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. Alex arranges to spend the evening with Samantha Kennedy, and she surreptitiously plies him with more drinks than he was wanting. He leaves temporarily to finish discussions with Sophie, but is then pressured into attending a road traffic accident. While driving back to rejoin Samantha, a child runs out in front of his car too late for him to avoid. He is then given a routine breathalyser on the spot.