Picking Up the Pieces (TV series)

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Picking Up the Pieces
Genre Medical drama
Created byAnita Pandolfo
Written byAnita Pandolfo
Paul Henry Powell
Starring
Theme music composer Kirsty MacColl
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producerRob Pursey
ProducerPaul Marquess
Running time60 minutes
Production company Central Television
Original release
Network ITV
Release29 October (1998-10-29) –
17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)

Picking Up the Pieces is a British medical drama about an ambulance service team. It aired on ITV between 29 October and 17 December 1998 and was produced by Central Television. [1]

Contents

Premise

The series follows the lives of a team of paramedics and emergency medical technicians with the North Area Ambulance Service, facing life and death situations in the fictional city of Matherton. [1]

Production

The series was filmed in the Derbyshire town of Ilkeston, using the real life ambulance station and vehicles in the series. [2] The opening and closing theme of the series was created by Kirsty MacColl after she was contacted by the series producer to write a theme with a Northern Soul feel. [3]

Cast

Main

Recurring

Guest appearances

Picking Up the Pieces features a number of notable future established actors in guest appearances, including: Richard Bremmer, Fiona Dolman, Martin Freeman, Melanie Gutteridge, Raza Jaffrey, Maxine Peake, Joanna Scanlan, Rhashan Stone and Jeremy Young. [4]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions)  [5]
1"Episode 1"Roger GartlandAnita Pandolfo29 October 1998 (1998-10-29)7.81
The paramedics attend a heart-attack victim – in a brothel – and lives are at risk when an ambulance crashes.
2"Episode 2"Indra BhoseAnita Pandolfo5 November 1998 (1998-11-05)N/A
Lisa cannot find a hospital bed for a dying man, while Michael puts his job on the line for the sake of a patient.
3"Episode 3"Gwennan SageAnita Pandolfo12 November 1998 (1998-11-12)N/A
Michael and Tony try to help a wife who has been assaulted but end up facing violence themselves. Meanwhile, a woman goes into labour in Bernadette's ambulance.
4"Episode 4"Roger GartlandAnita Pandolfo19 November 1998 (1998-11-19)N/A
Bill and Bernadette confront difficult decisions while trying to rescue a trapped man. Meanwhile, Caroline and Boddington find themselves in a compromising situation.
5"Episode 5"Laura SimsAnita Pandolfo26 November 1998 (1998-11-26)6.46
Geoff and Lisa find themselves in trouble after pushing a teenage girl too far. Meanwhile, Barry confronts the reality of undergoing a vasectomy.
6"Episode 6"Christopher KingAnita Pandolfo3 December 1998 (1998-12-03)N/A
Bernadette discovers the importance of maintaining emotional boundaries with patients, while Tony finds himself falling in love.
7"Episode 7"Bill EaglesAnita Pandolfo10 December 1998 (1998-12-10)7.15
Tony faces danger after a syringe accident while treating someone from his past, and Barry is upset about the on-board computers.
8"Episode 8"Laura SimsAnita Pandolfo17 December 1998 (1998-12-17)6.87
The paramedics respond to a prison riot and Lisa is finally forced to admit the truth.

References

  1. 1 2 "Picking up the Pieces". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  2. ↑ Wiles, Leo; Arup, Evie. "The Insider: Picking up a piece of the old action". TV Times (17-23 October 1998 ed.). p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2025.(subscription required)
  3. ↑ "Picking Up the Pieces" . Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "Picking up the Pieces (TV Series 1998) - Cast credits". IMDb. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  5. ↑ "Weekly top 30". BARB. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
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