Michael Eley [Hypnotherapist] (Peter Broome)

7.24 (316) | 2004

Hypnotherapist Luke Davenport contacts, upon his return to the team following surgery to save his eyesight. While Luke has a fear that close contact with other players could cause him further damage, Mr. Eley uses hypnosis to help him remember the confidence he had whilst playing as a schoolboy, and bringing it into the present.

The role of the hypnotherapist was originally going to be filled by Paul McKenna, with a publicity photo (credit to Adam Beckwith for this article) and press still stating McKenna was due to appear right up to the week of this episode's airing. However, Jane revealed on harchester.net's forums that he had disagreed with the storyline so the role was redone with actor Peter Broome. A line delivered by Mr. Eley may go some way to explaining this, as he states "I won't use hypnotherapy to put you in danger" owing to Luke's medical advice that it was not recommended he take part in contact sport again after his eye surgery. It seems likely this was why a fictional hypnotherapist in Mr. Eley was used, rather than a real one in McKenna.