Prepare for an intense and emotionally charged ride in the tenth episode of “Public Property,” picking up a mere 24 hours after the dramatic events of “Brace, Brace, Brace.” Holby City Hospital’s Emergency Department is about to become a crucible of concealed truths, broken bonds, and desperate searches, as multiple compelling storylines intertwine to deliver a gripping dose of high-stakes drama. A secretive senior medic battles a hidden illness, a friendship teeters on the brink of collapse amidst shocking revelations, a child vanishes, and an indecent proposal adds a scandalous layer to an already volatile mix.

The episode, titled “Unearthed,” marks the impactful arrival of esteemed actor Robert Bathurst, whose impressive resume includes hits like “Cold Feet,” “Downton Abbey,” and “Toast of London.” Bathurst brings his distinctive touch of class to the role of Russell Whitelaw, a respected Holby surgeon whose unexpected appearance in the ED immediately sends ripples through the staff. Russell storms into the emergency department demanding urgent help for his younger colleague, Sean Redmond (Seth Somers), who has sustained an injury in theatre. This initial demand hints at a situation far more complex than a simple workplace accident.

As Sean is expertly stitched up by nurse Rida Amaan, an agitated and visibly evasive Russell struggles to explain the cause of Sean’s injury, specifically, how he managed to slice Sean’s arm open while they were in the middle of operating on a patient. His reluctance to provide clear answers immediately raises red flags for Advanced Clinical Practitioner Faith Cadogan (Kirsty Mitchell). Despite Russell’s imposing “larger-than-life presence,” Faith, with her sharp instincts and no-nonsense approach, quickly suspects he’s concealing something significant about his own health. Demonstrating her unwavering professionalism and concern, she insists that he allows her to examine him, leaving “no excuses.” This direct confrontation sets up a tense battle of wills, as Faith attempts to break through Russell’s guarded exterior to uncover the truth.

The mystery surrounding Russell’s health intensifies as the episode progresses. While specific details remain tightly under wraps, it’s revealed that Faith’s suspicions are tragically accurate. Without giving too much away, the narrative quickly shifts to Faith, now joined by Tariq Hussein (Manpreet Bachu), desperately working against the clock to “save Russell’s life.” This sudden turn of events confirms that Russell is indeed hiding a severe medical condition, one that spirals out of control and places him in critical danger within the very hospital he serves. The question looms: Is this a one-time guest role for Robert Bathurst, a powerful but fleeting appearance, or will viewers be seeing more from this intriguing and now gravely ill medic in future episodes, suggesting a longer-term battle for Russell Whitelaw?

Meanwhile, the ED is a hotbed of emotional turmoil for other staff members. Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) is attempting to put on a brave face at work, masking her secret grief following the death of Rich Walker, her clandestine lover. His widow, Siobhan McKenzie (Melanie Hill), is currently on compassionate leave, but her return to the ED shatters Stevie’s fragile composure. Siobhan, still reeling from her husband’s death, confronts Stevie directly, demanding to know why Stevie was the very last person Rich called before he died, especially after Stevie had explicitly sworn their affair was over. Stevie’s agonizing silence speaks volumes, confirming Siobhan’s worst fears. Hurt and betrayed, Siobhan retaliates by cruelly banning Stevie from Rich’s funeral, a devastating blow that publicly exposes the depth of their secret affair and the raw pain it has caused.

Brokenhearted and desperate for a distraction from her shattered personal life, Stevie, who is currently acting clinical lead in the absence of Siobhan and Dylan Keogh, turns her attention to a deeply unpleasant and highly unprofessional task. Driven by the recent theft of drugs from the hospital, and using the recovering addict’s hospital pass as a pretext, she orders Faith Cadogan to open her locker so she can search for the stolen narcotics. This blatant breach of trust, fueled by Stevie’s own anguish and a misplaced sense of authority, leads to an explosive confrontation. Again, without revealing too much, the long-standing friendship between Stevie and Faith, usually a source of unwavering support, shatters in a “massive row.” The intensity of the argument results in Faith being sent home, leaving a profound question hanging in the air: Is this the end of their lifelong friendship, a bond tested beyond its breaking point by grief, betrayal, and addiction?

