Heartbeat Memories

Georgina ("Gina") Ward (1993–2010). Spirited Liverpudlian, landlady of the Aidensfield Arms. The tearaway niece of publican George Ward, Gina was sent to live in Aidensfield with her uncle as a condition of her probation after having been convicted of receiving stolen goods. She quickly fitted in to local life, assisting her uncle with running the pub and dropping her previous rebellious ways. She became the licensee of the pub after the death of her uncle. Gina has been unlucky in love, and has had a string of failed romances. The great love of her life was the now-deceased policeman PC Phil Bellamy, but she had a warm relationship with village bobby PC Mike Bradley in the seventh series, and she also dated the much younger tearaway lad Steve Adams in the same series. She had a passionate love affair with Irishman Andy Ryan, but when she found out that he was married, she broke off their relationship. Gina also dated the much younger PC Tom Nicholson in the eleventh series. After an on-off relationship with Bellamy, including a failed engagement in series 10, Gina fell pregnant to him in series 13. She gave birth to a premature baby boy named Daniel who died within two days, and their engagement was then again broken off. Phil and Gina remained on good terms, even if sometimes a little awkward in each other's company; Bellamy went on to marry Debbie Black, and Gina found a steady boyfriend in Jack Hollins. However, neither of these relationships lasted, and Gina and Phil's romance was rekindled in Series 16. They were finally married in the Series 16 episode "The Dreams That You Dream" (broadcast June 2007). Due to police regulations she was obliged on her marriage to officially give up the licenceeship of the Aidensfield Arms to Oscar Blaketon, but in practice her role there remains unchanged. In series 17 her husband Bellamy was shot dead while on duty. Now a widow, Gina was contemplating leaving Aidensfield and its painful memories and returning to Liverpool, but she decided to stay, as shown at the end of episode 17.7 ("Burying The Past"). She later found out she was again pregnant with Phil's child, and doubts about whether to terminate the pregnancy caused her great anguish. However, she eventually gave birth to their son, Philip Oscar Bellamy, in the 17th series finale ("Oscar's Birthday"). Gina then became tentatively romantically linked with new Ashfordly PC Don Wetherby, but curtailed the relationship after deciding that it was too soon after Bellamy's death.

Jenny Merton, formerly Jenny Latimer (2001–2004). Pharmacist who joined the series when she moved from a hospital job to help out at Dr Summerbee's Aidensfield surgery. Shortly after arriving in Aidensfield she briefly dated PC Phil Bellamy. Jenny later married Sergeant Dennis Ian Merton. She left the series, alongside her husband, when she suffered a mental breakdown and was taken into care.

Maggie Bolton (1995–2001). Caring district nurse. After her arrival in the series it was suggested that she would be paired off with the widowed Nick Rowan, though in the event they remained merely friends. She then had a very brief liaison with PC Mike Bradley, before her husband, Dr Neil Bolton, who had deserted her some years earlier, reappeared out of the blue. Maggie was at first hostile to Neil, but she later relented and the couple restarted their marriage. They went on to have a son, Sam, born after Neil's death. Maggie left the series after accepting a hospital job.

Dr Liz Merrick (2003–2004). Auburn-haired doctor of Irish origin. Moved to the Aidensfield practice from a London hospital in order to escape from an affair with a married man. Of Aidensfield's seven doctors to date, she is one of only two to survive her time in the district. She married Lord Ashfordly's estate manager Ben Norton and moved with him to Kenya

Dr Neil Bolton (1997–1999). He originally worked as a ship's doctor, making a short appearance in an episode with Nick Rowan.[citation needed] He later came back to the area from overseas, initially to work at the local hospital, having four years earlier walked out on his wife Maggie after they had lost a baby to cot death. He initially met with a frosty reception from Maggie, but the two later resurrected their marriage. He died trying to save a child from a house fire (the child had in fact already been brought out through the back door, unseen by the crowd of observers). He left the pregnant Maggie to bring up their son.