Critical (TV series)

Last updated

Critical
Genre Medical drama
Created by Jed Mercurio [1]
Written by
  • Jed Mercurio
  • Matthew Broughton
  • Laurence Davey
  • Mark Greig
  • Michael A. Walker
  • Tom Needham
  • Katherine McGinn
Directed by
  • Jon East
  • Michael Keillor
  • Philippa Langdale
Starring
ComposerRuth Barrett
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes13 [2]
Production
Executive producers
  • Jed Mercurio
  • Mark Redhead
  • Cameron Roach
Producer Christopher Hall
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company Hat Trick Productions
Original release
Network Sky 1
Release24 February (2015-02-24) –
19 May 2015 (2015-05-19)

Critical, styled with a time-clock format as CR:IT:IC:AL, is a British medical drama series that aired on Sky 1 from 24 February [3] to 19 May 2015. The series is set in a fictional major trauma centre (MTC), City General Hospital, which treats critically ill patients. Each episode is based on one patient and efforts to save his or her life within one hour. [4] Created by Jed Mercurio ( Line of Duty and Bodies ), [5] the drama follows the team of medical professionals whilst they make life-changing decisions. [6] The title refers to critical condition, the most serious medical state, as well as the decisions and actions of the staff; everything done within the first hour is absolutely vital and could determine whether a patient lives or dies. [7] The show was axed on 15 July 2015 after the series pulled in an average of 192,000 viewers. [8]

Contents

Cast

Guest cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [14]
1"Retribution of Outraged Nature"Jon EastJed Mercurio24 February 2015 (2015-02-24)0.79
A seriously ill man has been flown in from a road accident. Vascular surgery specialist Lorraine Rappaport sets to work on the patient - but when office politics come into play, she is asked to step down, forcing hospital fellow Fiona Lomas to take over. But it soon becomes clear that she doesn't have the theatre experience of her colleague.
2"The Art of Medicine"Jon EastJed Mercurio3 March 2015 (2015-03-03)0.50
Time is running out as the team treats a woman who has suffered an horrific fall. Amid all the action, Fiona tries to adapt to working with her ex, Glen.
3"Lock Arms and Block Cemetries"Jon EastJed Mercurio10 March 2015 (2015-03-10)0.47
Emotions run high when the team fights to revive a cyclist involved in a serious collision. Glen makes a bold decision, but will it be enough?
4"The Weakness of Mankind"Michael KeillorMatthew Broughton17 March 2015 (2015-03-17)0.37
Stress levels rocket when, while treating a badly beaten man, the team faces a nightmare scenario that sends the major trauma centre into lockdown.
5"Medicine My Lawful Wife"Michael KeillorLaurence Davey24 March 2015 (2015-03-24)Under 0.36
Confusion fills the operating theatre when Lorraine returns to work, taking the reins from Glen as trauma team leader to treat a woman with a gunshot wound.
6"No Place to Be Sick"Michael KeillorMark Greig31 March 2015 (2015-03-31)Under 0.37
Tensions continue to bubble between Glen and Lorraine, when they race to the aid of a troubled patient who has jumped from the hospital's atrium walkway.
7"To Array a Man's Will"Philippa LangdaleMichael A. Walker7 April 2015 (2015-04-07)Under 0.35
A shock is in store for the team when they treat an agitated patient who has been involved in a car crash. Glen delivers an overdue apology to Fiona.
8"Scrambled Eggs Go Back in the Shell"Philippa LangdaleJed Mercurio14 April 2015 (2015-04-14)0.29
The team feels the pressure more than ever when they treat an unexpected, horrifically burned patient. Glen grows closer to Fiona, when he sheds light on his army days.
9"The Purest Evil"Philippa LangdaleJed Mercurio21 April 2015 (2015-04-21)0.36
The prognosis is bleak when the team battles to save a teenage drowning victim, leading to a standoff between Glen and Clive. Fiona, meanwhile, makes a bold move.
10"To Die of the Cure"Jon EastTom Needham28 April 2015 (2015-04-28)0.39
Hospitals are normally animal-free zones, but the team makes an exception when the victim of a dog attack is brought in - with the canine still attached.
11"Time"Jon EastLaurence Dave5 May 2015 (2015-05-05)0.44
Obstacles arise when the team tackles one of their trickiest cases, a man who has been perforated by crane spikes. Glen receives an interesting offer.
12"The Great Physician"Jon EastKatherine McGinn12 May 2015 (2015-05-12)0.38
Stretched to the limit, the team hits the road to treat multiple victims involved in a traffic accident. Fiona, meanwhile, tries to keep her engagement a secret.
13"When It's Best to Go"Jon EastJed Mercurio19 May 2015 (2015-05-19)0.40
Devastated by news of Fiona's engagement, Glen races off, only to be involved in a life-or-death emergency.