Faith’s personal torment only deepens as she retreats to an empty house, grappling with a terrifying temptation. In a moment of vulnerability, she contemplates taking the pills that the spiteful addict Astrid Watson (Gina Isaac) deliberately left behind to lure her back into addiction. Just as Faith stands on the precipice of making a life-altering decision, a chilling message arrives from school: her son, Luka (Tom Mulheron), has gone missing! This terrifying news thrusts Faith into a new, agonizing crisis, forcing her to confront the immediate danger to her child.

Moments later, paramedic Iain Dean (Michael Stevenson) unexpectedly arrives home. He has been discharged earlier than anticipated from the hospital following his recent, near-fatal clifftop fall, a testament to his own brush with death. The episode builds to a nerve-wracking moment as Iain turns the key in the door, leaving viewers to wonder what devastating scene he will find within, potentially stumbling upon Faith’s struggle with temptation or the immediate aftermath of Luka’s disappearance.

Meanwhile, young Luka himself is grappling with immense personal struggles. Still reeling from the death of his father and bearing the heavy burden of his mother’s ongoing addiction, he enters a perilous new phase of his life, having deliberately bunked off school. The narrative follows his dangerous journey as he wanders alone towards a “disused train station,” a location that spells potential harm for a vulnerable child. The urgent question becomes: Will anyone find him before he comes to harm, adding another layer of desperate urgency to the episode?

Further complicating the lives of Holby’s medics this week, Stevie Nash, already burdened by grief, shame, and anxiety, receives another devastating blow: she discovers that she has not secured the coveted ED clinical lead role. Her disappointment is palpable, but what she doesn’t yet know, but viewers do, is the identity of her new boss, a revelation that promises to push her already fragile mental state to its absolute “breaking point.”

Amidst this personal turmoil, a glimmer of light appears for others. Russell Whitelaw’s appearance in the ED unexpectedly facilitates a reconciliation between nurse Rida Amaan (Sarah Seggari) and Sean Redmond. As she treats the injured registrar, Rida initially voices her displeasure at his failure to call her as promised. However, once they navigate this awkward hurdle, their undeniable chemistry takes over, and “the pair get their Flirty McFlirt on!” This playful interaction raises a hopeful question: Could this blossoming flirtation be the start of something special between them?

For Ngozi Okoye (Adesuwa Oni), new anxieties emerge as she confides in Cam Mickelthwaite (Barney Walsh). While her patient Nicole Piper (Sammy T. Dobson) is thankfully on the mend, Ngozi is troubled by the news that Nicole plans on returning to her son in Nigeria in the near future. This revelation casts a shadow over their budding romance, leading to the anxious question: Will this impending departure spell the end of her relationship with Nicole?

And finally, Jodie Whyte (Anna Chell) finds herself at the center of a scandalous vortex, becoming “the talk of Holby!” A salacious exposé podcast has picked up the story of her sleeping with Aaron Bayliss (Jack Wilkinson), a revelation that has led to the podcast coining “nasty nicknames” for both Jodie and Dylan Keogh (William Beck), implicitly linking Dylan to the scandal due to his ongoing connection to the case. Jodie attempts to brave out the rumors and pervasive whispering at work but utterly fails to maintain her composure when a patient’s father, clearly influenced by the scandal, demands that another nurse care for his daughter.

Elsewhere, Aaron Bayliss is consumed by anxiety as his wife Thea’s body is exhumed, a crucial step in the ongoing investigation into her death. Dylan, still on enforced leave and awaiting the results of the investigation, is trying to pass the time painting his barge, seemingly oblivious to his struggling spider plant (a minor detail offering a moment of levity amidst the intense drama). He’s also listening to the damning podcast, no doubt grappling with the public scrutiny. Back at the ED, Stevie, witnessing Jodie’s public meltdown, has no choice but to take the troubled nurse off duty. In classic Jodie fashion, instead of heading home for an early night, she hits The Anchor pub and gets “trashed.” At some point, after one drink too many, a lonely Jodie decides to pay Dylan a surprise “boat call” and, in a move born of “drunken logic, the enemy of common sense,” makes him an “indecent proposal!” The episode leaves viewers with a tantalizing cliffhanger: Will Dylan send her packing, or will this drunken proposition ignite yet another scandalous chapter in their complicated lives?