Malpractice (TV series)

Malpractice is a British medical drama television series, created and written by Grace Ofori-Attah.[1][2] It stars Niamh Algar as a doctor embroiled in a medical scandal. It began airing on 23 April 2023 on ITV and ITVX. It has been commissioned for a second series.[3]

Malpractice
GenreMedical drama
Created byGrace Ofori-Attah
Written byGrace Ofori-Attah
Directed byPhilip Barantini
Starring
Composers
  • Aaron May
  • David Ridley
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes5
Production
Executive producers
  • Philip Barantini
  • Simon Heath
ProducerSophie Reynolds
CinematographyMatthew Lewis
Running time50 mins. approx
Production companyWorld Productions
Original release
NetworkITV
Release23 April 2023 (2023-04-23) –
present

Plot

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While the respected Dr. Lucinda Edwards was treating an opioid-overdose patient, an alarm is sounded, prompting the hospital's staff rush to reception where a man is waving a gun around. Dr. Edwards tries to calm him and offers to help the person on the floor with a gunshot wound. The gunshot patient is moved to A&E but to locate a bed, someone else must be moved. Dr Edwards nominates the overdose patient and sends a young doctor with her to continue her care.

Meantime Dr Edwards returns to the gunshot patient who is being prepped for surgery. Then Dr Harris arrives and takes over. The gunshot patient survives but the overdose patient does not. The young doctor had misheard or misinterpreted the instructions Dr Edwards gave, but when the overdose patient's influential barrister father makes a complaint and the General Medical Council decide to take the case to court, it is Dr Edwards whose job appears under most threat. Though she wins the lawsuit, her job remains in jeopardy since the hospital board becomes determined to destroy her to maintain their public image, and her personal problems come to light and her position and life are both on the line as a major pharmaceutical conspiracy starts to unravel.

Cast

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Production

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Prior to writing, Ofori-Attah had worked as a doctor in the NHS. The first series was filmed in West Yorkshire.[4]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"Philip BarantiniGrace Ofori-Attah23 April 2023 (2023-04-23)5.31
2"Episode 2"Philip BarantiniGrace Ofori-Attah30 April 2023 (2023-04-30)4.54
3"Episode 3"Philip BarantiniGrace Ofori-Attah7 May 2023 (2023-05-07)3.60
4"Episode 4"Philip BarantiniGrace Ofori-Attah14 May 2023 (2023-05-14)3.70
5"Episode 5"Philip BarantiniGrace Ofori-Attah21 May 2023 (2023-05-21)3.78

Reception

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Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising the writing and topicality of the series.[5] Anita Singh in The Telegraph also gave it four stars out of five, highlighting the quality of the acting.[6] Sean O'Grady from The Independent gave the first episode three out of five stars, commending the fusion of hospital drama with a style of police procedurals, but found Lucinda Edwards unengaging as a protagonist.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "ITV reveals first look image of Niamh Algar in medical thriller Malpractice". 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
  2. ^ "Malpractice: Release date, cast and news for ITV medical thriller". Radio Times.
  3. ^ https://www.itv.com/presscentre/media-releases/itv-recommissions-medical-thriller-malpractice-world-productions
  4. ^ Bentley, David (February 20, 2023). "ITV teases new Malpractice medical drama from same producers as Line of Duty". BirminghamLive.
  5. ^ Mangan, Lucy (2023-04-23). "Malpractice review – a beautifully written drama about the NHS's hidden dangers". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  6. ^ Singh, Anita (2023-04-23). "Malpractice, review: ITV1's medical thriller is worth making an appointment with". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  7. ^ "Malpractice review: ITV's new medico-crime drama is like Casualty meets Line of Duty". The Independent. 2023-04-23. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
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