Rosie Colton

Rosie is introduced as a receptionist at Sutton Vale Surgery, which the Mill Health Centre plan to take over. When she meets business manager Bear Sylvester (Dex Lee) and surgery partners Zara Carmichael (Elisabeth Dermot Walsh) and Daniel Granger (Matthew Chambers), Rosie fills them in on the details of Sutton Vale. This includes the case of missing person Dr. Jacob Ashdown, who randomly went missing. Rosie gets emotional on several occasions over his disappearance.^[1] Walsh, who portrayed Zara, stated that she loved Rosie's introduction and found it comedic that Rosie was shown to be "in tears all the time".^[3] Rosie is shown to be hapless with technology and co-worker Princess Buchanan (Laura White) makes a comment that she is ready to retire, which new lead GP of Sutton Vale, Al Haskey (Ian Midlane), is disappointed about. Rosie warns Al that Princess is trouble and that there is something about her that he should watch out for.^[4] Connolly shared many of her first scenes with Midlane in the Sutton Vale set, which she described as a "lovely introduction" to playing Rosie.^[3]

Jimmi Clay (Adrian Lewis Morgan) takes over as lead GP at Sutton Vale due to Al prioritising the care of his mother, which Rosie struggles with. He "has concerns" about Rosie's inability to cope with changes at her surgery, such as being unable to operate the new computer system and the staff changes.^[5] He speaks to Rosie about her situation and unknowingly persuades Rosie to retire. He asks Rosie to arrange a staff meeting which she gets upset at; Maeve Ludlow (Clelia Murphy) informs Jimmi that it is Rosie's last day at Sutton Vale and hints that she may feel unappreciated. He then arranges a last-minute goodbye party for her.^[6] Rosie is "touched" by the party.^[7] Months after her departure, she learns that Jacob has been found dead and arrives at the crime scene with flowers. She informs DI Mick Hartley (Martin Walsh) that she believes Princess murdered Jacob.^[8]

Rosie's initial exit aired in an episode broadcast on 6 September 2022. In March 2023, Connolly announced via Twitter that she would be returning to Doctors as Rosie later in the year.^[9] The character made an unexpected return in May 2023, with her hiring at the Mill kept a secret from everyone, since Bear decided to keep it private. Surgery partner Nina Bulsara (Wendi Peters) worries that her hiring is a mistake.^[10] However, she proves herself to be capable and is later promoted to deputy business manager.^[11] Months later, Rosie takes another job after Zara speaks to her horribly.^[12]

After her second exit from the series, Connolly was told that she would be eventually reintroduced and promoted to a regular character.^[3] However, during her break from Doctors, the BBC cancelled the soap,^[13] which Connolly herself has expressed her fury at.^[2] However, Connolly was still reintroduced and promoted, with Rosie's return scenes airing on 26 September 2024.^[14] She was brought in as a replacement for Kiruna Stamell, who left her role as Kirsty Millar in the previous episode. As part of her return, writers introduced her daughter and grandson to the series: Lizzie Barnett (Jo Enright) and Max Barnett (Harry Lowbridge), respectively. The characters create drama for Rosie in a storyline that sees her "personal and professional life collide".^[14]

When nobody at the Mill wants to attend a sustainability course, Rosie is sent as a last resort. Following her recent family drama, Rosie "can certainly do with a new project to focus her attention on" and it was confirmed that it would mark the start of an environmental storyline for Rosie.^[15] Connolly appreciated the writers for giving Rosie an environmental storyline. She acknowledged that many elderly people care about the environment and have an important part to play in helping the earth, as well as having more time to do so. She was given on-location scenes as part of the storyline and Connolly enjoyed not just being behind the Mill's reception desk. The storyline facilitated the castings of Livi (Murphee Thompson) and Clara Sedgewick (Nadine Ivy), two sisters who protest alongside Rosie. Connolly billed them her favourite guest actors to work with on the series.^[3]

The Metro billed Rosie as an elderly woman who is "prone to floods of tears at the mere mention of the absent Dr. Ashdown’s name",^[16] as well as calling her unprofessional.^[17] However, they were disappointed when she initially exited and were glad when she returned.^[16] Connolly has stated that she has been recognised numerous times in public for her role as Rosie, with viewers approaching her to praise the character. She was grateful for most viewers, but has commented that some feel they "own" the person behind the character they watch on television.^[3]