Antoine Malick

Antoine Malick
Holby City character
Jimmy Akingbola as Antoine Malick
First appearance	"Running the Gauntlet" 4 January 2011
Last appearance	"I'll Walk You Home" 7 June 2016
Portrayed by	Jimmy Akingbola
Information
Aliases	The Malick
Occupation	Consultant General Surgeon

Antoine Malick is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City. He is portrayed by Jimmy Akingbola, and has appeared since the series thirteen episode "Running the Gauntlet", first broadcast on 4 January 2011. A maverick registrar with a volatile temper, Malick was created to compensate for the departures of many regular characters during the thirteenth series. Akingbola had twice appeared in the programme in guest roles, and was invited to audition for Malick on the strength of his performances. Before joining Holby City, he had previously played a regular role in its short-lived police spin-off, HolbyBlue. Akingbola left the series in 2013, with Malick departing on 26 November 2013. He returned for the exit of Arthur Digby (Rob Ostlere) on 7 June 2016.

Holby City follows the professional and personal lives of medics at the fictional Holby City Hospital. Malick was introduced as a new member of the hospital's Acute Assessment Unit staff, after almost being fired for assaulting his boss. Conflict with his colleagues, anger management and a desire for career advancement formed a focal point of his early story-lines. The character gradually softened, and Akingbola portrays him as being fundamentally good-hearted. Malick is gay; he develops a rivalry with orthopaedic surgeon Dan Hamilton (Adam Astill), who later kisses him during a fight. His alpha male characterisation has attracted critical praise, while his pairing with Dan received a more mixed response, including viewer complaints about the kiss.

Malick is introduced on the verge of being fired from Holby City Hospital, after assaulting his boss on the Day Care Surgical ward. He explains to Director of Surgery Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry) that it was necessary to save a patient: resuscitation had been abandoned, but after forcefully taking control of the situation, Malick was able to revive them. On the proviso that he attends anger management counselling, Hanssen gives Malick a final chance and attaches him to the Acute Assessment Unit (AAU). There, he soon clashes with the unit's staff: consultant Michael Spence (Hari Dhillon), Foundation doctor Penny Valentine (Emma Catherwood), and ward sister Frieda Petrenko (Olga Fedori). Relations begin to improve when Malick is left in charge of the unit for the day. Although he initially dismisses Penny's diagnoses and advice, ultimately he is forced to call on Michael for help and realises that she was right all along. He also becomes Frieda's mentor when she is accepted onto the Foundation programme. A racist patient makes a complaint about Malick; when her condition rapidly deteriorates in theatre, he walks out, causing the junior AAU staff to believe he has abandoned them. Malick soon returns with a crash team and saves the patient's life. Penny develops a crush on him, but Frieda informs her he is gay.