Exclusive: New receptionist joins 'Doctors'

Martha Howe-Douglas is the latest signing to join the cast of the BBC daytime medical drama, Doctors.

The actress is to play the role of the permanent character Donna Parmar. Bright but conflicted, this is Donna’s first full time job since she gave birth to her son. For someone who never quite got a foothold in the job market, this is Donna’s chance to prove herself.

It’s taken a while to persuade her husband, not through some old fashioned sexism, but because they always agreed that if they had a child then Donna would devote as much time as possible in bringing him up, but she feels she’s done that and it’s time for herself.

Efficient and very obliging, Donna needs to calm down and relax more. But she can’t, she has too much to prove – to Julia, to the staff, to her husband and to herself.

Martha - who has previously appeared in Doctors and The Office Christmas Special - will first hit our screens when series eight kicks off on April 24th at 14.05 on BBC One.