The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the BBC soap opera Doctors in 2018, by order of first appearance. All characters are introduced by the programme's executive producer, Mike Hobson. The nephew of Jimmi Clay, Will Hurran, is introduced in January, as well as his friend Erin Anderson and Practice Manager Ben Galadima. April sees the arrival of course instructor Su Turtle, as well as [|James Coulter], a foster child of Rob. Locum nurse Penny Stevenson arrives in May, and Tariq Amiri is introduced as the boyfriend of Alia Hanif in June. Social worker Leo Tomas begins appearing in September, as well as Mr. Smail, the Practice Manager of Sutton Vale surgery. Additionally, multiple [|other characters] appear throughout the year.
Will Hurran
Will Hurran, portrayed by Robin Morrissey, first appeared on 11 January 2018, and made his final appearance on 16 February 2018. Will is a nurse who works in Liverpool, and is introduced as the nephew of established character Jimmi Clay. In Liverpool, Will witnesses [|Adrian Coleman] molest a patient by groping her. Will tells [|Steph Lynn] about what he saw, but as Adrian is a clinical lead in the hospital, she tries to discourage Will from taking it higher. Will calls Jimmi for advice, and Jimmi is shocked when Will turns up on his doorstep, and the pair catch up. Will does not know Jimmi has Obsessive–compulsive disorder, and his messy habits annoy Jimmi. Will introduces Jimmi to his girlfriend Erin Anderson, but when she flirts with Jimmi, he begins to suspect they are not a real couple, and that Will is gay. The pair stay at Emma Reid's bed and breakfast, and Emma tells Jimmi that she believes that Will and Erin are a real couple. However, Will later reveals that he is gay and that Erin is his best friend. After a long shift, Will goes back to Jimmi's house, leaving his belongings scattered around, not knowing Jimmi has just cleaned. Jimmi snaps at Will, who makes fun of Jimmi for cleaning so much. Jimmi opens up about his OCD, and Will agrees to take more consideration with the house. Will tells Jimmi that he is going on a date, who is shocked to learn that Will is seeing Ben Galadima, Jimmi's colleague. Will and Ben begin a relationship, but when Ben will not disclose what he's doing in the afternoon, Will surprises him. However, he accidentally outs Ben to his mother. Will informs Ben that he cannot be with somebody who is ashamed of their sexuality, and the pair break up. Will then returns to Liverpool.
Erin Anderson
Erin Anderson, portrayed by Laura Ainsworth, first appeared on 18 January 2018 and made her final appearance on 30 January 2018. Erin is introduced as the girlfriend of Will Hurran from Liverpool. Will's uncle, Jimmi Clay, begins to suspect that their relationship is fake when Erin flirts with him, so Jimmi asks Emma Reid to judge whether their relationship is real. Despite Emma thinking their relationship is real, Will later reveals that he is gay, and that Erin is his best friend. Jimmi is shocked when Erin continues to flirt with him, telling him that she is into older men. When Jimmi declines her advances, she returns to Liverpool.
Ben Galadima
Ben Galadima, portrayed by Michael Fatogun, first appeared on 18 January 2018, and made his final appearance on 9 March 2018. Ben is brought in as a temporary Practice Manager at The Mill while Mrs Tembe is on holiday. When Zara Carmichael learns that Ben's previous experience involves working in a supermarket, she attempts to embarrass him, nicknaming him Bargain Basement Ben. However, everyone supports him when he explains to everyone how his experience helps him as a manager. Ben begins dating Jimmi Clay's nephew Will Hurran, and the pair get along well until Will accidentally outs Ben to his mother. Will ends their relationship as he does not want to be with someone who is ashamed of their sexuality. After their breakup, Ben decides to come out to the staff at The Mill, but is surprised when none of his colleagues are bothered or shocked. When Mrs Tembe returns, Ben gets another job.
Su Turtle
Su Turtle, portrayed by Sam Battersea, first appeared on 12 April 2018. Su is introduced when the staff members at The Mill are sent to a conflict course, which Su is leading. Su nicknames herself Su without an E, due to the spelling of her name. Due to Zara Carmichael and Al Haskey not wanting to participate in the activities, Su becomes stressed. On the second day of the course, Su turns up late, and the attendees wonder where she is, and become agitated. Su arrives in an upbeat mood, and sets everyone into pairs and instructs them to fill out a questionnaire about each other, and to make a sculpture out of pipe cleaners. However, every single pair begin arguing. Su takes the attendees to lunch, but gets stressed when they want to drink wine rather than non-alcoholic beverages. She breaks into tears, and Mrs Tembe insists that the staff apologise to Su for their behaviour. Eventually, Su instructs the staff to compliment each other, which brings them together. Over a year later, Su arrives at The Mill as Becky Clarke's replacement as Practice Manager. Zara and Emma Reid both become disgruntled with Su, who keeps asking questions and giving them advice. Emma is shocked when Su arrives at her house, as a guest at Emma's home B&B. Su crashes Emma's night in with Zara, and continuously talks about her ex, Dave, who cheated on her. The next day, Su accompanies Emma to an art class, and when Su starts talking about Dave, Emma shouts at her and the pair have an argument in front of the class. Su leaves The Mill when Becky returns from her break. A year later, now calling herself Susan Mallard, she meets Emma a radio show. Emma belittles Su's theories about homeopathy, and the pair argue on air, thinking the show has ended. Realising the producers are pitting them against each other for listeners, they agree to be civil on air. After the show, Su comforts Frank Matthews in the hospital.
