Sahira Shah

Sahira Shah
Holby City character
Laila Rouass as Sahira Shah
First appearance"Blue Valentine"
15 February 2011
Last appearanceEpisode 1057
4 May 2021
Created byBelinda Campbell
Portrayed byLaila Rouass
In-universe information
Occupation
FamilyReyan Shah (father)
SpouseRafi Raza (divorced)
Significant othersGreg Douglas
ChildrenAbs Raza
Indy Raza

Sahira Shah is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by actress Laila Rouass. She makes her first appearance in the series thirteen episode "Blue Valentine", first broadcast on 15 February 2011. The character was one of multiple characters introduced following a spate of cast exits. Sahira is employed at Holby City Hospital as a Cardiothoracic surgical registrar. She is an old acquaintance of Henrik Hanssen (Guy Henry) who is the CEO and Director of Surgery at the hospital. She has been portrayed as an honest character with a "warm heart". She approaches her career with perfectionist tendencies which is compromised by her emotional vulnerability.

The character's main relationships were with Hanssen, a friendship with registrar Greg Douglas (Edward MacLiam) and a feud with consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Jac Naylor (Rosie Marcel). Rouass later decided to leave the show and Sahira departs in the series fourteen episode "Ribbons", first broadcast on 17 April 2012. The actress reprised the role in 2021 for a two-month guest stint. Writers incorporated Sahira into a story exploring historic abuse after it is revealed that her father, Reyhan Shah (Raad Rawi), abused Hanssen as a teenager. The character has been well received by television critics; two TVTimes reporters both expressed their disappointment at her departure.