{{Short description|Fictional character from Doctors}} {{Use British English|date=August 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{Infobox soap character | name = Michelle Corrigan | series = Doctors | image = Michelle Corrigan.jpg | imagesize = 200 | portrayer = Donnaleigh Bailey | introducer = Will Trotter | years = 2006–2010 | first = "Junk Soul Brothers" <br /> {{Start date|df=y|2006|06|08}} | last = "Canute" <br /> {{End date|df=y|2010|08|13}} | occupation = Nurse | father = Tony Corrigan | mother = Vera Corrigan | halfbrothers = Adam Sheffield }}
'''Michelle Corrigan''' is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Donnaleigh Bailey. She first appeared in the episode broadcast on 8 June 2006 when she is hired at the fictional Mill Health Centre to replace Faith Walker (Eva Fontaine), who has retinitis pigmentosa. The BBC described Michelle as an enthusiastic and confident character who "rattles cages and shout the odds".<ref name="Michelle" /> Despite her teasing and michevious ways, Michelle is shown to be skilled with patients and has good instincts.
During her time on the series, Bailey felt that she constantly received great storylines. These included her friendship with Ruth Pearce's (Selina Chilton) becoming complicated by Ruth's bad mental health, learning that she has been in an incestuous relationship with her half-brother, her tumultuous relationship with mother Vera (Doña Croll) and leaving the Mill to work as a military nurse. For her portrayal of the role, Bailey received two nominations for the British Soap Award for Best Actress, as well as a nomination for Best Daytime Star at the ''Inside Soap'' Awards.
==Casting and characterisation== [[File:Donnaleigh Bailey.jpg|140px|thumb|right|alt=Woman with brown hair smiling on the Inside Soap Awards red carpet.|Donnaleigh Bailey portrayed Michelle.]] Michelle, portrayed by Donnaleigh Bailey, first appeared on 8 June 2006. Bailey had previously appeared on the soap as Jessica Collins in 2002. Michelle was introduced as a nurse at the Mill Health Centre to replace Faith Walker (Eva Fontaine), who is leaving the Mill due to her retinitis pigmentosa diagnosis. Faith trains Michelle and gets emotional about leaving. Bailey used to go for her lunch at the shops in Selly Oak, where ''Doctors'' was filmed, in her nursing costume. However, after herself and co-star Diane Keen witnessed a cyclist come off his bike and did not know what to do other than call an ambulance, she realised she had to stop wearing her costume since it made people expect medical help from her in the event of an emergency. Prior to the accident, she felt that she had gained a better medical knowledge but admitted that this was not the case.<ref name="Costume">{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/tv/donnaleigh-bailey-on-her-tears-at-leaving-doctors-248810.amp |work=Birmingham Mail |last1=Laws |first1=Roz |publisher=(Reach plc) |title=Donnaleigh Bailey on her tears at leaving Doctors |access-date=22 August 2022 |date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824082728/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/tv/donnaleigh-bailey-on-her-tears-at-leaving-doctors-248810.amp |url-status=live }}</ref>
On her BBC Online profile, Michelle was described as an enthusiastic and confident character who "rattles cages and shout the odds".<ref name="Michelle">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/michelle_corrigan_person_page.shtml |title=Michelle Corrigan |publisher=BBC |access-date=22 August 2022 |archive-date=13 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113082531/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/michelle_corrigan_person_page.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> However, it noted that Michelle is skilled with patients and has good instincts. The profile described her as a tease and said that she would "use her looks to get what she wants", but affirmed that she is not a sexually promiscuous character.<ref name="Michelle" /> Additionally, despite being a "mischief maker", her schemes are done with the intent of fun and she is "the one to get the party started".<ref name="Michelle" />
==Development== ===Relationships and incest plot=== Writers formed a friendship between Michelle and shy receptionist Ruth Pearce (Selina Chilton). Under Michelle's guidance, she helps Ruth to gain confidence and she eventually comes out of her shell.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ruth Pearce |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/ruth_pearce_person_page.shtml#:~:text=Ruth%20is%20the%20Receptionist%20at,around%20her%20had%20abandoned%20ship. |publisher=BBC |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-date=18 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318072047/http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/ruth_pearce_person_page.shtml#:~:text=Ruth%20is%20the%20Receptionist%20at,around%20her%20had%20abandoned%20ship. |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruth suffers from mental illness and has a mental breakdown, but Michelle cannot accept the fact she is ill. Bailey enjoyed the dramatic element of the storyline since she felt it would be boring if the storyline was smooth. She admitted that Michelle could have handled the situation better, but due to the death of her father and Ruth betraying as a result of her mental state, she felt Michelle's reaction was justified. Bailey explained: "She was overwhelmed by her own emotions, her own grief, her father dying, everything. She'd hit breaking point and was at her lowest ebb."<ref name="Backlash">{{cite news |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |title=More from 'Doctors' star Donnaleigh Bailey |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a258093/more-from-doctors-star-donnaleigh-bailey/ |access-date=23 August 2022 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Communications) |date=8 August 2010 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824082750/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a258093/more-from-doctors-star-donnaleigh-bailey/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bailey hoped that the storyline would evoke a strong reaction from viewers.<ref name="Backlash" />