Reception

Reviews were predominantly positive, [15] [16] [17] [18] noting the ground-breaking style and structure of the series; however some critics expressed a preference for a more traditional approach to medical drama. [19] [20]

International broadcasters

In Australia, the series premiered on BBC First on 28 July 2015. [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>General Hospital</i> (British TV series) British daytime soap opera

General Hospital was a British daytime soap opera produced by ATV that ran on ITV from 1972 to 1979. General Hospital was an attempt to replicate the success of one of British television's first major soap operas, Emergency Ward 10. The original theme music was "Girl in the White Dress" by the Derek Scott Orchestra which was used until 1975, when it was replaced by Johnny Pearson's "Red Alert" for the 60-minute episodes.

<i>Bodies</i> (2004 TV series) British television medical drama

Bodies is a British television medical drama produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. Created by Jed Mercurio, the series first broadcast on 23 June 2004, and is based on Mercurio's book of the same name. The series is centred on specialist registrar Rob Lake, who starts in a new post in the Obstetrics and gynaecology department at the fictional South Central Infirmary, under the guidance of consultant obstetrician Roger Hurley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hat Trick Productions</span> British independent TV production company

Hat Trick Productions Limited is an independent British production company that produces television and radio programmes, mainly specialising in comedy, based in London. The company's logo is depicted as a rabbit pulling a man out of a hat instead of the other way around.

A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over the production, and the executive producer's role is limited to investing. In scripted comedy and drama TV shows, the showrunner also usually serves as the head writer. The role of a showrunner is not present on all television series, especially outside the US; this article describes the nature of the role where it is present.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lennie James</span> British actor (born 1965)

Lennie Michael James is a British actor. He is best known for portraying Morgan Jones in the AMC series The Walking Dead and in its spin-off, Fear the Walking Dead, and starring as DCI Tony Gates in Line of Duty series one.

<i>Emergency Ward 10</i> British television soap opera (1957–1967)

Emergency Ward 10 is a British medical soap opera series shown on ITV between 1957 and 1967. It is considered to be one of British television's first major soap operas.

<i>Cardiac Arrest</i> (TV series) British TV series

Cardiac Arrest is a British medical drama series produced by World Productions for BBC One. It aired from April 1994 to June 1996. The show focused on the lives and challenges of junior doctors working in a hospital setting and was known for its realistic and sometimes dark portrayal of the medical profession. The series was controversial owing to its cynical depiction of doctors, nurses and the National Health Service (NHS), although it has often topped polls of the UK medical profession as the best medical drama of all time.

The first series of the British medical drama television series Holby City commenced airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 12 January 1999, and concluded on 9 March 1999. The show was created by Mal Young and Tony McHale as a spin–off from the BBC medical drama Casualty, intended to follow the treatment of patients from Casualty as they were transferred onto the hospital's surgical wards. McHale served as the programme's lead writer throughout the first series, which ran for nine episodes. Young cast actors who were already established names in the acting industry, particularly from a soap opera background. Several cast members shadowed real surgeons and nurses in preparation for their roles to increase the show's realism. The series received mixed reviews from critics. It was compared favourably with Casualty, but received negative reviews in which it was contrasted poorly with the American medical drama ER. The series première attracted 10.72 million viewers, falling to 8.51 million by the series finale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jed Mercurio</span> British TV writer, director (born 1966)

Gerald Gary Mercurio is a British television writer, producer, director and novelist. A former hospital doctor and Royal Air Force officer, Mercurio has been ranked among UK television's leading writers. In 2017, Mercurio was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Television Society and the Baird Medal by RTS Midlands.

Kimberley Nixon is a Welsh actress. Nixon is known for her role as Sophy Hutton in the BBC One period drama Cranford, and appearances in various films such as Wild Child and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. She also starred as Josie Jones in the Channel 4 comedy-drama Fresh Meat and as Sarah Pearson in the BBC Two comedy Hebburn.

The fourteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City began airing in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 18 October 2011 and concluded on 9 October 2012. The series ran for 52 episodes.

<i>Line of Duty</i> British police procedural drama television series (2012–2021)

Line of Duty is a British police procedural and serial drama created by Jed Mercurio and produced by World Productions for the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It first began broadcasting on BBC Two on 26 June 2012. The programme performed well and was quickly commissioned for additional series that aired in 2014 and 2016. After becoming the highest-rated series on BBC Two in 10 years, Line of Duty was promoted to BBC One beginning with the fourth series in 2017 and fifth in 2019, securing commissions through a sixth series, which concluded on 2 May 2021, after the programme had aired a total of 36 episodes.

