dr david samuels is played by christopher reich. david first appears in april 1988 as dr. legg's (leonard fenton) nephew who is visiting from israel. david has fallen on hard times in israel. he was being shunned by the locals because he had treated a wounded terrorist, who was guilty of bombing a bus that had killed his best friend. he had also split from his fiancée ruth (nitza saul), and wanted a new start. when his mother hester (barbara shelley) comes to visit harold she asks him if it would be possible for david to join him in england for a while. harold thinks it is a great idea, and david comes over the following month. on his arrival, he tends to colin russell (michael cashman) when he is attacked. david helps his uncle out with the practice and lives in the flat above the surgery.