On New Year's Eve, Sophie, an ex-girlfriend of Alex Adams, arrives at Holby City, bringing with her a daughter he was completely unaware of. A strong-willed 77-year old, Annie Hackett, coerces Ric Griffin into doing an operation to remove part of her colon, against his advice. Simon Shaughnessy gets very drunk while still on duty, and has to be escorted off the premises by his family. Kath Shaughnessy's suspicions about Chrissie Williams and Alistair Taylor are as good as confirmed.