Hotel Babylon Series 4 iPlayer

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Hotel Babylon Series 4 iPlayer

Anna Thornton-Wilton (Emma Pierson)

Head Receptionist Anna is 27 and... let's say... aspirational. She works in the luxury hotel business because she feels completely at home there – but really working there is the only way she can afford to be a part of it. She's gorgeous and knows it and, as far as she's concerned, it's only a matter of time before she bags a wealthy and eligible man. Her ambitions need re-evaluating when she finds herself pregnant. The gang want to know who the dad is.

Sadly for fans of Hotel Babylon the kittenish, foxy and oft-times infuriating head of reception, Anna Thornton Wilton, will be leaving the hotel for good this season as actress Emma Pierson leaves the show to concentrate on other projects.

"It's heart-breaking in a way to be leaving Hotel Babylon as I have adored playing Anna but there comes a time when you have to move on from a show and this is my time. I can guarantee a great departure for her but all I'm prepared to say is that all her dreams come true."

When episode one opens we meet a very pregnant Anna Thornton Wilton who appears to be weirdly in denial of her predicament. She refuses to tell her Babylon colleagues who the father is. In true Babylon style the staff resort to running a book and no one is safe from speculation.

"Anna is incredibly vulnerable and hasn't really gotten over the departure of Charlie so has decided to ignore what is happening to her by going about her daily business – heels and all," says Emma.

"When she finds out that her friends are running a bet on the identity of the father she is absolutely horrified and randomly picks out hotel waiter, Darren, from the staff canteen and tells them that he's the dad. However, her confidence takes a serious knock when she is forced to look after the son of a guest couple and she begins to have serious doubts about her ability to bring up children alone," she recalls.

"Meanwhile, poor innocent Darren has begun to fall hopelessly in love with Anna and it all becomes a bit much when he starts talking nappies and paternity leave," she laughs

Emma Pierson has loved playing the part of the foxy and outspoken Anna mostly because she has been able to develop, contribute and create opportunities to take Anna to the extremes of comedy within the drama.

"I feel like I've created a character that audiences connect with and enjoy and I hope I've made people laugh with and at her," she says. "I've played all of my own stunts throughout the series and there have been some interesting ones like hanging upside down from the ceiling last year."

Anna has always loved her glamour and one can imagine her sitting at home in fluffy kitten-heel slippers, surrounded by Balenciaga and Gucci. However, in series three we saw a new dimension to Anna's character as her role became more prominent and her character more central. Unfortunately, in series four audiences will see Anna depart Hotel Babylon for good in what promises to be a tear-jerker.

"Anna fell for quite a few handsome men during her time at the hotel but none more than Charlie Edwards, the hotel's former General Manager played by my good friend Max Beesley,” she recalls.

"She definitely grew up a lot over the years and changed a little but she is still naughty and irreverent underneath. Despite being uncomfortably pregnant she still manages her witty one-liners and put-downs."

"As an actor who is in a returning show with great ratings, the audience know what they want from the characters and they expect to see on screen what they know and love and have invested in," she explains.

Emma went straight from the set of Hotel Babylon to play Fanny Dorrit in Andrew Davies' adaptation of Little Dorrit on BBC One before heading off on a four-month trip travelling to Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Credit: BBC

Watch the new series of Hotel Babylon on BBC iPlayer

Drama series set in the sexy world of the luxury five star hotel, on a journey beyond the facade of the smiling faces and glittering chandeliers and into the frenetic, non-stop world of the staff

Episode 1
Hotel Babylon is closing. Tony desperately pitches the hotel to an Asian businessman, but the deal goes into freefall when Tony refuses to meet his demands.

Meanwhile, a terror alert throws Central London into chaos, and a crowd seek refuge in the hotel. The team pull together fantastically, and a millionaire caught up in the bedlam is so impressed that he decides to buy Babylon, securing its future.

Elsewhere, Anna is nearly eight months pregnant, but is in total denial, not least about the baby's father...

Episode 2
A celebrity TV couple are busy with their joint 40th birthday celebrations at the hotel. Anna assumes they are perfect together, but uncovers a very different story behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, Sam learns the hard way that it is not easy running a hotel when he ignores Juliet's advice and allows rival boxers to stay at Babylon, and the staff rumble a corrupt environmental standards inspector.

Episode 3
The team joins a treasure hunt around the hotel searching for valuable emeralds claimed to be hidden at Babylon. Anna takes the lead despite being so close to having her baby.

Elsewhere, Gino gets duped by a dangerous con man staying at the hotel and Tony is tasked to look after a fading film star who isn't everything she seems.

iPlayer Link

Charlie and Anna share a moment, whilst being serenaded by Olivia(Ruby Turner).