble over the incident. Ames believed that Dom was under much "psychological stress" at this point.

Dom then proceeds to lie under oath to further enact his revenge. Dom claims that Malick delivered Amanda a fatal overdose. To defend himself he is forced to admit that he kissed Dom. Akingbola told a reporter from Inside Soap that "Dominic's crush rebounds on Malick, Nathan has been a rock to him, and now Malick worries that he'll lose the love of his life as well as his job." Ames told a reporter from BBC Online that it was Dom's "inexperience and naivety" that got him in to deep with Malick. But Dom's lies at the coroner's inquest are exposed and he leave Holby City shamed. Ames summed up the departure as Dom leaving the show disgracefully under a cloud.

In September 2013, it was announced that Ames had reprised the role. Executive producer Oliver Kent said that his return would "definitely shake things up at Holby City". Ames told a TV Choice reporter that "Dominic is definitely going to spice things up and he's someone who is going to cause a lot of sparks." Dom returned during the episode titled "Intuition", broadcast on 14 January 2014. He "skulked off with his tail between his legs" when he left the hospital shamed. But he returns to try again but this time remain focused on his career. He also damaged his emotional wellbeing in addition to his career. Lying to the jury delivered a "massive blow" to his life and he struggled to regain respect. Ames believed that his character had learned a "valuable lesson" and that Dom would use it to better himself. He warned that while Dom would not be predictable he remained as untrustworthy as ever. Dom will do "whatever it takes" to appear better at everything tries.

F1 repeat

Dom's return to Keller Ward means that he has to contend with Arthur. Malick and Arthur were close colleagues so his return inevitably causes friction. Ames explained that "Dom has a long way to go before Arthur even begins to consider them equals, let alone friends. Arthur is a faithful old Labrador." Arthur wants to prove expose Dom to their mentor Sacha. Ostlere told Kelly that Arthur "is very suspicious about Dominic but he cannot convince Sasha." Sacha believes they are working well together, but this is due to Dom behaving in a manipulative manner. He fakes multiple personas and uses them to suit a desired outcome. Ames namely described a "butter wouldn't melt" attitude shown while in Sacha's presence.

Dom is aware that forming a working relationship with Arthur will be difficult; so he decides to have fun creating tension. Ames told a reporter from What's on TV that "there’s clearly a lot of friction between them and Dom likes to push Arthur's buttons, not least just to entertain himself." One example of Dom and Arthur's rivalry occurs while treating a patient involved in a factory explosion. Sacha places Arthur in charge of Keller and Dom uses the opportunity to make Arthur appear unable to manage the situation. Ames said "Dominic will put his own job above anyone else's job. He'll say whatever needs to be said in order to better himself and his career."

Holby City quickly developed a "best friend" partnership between Dom and fellow F1 Zosia. Arthur warns Zosia about Dom's past. But she takes no notice of Arthur's concerns, befriends him and asks him to move in with her. A What's on TV reporter observed that Dom's "bad boy reputation" managed to impress Zosia. Dom later creates a false account of his mother's supposed death and Arthur exposes his lies. But Zosia is not fazed by the revelation. Jane Simon of the Daily Mirror noted that Dom being a sociopath only served to make him more interesting to the aspiring psychiatrist Zosia. He sees his friendship with Zosia as part of creating his new life. Ames said that they have a "different dynamic" compared to his other working relationships. Ames opined that gay men are often attracted to strong independent women and Zosia is very ambitious. It was therefore a natural development that Dom gravitated towards her. Zosia's interest in psychiatrics means that she likes to observe Dom. But Ames believed that the duo "equally intrigue each other".

Reception

A What's on TV writer branded Dom a "sneaky, lying medic". Lorraine Kelly described him as "really horrible" but wanted him to stay because show's need a "bay boy" character. Anthony D. Langford from TheBacklot.com that with Dom's affair with Malick was the latter's most interesting romantic storyline. He also praised Holby City for reintroducing Dom and committing to gay story telling. Langford later praised Dom for not being "your earnest cookie-cutter sweet gay guy". He branded him "just bad, manipulative and scheming". The critic also loved how Dom plays innocent over his wrongdoings and bitchy remarks made to Arthur. He predicted that the pair would create "plenty of juicy conflict", noting "Arthur is easily baited and Dom is such a manipulator".

External links

• Dominic Copeland at BBC Online
• Dominic Copeland at the Internet Movie Database