SANDRA UNDERWOOD

Episode Number 433
First Aired June 5, 2003
Writer Michael Chappell and Richard Stevens
Director Terry Iland

Guest Stars: Sean Gleeson (as Ronnie Woodson) Terence Hillyer (as Ian Harvey) Mandana Jones (as Sandra Underwood)

Sandra Underwood is the friend of one of the doctors. She is an astrologer who lives her life by the signs of the zodiac. She thinks her other half is cheating on her, it turns out he's not but he is hiding a secret from her.

QUOTES...

George: Are you sure you know how to use that? (computer)
Sandra: Just because I'm an astrologer doesnt mean I'm behind the times.

Sandra: It took four months to get him to ask me out!

RIA FORD

Episode Titles: When Two Become One , Lucky For Some and My Own Flesh and blood.
First Aired: april 4th 05, April 6th 05 and March 16th 05.

CAST

MANDANA JONES - RIA FORD
STEVEN HARTLEY - JACK FORD

Jack Ford met Ria (short for Maria), second generation Italian from Alderley Edge. Jack always liked the posh birds, but was drawn to Ria's passionate nature. A fiery relationship began - two peas in a pod. Ria's father disapproved of Jack, a fatal move - Jack and Ria married soon after Jack qualified. Two kids followed: Megan and Lucy.Screaming matches were regular in the Ford household, but the sex that followed was great. This was often made worse by Ria's occasional heavy drinking. But it was an immature relationship and Jack began to realise he needed to grow a little. Ria (who never worked) was ambitious for Jack, but her constant pushing made him dig his heels in. He resisted specialising, enjoying his work as a GP, being able to make a difference. Ria realised that he was never going to become a top consultant. The marriage began to go stale. But, devoted to 'his girls', Jack hung on in there, probably for longer than he should have.

Professionally his practice were involved in one of the early super practice models and Jack believed in it's potential and put a great deal of effort into making it work (despite his abhorrence of paperwork, he gritted his teeth and got stuck in). But he disliked the direction his fellow partners started to take the practice - funding and ticking boxes seemed to take the place of patient care. Then Ria divorced him. Jack had something of a breakdown, especially when Ria's parents moved to Staffordshire and Ria followed them with the kids. Jack is now stuck in the Midlands, staying as close as he can to the kids, endlessly negotiating with Ria for access, jobbing as a locum to keep the wolf from the door. He could do with a new challenge.

Ria comes back and becomes jealous of his relationship with Helen. The jealousy leads to an explosion at a surgery and later on a fall down the stairs in Ria's house. Ria then commits suicide using a bottle of pills. Jack and Helen find her but its too late... moments later Jack collapses and dies. They left two children behind.