James Coulter
James Coulter, portrayed by Daniel Kerr, first appeared on 20 April 2018, and made his last appearance on 12 October 2018. James is the foster child of Karen and Rob Hollins. When James arrives, he is hesitant to open up to Karen and Rob. He is shocked when Karen makes him a meal, as well as makes his bed. He explains that he is used to doing his own chores around but house, but Karen insists that she will take care of him. Karen takes James to The Mill, where Heston Carter diagnoses him with autism. In an attempt to make James open up, Rob asks him what his dream job is, to which he replies that he would like to be in the army or be a mechanic. To give him something to do, Rob asks James to take a look at his car. However, he injures himself and ends up in hospital. Upon his return, Karen gives him a bell and says that she will wait on him, but James continues to do tasks around the house in secret. After he recovers, Karen and Rob persuade him to begin an assessment course at the army training centre, but he struggles with the fitness aspect of the course. Instead of pursuing a career in the army, James begins a trial at a local garage. When his trial goes successfully, Karen helps James to move into a bedsit, which he is nervous about. Months later, Karen tries to get hold of James, but when her calls go straight to voicemail, she worries. She later discovers that he is homeless, and has been sleeping on the street. Karen and Rob take him to their house, where he explains that he was bullied in the bedsit, and when he lost his job, he had to move onto the streets. Local businessman [|Ivan Bloom] reads about James online, and offers him a job. James worries that his autism will get in the way of working for Ivan, but Ivan gives him the job. James leaves the Hollins' home, and thanks Karen and Rob for everything they have done for him.
Penny Stevenson
Penny Stevenson, portrayed by Cerrie Burnell, first appeared on 30 May 2018, and made her final appearance on 27 June 2018. Penny is hired at The Mill as a locum nurse, and has a right arm that ends just after her elbow. When she is treating a patient, their mother makes a discriminatory comment about her disability. Penny is humiliated when her ex-boyfriend arrives at The Mill and proposes, to which she declines. Penny feels uncomfortable when Valerie Pitman begins using Penny as an example of disabled people achieving well, as it makes her feel like a token. Penny organises a "period party" in order for women to feel comfortable talking about their menstrual cycles, which Zara Carmichael initially expresses her disagreement with, but later commends Penny for.
Tariq Amiri
Tariq Amiri, portrayed by Chaneil Kular, first appeared on 7 June 2018, and made his final appearance on 10 September 2018. Tariq is introduced as a love interest of established character Alia Hanif. Tariq and Alia have sex, which he films and posts online. Alia's brother Shak sees the video and finds Tariq. Shak lashes out at him, and the three of them are taken in by the police. Tariq is arrested for revenge porn, but Rob Hollins says that it would be hard to charge Tariq, as the video was uploaded from Alia's phone. He is released, and the next day, Tariq is involved in a hit-and-run and is left for dead. He is rushed to hospital in critical condition, and when the police find Heston Carter's car near the crime scene, he is classed as a suspect. When he wakes up from his unconscious state, Alia visits him in hospital. He apologises for what he did and tries to salvage their relationship, but she affirms that their relationship is over and that she hates him.
Leo Tomas
Leo Tomas, portrayed by Aaron Fontaine, first appeared on 10 September 2018, and made his final appearance on 10 October 2018. Leo is a social worker that works on a case of child endangerment with Ayesha Lee. The pair begin a relationship, and Leo asks Ayesha to move in with him, giving her a key to his house. Unbeknownst to Leo, Ayesha is unsure on the relationship, and she makes a list of pros and cons about Leo, which he finds. Seeing the negative points about him, he confronts her. Ayesha tries to play down the seriousness of the negative points she listed, but the two later agree to break up.
Mr. Smail
Mr. Jeremy Smail, portrayed by Neil Grainger, first appeared on 18 September 2018, and made his final appearance on 26 September 2018. Mr. Smail is the Practice Manager of the Sutton Vale surgery. When Mrs Tembe learns that The Mill are losing patients to Sutton Vale, she sends Sid Vere to a job interview with Jeremy. Mr. Smail offers Sid an official job, to their surprise. Sid reveals that he is considering accepting Mr. Smail's job offer. Mr. Smail smugly calls Mrs Tembe for a job reference, and annoyed, she snaps at Ayesha Lee. When Mr. Smail learns of Ayesha's upset with Mrs Tembe, he offers her a job. Unsure, she says she will think about the job, and when a patient has an epileptic fit in Sutton Vale, she saves them, and impressed, Mr. Smail offers her a higher salary. Mrs Tembe arranges a meeting with Mr. Smail to come to an agreement,but when he is busy on the phone, she snoops through his office and finds dodgy financial records. Mrs Tembe and Emma Reid meet with his investor, and they expose him for trying to poach The Mill's staff and his untrustworthy financial methods.
