on 19 december 2011, digital spy announced that after a difficult year for mercedes a "charming doctor" arrives and "shows her the benefits of 'selling her services'" which leads her down a "dark path". metcalfe explained that when mercedes learns that silas blissett (jeff rawle) will not face trial she goes into "self destruct mode" and contacts doctor browning for sex once again. mercedes does not take money from doctor browning for sex this time although she "hates herself" for it. metcalfe told katy moon from "inside soap" that their night together makes her character "feel awful but she's looking for any distraction, any way to escape her demons". metcalfe told a journalist from the sun's magazine "tv buzz" that mercedes believes doctor browning "will help her move on" from her ordeal. hassan told dominique marjoram from "ok!" that she enjoyed the storyline in which browning "took advantage" of lynsey and mercedes. metcalfe said that she and thompson "loved" the episodic block which established escorting because it was "brilliant to film". she branded thompson a "really good addition" to the cast and revealed that he had returned for a longer second stint, which sees doctor browning "stir things up".