One focus of Michelle's time on the series was when she became embroiled in an incest plot. She meets half-brother Adam Sheffield (Paul Jibson) at the funeral for their father, Tony (Ian Blower), neither of the pair knowing that they are related. The pair begin a relationship which progresses for weeks until they are told by Michelle's mother, Vera (Doña Croll), that they are related, leaving them horrified. The situation leads to Michelle and her mother having a "strained relationship" since she feels resentment towards Vera for not telling her sooner.<ref name="Renew" /> The storyline led Bailey to plead with producers to allow Michelle to have a healthy relationship. They cast Ian Virgo as Louis Bevan, who Bailey knew prior to his casting. She found her established connection to the actor to be beneficial in playing a couple. The characters meet in a shoe shop when Michelle is arguing over a refund and they form a connection.<ref name="Biscuit">{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=Doctors' Donnaleigh: 'Michelle has grown up!' |url=https://www.whattowatch.com/doctors/doctors-news/doctors-donnaleigh-michelle-has-grown-up-225154 |access-date=23 August 2022 |work=What to Watch |publisher=(Future plc) |date=28 July 2010 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824082754/https://www.whattowatch.com/doctors/doctors-news/doctors-donnaleigh-michelle-has-grown-up-225154 |url-status=live }}</ref> Bailey described Louis as "everything Michelle has ever wanted, and more! He's fantastic - he's sexy, he's funny, he's full of banter, and he really, really loves her".<ref name="Renew" />
===Military nursing and departure=== In August 2009, in the run-up to the ''Doctors'' cast renewing their contracts for another year, she questioned if she wanted to do another full year on the series. Two months later, Bailey told producers that she was thinking of departing from ''Doctors''. In June 2010, after four years on the soap, Bailey announced her decision to leave ''Doctors'' in favour of pursuing other projects. She said that although they were saddened by her decision, the producers were supportive and understood her reasoning for leaving.<ref name="Renew">{{cite news |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a258085/donnaleigh-bailey-michelle-corrigan-doctors/ |title=Donnaleigh Bailey (Michelle Corrigan, 'Doctors') |work=Digital Spy |publisher=(Hearst Communications) |last1=Kilkelly |first1=Daniel |date=8 August 2010 |access-date=23 August 2022 |archive-date=24 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220824082751/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/doctors/a258085/donnaleigh-bailey-michelle-corrigan-doctors/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was a hard decision for her to make since she had enjoyed her time on the series, was close friends with her co-stars and had no future work booked, but she wanted to take a risk. Writers had Michelle approach the age of 30 and used this as a catalyst to make her question her future. The character shifts over to Housman ward, working to rehabilitate soldiers returning from Afghanistan which makes her see that there is "more to nursing than lancing boils and dishing out condoms to students".<ref name="Costume" /> When she starts on Housman, she is overwhelmed by the scary and daunting cases she sees. However, Michelle begins to love her time there and comes to the realisation that the soldiers risking their lives for their country cannot "compare to a row in the Mill staffroom over who ate the last biscuit".<ref name="Biscuit" /> Bailey cited the career change as something that made Michelle grow up and become more mature.<ref name="Biscuit" />
Michelle eventually decides to leave for Afghanistan to be more involved with the military aspect of nursing. Bailey had been cast on the soap just after finishing drama school, so she felt that she wanted to discover other opportunities and related to the exit storyline given to Michelle. She also revealed to the ''Birmingham Mail'' that as part of her research for the storyline, she visited the real-life ward for the military at Selly Oak Hospital.<ref name="Costume" /> She described the storyline as one of the best pieces of material that she had received in her time on the soap and praised the arc for showing the "more grown-up and selfless" to her character.<ref name="Renew" /> Bailey felt it brought the development of the character to a full circle, since it showcased her "core element" – being a good nurse who cares about her patients.<ref name="Renew" /> She praised the soap for representing the soldiers and remarked that they should have been highlighted on the soap before that point. She said: "I think it's great that we've done so now. I know that the producer had wanted to for a while. Of course we had to handle it delicately and sensitively, and I definitely think that we did. But I don't think we're making any bold statements on the war or anything like that - I think we're just highlighting the fantastic quality of the nursing staff in the military".<ref name="Costume" />
