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Ian Lavender (EastEnders and Dad's Army) and Simon Shepherd (Peak Practice) are to star in a special hour-long episode of Â鶹Éç One Daytime's award-winning continuing drama Doctors, celebrating its 2000th episode, which sees the Mill under a lockdown as a deadly virus is unleashed.

Commissioned for this landmark anniversary, Quarantine sees Ian Lavender playing Rowland Beckley, a retired brigadier who goes to see Dr Heston Carter (Owen Brenman) at the Mill, and has to stay there under a lockdown when the authorities suspect that someone inside is infected with a deadly virus.

Simon Shepherd plays virologist, George Liston, who Dr Simon Bond (David Sturzaker) approaches for help in tackling the deadly virus. Simon later discovers George is actually behind spreading the virus and his daughter Victoria Liston (Daisy Head) – who is locked in the Mill with Cherry (Sophie Abelson) – is the carrier.

It's a race against time, as the source of the virus is tracked down, and tensions mount as the staff and patients locked inside the Mill deal with the pressure of the situation.

When Cherry develops a rash that indicates she has the virus, George is adamant that there is no cure, but Simon manages to get George to reveal the medication that might save her. But when he can only reach Jimmi on the phone will he be able to persuade him to break the lockdown and if so will he get the medication to Cherry in time?

Will Trotter, executive producer of Doctors, says: "It's wonderful that Doctors has reached its 2000th episode, and is celebrating by having this hour-long episode featuring all of our regular Doctors cast and some wonderful well known guest stars joining us to mark this milestone. Doctors is a homegrown award-winning British drama for Â鶹Éç One Daytime and we look forward to the next 2000 episodes!"

Liam Keelan, Controller of Â鶹Éç Daytime, adds: "Doctors continues to attract stellar British actors and consistently has relevant, challenging and thought-provoking storylines; I'm delighted we've been able to commission this special anniversary episode."

The 2000th episode also guest stars Carol Macready, Simon Chandler, Fraser James and Verity Hewlett, alongside all of the regular Doctors cast members. Currently filming in and around Birmingham, the episode airs on Wednesday 16 February 2011 (Â鶹Éç Week 7).

The writer of Quarantine is Rob Kinsman, the producer is Ella Kelly and the director is Dominic Keavey.

The multi-award-winning Doctors airs weekdays at 1.45pm on Â鶹Éç One and simultaneously on Â鶹Éç One HD. It is also repeated later in the day on Â鶹Éç HD. Keep up to date by finding it on the Â鶹Éç iPlayer.

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