Penny Hutchens

Penny Hutchens is a paramedic who worked for the Holby Ambulance Service from 1997 to 2001.

Time with the Ambulance Service (1997-2001)
She was first seen in Series 11 as a supporting cast member and joined the regular cast in S12 E13. At first we learn very little about her personal life.

In Series 12 she gave the first insight to her childhood when Josh takes an interest in Liam, a boy who has been orphaned in a fire. She became troubled by Josh’s thinking that Liam’s problems could be sorted out easily. Finally in S12 E24) she reveals that she was brought up in a children’s home so she knows what Liam was going through.

In S13 E6 Penny accuses Josh of prying into her life. Josh says that he’s just making conversation. They make a bet on whether Penny will tell him something about herself by the end of the shift. Later on Penny sees Mo Hart in reception after she got dye in her eyes following an accident at a salon.It’s revealed that Mo is Penny’s foster mother. Penny goes up to her and Mo tells her what happened. Josh comes along and talks to Mo, and finds out that Mo was Penny’s foster mother after she left the childrens’ home. Mo tells Josh that Penny has been let down too many times. Josh finds out from talking to Mo that that Penny used to be with a drummer called Pete. Josh asks Penny about Pete. She tells him they lived together for two years and then he left her to go to France. She’s not happy with this intrusion into her private life and tells Josh that she likes things the way they are, with Josh not knowing much about her.

However, Penny was a strong support to Josh throughout his gambling crisis that ran through S13. She was with him when his house was trashed in S13 E18 by two men that had leant him money. She tells him he needs help. later on she drives him to his gamblers anonymous meeting.

In S14 E25 Penny takes a diving course; and she has to use her skills as a Paramedic to save the life of her instructor who has had an MI.

Series 15 saw Penny befreind a girl, Chantelle, who was being brought up in foster care. Chantelle was a pupil in Penny’s first-aid classes who was interested in becoming a paramedic. In S15 E20 Chantelle’s birth father had turned up after Chantelle had traced him, saying that he had thought about her every day. This makes Penny wonder about her own father. She decides to try to contact him.

Penny’s own quest to find her birth father isn’t easy and she tried several addresses before getting his current address. In S15 E32 her half-brother Luke turns up at the ambulance station. He tells her about their father, Gordon, he has the same stubborn streak as Penny. Filled with hope after her brothers visit, she is shocked to find a letter from her father when she gets home. He doesn’t want to meet her. Determined for some answers Penny decides to go to her father’s farm in S15 E33. Finlay Newton goes with her to provide moral support. At first Gordon thinks they have come to look at a vehicle that he’s selling. Penny tells him who she is. He asks if she got his letter, asking why she came. Gordon repeats what was in his letter: there’s nothing for her here. Later on Penny and her father talk. He asks her what she expected and says he doesn’t know her. Penny tells him that she wanted him to be a part of her life. Penny tells him her mum died years ago and she was put in a children’s home after they couldn’t find him. Gordon tells her about his relationship with Penny’s mother. It wasn’t a good relationship, and Penny was the only joy between them. Penny is disappionted and tells Gordon that he wasn’t what she wanted. As they are leaving Finlay sees Gordon’s reflection in his mirror. He tells Penny to take one last look. She goes out to talk to her father who tells her not to go. Penny doesn’t think it’ll work but Gordon reaches out and takes Penny’s hand. Gordon tells Penny that she can call him ‘Dad’ a tearful Penny hugs Gordon.

In S13 E34 it is revealed that Penny and her father want to spend some time getting to know each other and will be givin up her job to do so. Penny’s last episode was S15 E36.