The eighteenth series of the British medical drama television series Holby City commenced airing in the United Kingdom on 13 October 2015, and concluded on 4 October 2016. The series consists of 52 episodes. Oliver Kent continues his position as the show's executive producer, while Simon Harper serves as the series producer. Sixteen cast members reprised their roles from the previous series, while several recurring characters, and numerous guest stars feature in the series. Four actors depart during the series and two cast members reprise their roles after taking breaks in the previous series. Jemma Redgrave appeared in the series between February and September 2016 as general surgeon Bernie Wolfe. Jason Robertson joined the semi-regular cast in February 2016 as Jason Haynes, and two new cast members joined the serial in summer 2016: Marc Elliott as registrar Isaac Mayfield and Lucinda Dryzek as F1 doctor Jasmine Burrows.

<i>Stan Lees Lucky Man</i> British crime drama television series

Stan Lee's Lucky Man is a British superhero crime drama television series created by Stan Lee and Neil Biswas. The series is produced by Carnival Films and POW! Entertainment for Sky 1, which follows the story of Murder Squad detective Harry Clayton, who is granted the power to control luck.

<i>Line of Duty</i> series 1 BBC police procedural TV show, 2012 series

The first series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty was broadcast on BBC Two between 26 June and 24 July 2012.

<i>Line of Duty</i> series 2 BBC police procedural TV show, 2014 series

The second series of the British police procedural television programme Line of Duty was broadcast on BBC Two between 12 February and 19 March 2014.

<i>Line of Duty</i> series 6 BBC police procedural TV show, 2021 series

The sixth series of Line of Duty, consisting of seven episodes, began broadcasting on BBC One on 21 March 2021. The story follows the actions of AC-12, led by Superintendent Ted Hastings and DI Steve Arnott, as they investigate DCI Joanne Davidson and her team, including former AC-12 officer DI Kate Fleming.

<i>Bloodlands</i> (TV series) Crime drama series set in Northern Ireland

Bloodlands is a police procedural television series set in Northern Ireland that premiered on BBC One on 21 February 2021. It was created by Chris Brandon and developed by HTM Television, a joint venture between Hat Trick Productions and the producer Jed Mercurio. The show was renewed for a second series on 14 March 2021, with filming commencing in February 2022.

Breathtaking is a British medical drama television series, written by Rachel Clarke, Jed Mercurio, and Prasanna Puwanarajah, based on Clarke's 2021 memoir of the same name on the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It stars Joanne Froggatt and was directed by Craig Viveiros.

References

  1. ↑ Plunkett, John (17 September 2013). "Bodies creator pens real-time medical drama for Sky 1". The Guardian . Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Lennie James to lead cast of Sky1's Critical" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine . Televisual.
  3. ↑ "Critical: Every second counts as Lennie James leads ground-breaking Sky1-HD medical drama". Sky. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Lynn, Connolly (3 February 2014). "Critical coming to Sky 1! Is this the lovechild of ER and 24? Lennie James stars in "real-time" drama". Prime Time. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  5. ↑ Plunkett, John (27 January 2014). "Line of Duty's Lennie James to star in Sky1 Jed Mercurio drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Drewett, Meg (27 January 2014). "Lennie James leads cast of new Sky1 medical drama Critical". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Munn, Patrick (27 January 2014). "Lennie James Cast As Lead In Sky1's Medical Drama Series 'Critical'". TV Wise. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. ↑ Jeffrey, Morgan (15 July 2015). "Sky1 calls time on Critical: No second series for medical thriller". Digital Spy . Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Line of Duty's Lennie James to star in Sky1 Jed Mercurio drama ". The Guardian.
  10. ↑ "Sky announces real-time '24-style' medical drama Critical". Whats on TV. 27 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Critical coming to Sky 1! Is this the lovechild of ER and 24? Lennie James stars in “real-time” drama!" Archived 20 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine . Unreality Primetime.
  12. ↑ Pyke, Chris (30 April 2014). "Watch: Kim's Critical new medical drama from Line of Duty team". Wales Online. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Hunt, Debs (27 January 2014). "Lennie James leads cast of Sky 1 medical drama 'Critical'". Inside Media Track. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". BARB . Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Billen, Andrew (25 February 2015). "TV Review: Critical; Immigration Street". The Times.
  16. ↑ Jones, Ellen E. (25 February 2015). "Critical, Sky1 - TV Review". The Independent.
  17. ↑ Wollaston, Sam (25 February 2015). "Last Night's TV". The Guardian.
  18. ↑ Hogan, Michael (25 February 2015). "Critical episode 1 review". The Telegraph.
  19. ↑ Harrison, Bernice (28 February 2015). "Critical needs a dose of the emotion shown by Grey's Anatomy". Irish Times.
  20. ↑ McKay, Alastair (27 February 2015). "Catch-up TV". London Evening Standard.
  21. ↑ Purcell, Charles (23 July 2015). "NEW THIS WEEK (Jul 27): I Am Cait, Village Vets Australia, Critical, Atlantis, Ipswich V8s & more". The Green Room. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.