Bailey described her final scenes as emotionally raw and joked that she did not require a tear stick for the episode since the tears she cried were real. She was sad to leave her cast members, who she felt had become her "family".<ref name="Costume" /> After she had exited, Bailey thanked the fans of ''Doctors'' for supporting her and the show during her tenure. She also praised the writers for the material had been given. She told Digital Spy's Daniel Kilkelly: "I can only think of my time on ''Doctors'' fondly. I've been really lucky to have been given such great storylines constantly. I've never been bored."<ref name="Backlash" />
==Reception== For her portrayal of Michelle, Bailey was nominated for the British Soap Award for Best Actress in 2007, as well as the award for Sexiest Female.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a58280/the-british-soap-awards-2007-the-winners.html|title=The British Soap Awards 2007: The Winners|publisher=Digital Spy|date=27 May 2007|last=Green|first=Kris|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019175838/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a58280/the-british-soap-awards-2007-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She was again nominated in the latter category at the 2008 and 2009 ceremonies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a94815/the-british-soap-awards-2008-the-winners.html|title=The British Soap Awards 2008: The Winners|publisher=Digital Spy|last1=Hilton|first1=Beth|last2=Green|first2=Kris|date=4 May 2008|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=19 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019164040/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a94815/the-british-soap-awards-2008-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|title=British Soap Awards 2009: The Winners|publisher=Digital Spy|last1=Green|first1=Kris|last2=Kilkelly|first2=Daniel|date=10 May 2009|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=16 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016051744/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a154689/british-soap-awards-2009-the-winners.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=McLennan |first1=Patrick |title=British Soap Awards 2009: Nominations revealed! |url=https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/british-soap-awards-2009-nominations-revealed-189110/ |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=What's on TV |publisher=Future plc |archive-date=9 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409230830/https://www.whatsontv.co.uk/british-soap-awards/british-soap-awards-2009-nominations-revealed-189110/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She was again nominated for Best Actress in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/britishsoapawardswinnersrelease/default.html|title=The British Soap Awards 2010 Winners Release|publisher=ITV|date=10 May 2010|accessdate=20 May 2012|archive-date=13 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513023046/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/pressreleases/programmepressreleases/britishsoapawardswinnersrelease/default.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=British Soap Awards 2010: The Winners |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a217728/british-soap-awards-2010-the-winners/ |access-date=16 February 2021 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |archive-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103003956/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a217728/british-soap-awards-2010-the-winners/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Also in 2010, she received a nomination for Best Daytime Star at the ''Inside Soap'' Awards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a242852/in-full-inside-soap-awards-2010-nominees.html |title=In Full: ''Inside Soap'' Awards 2010 Nominees |last=Wightman |first=Catriona |publisher=Digital Spy |date=13 July 2010 |accessdate=19 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017105038/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a242852/in-full-inside-soap-awards-2010-nominees.html |archivedate=17 October 2010 }}</ref>
While Michelle's storyline with Ruth was airing, Bailey admitted that she would visit Digital Spy's forums to see what fans of the soap were saying about the storyline. She was taken aback by the negative response to Michelle. However, she understood the anger viewers harboured towards her character at that point, but hoped that they would eventually forgive her.<ref name="Backlash" /> Bailey noted that she had received a good reception to Michelle's exit storyline and that viewers had enjoyed the representation of military nursing.<ref name="Costume" />
==See also== * List of ''Doctors'' characters (2005–2006)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/doctors/characters/michelle_corrigan_person_page.shtml Michelle Corrigan] at BBC Online
{{Doctors}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Corrigan, Michelle}} Category:Doctors (2000 TV series) characters Category:British female characters in soap operas Category:English female characters in television Category:Fictional Black British people Category:Fictional nurses in soap operas Category:Television characters introduced in 2006