Antoine Malick
Antoine Malick is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City. He is portrayed by Jimmy Akingbola, and has appeared since the series thirteen episode "Running the Gauntlet", first broadcast on 4 January 2011. A maverick registrar with a volatile temper, Malick was created to compensate for the departures of many regular characters during the thirteenth series. Akingbola had twice appeared in the programme in guest roles, and was invited to audition for Malick on the strength of his performances. Before joining Holby City, he had previously played a regular role in its short-lived police spin-off, HolbyBlue.
Holby City follows the professional and personal lives of medics at the fictional Holby City Hospital. Malick was introduced as a new member of the hospital's Acute Assessment Unit staff, after almost being fired for assaulting his boss. Conflict with his colleagues, anger management and a desire for career advancement formed a focal point of his early story-lines. The character gradually softened, and Akingbola portrays him as being fundamentally good-hearted. Malick is gay; he develops a rivalry with orthopaedic surgeon Dan Hamilton (Adam Astill), who later kisses him during a fight. His alpha male characterisation has attracted critical praise, while his pairing with Dan received a more mixed response, including viewer complaints about the kiss.