Maternal is a British medical drama television drama series created by Jacqui Honess-Martin. The series began broadcast on ITV on 16 January 2023, as well as on ITVX.[1][2] The show was cancelled after one season.[3]
| Maternal | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical drama |
| Created by | Jacqui Honess-Martin |
| Written by | Jacqui Honess-Martin |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 6 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | James Griffiths Kathryn Pugsley Patrick Spence |
| Producer | Betsan Morris Evans |
| Running time | 59 minutes |
| Production company | ITV Studios |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 16 January – 20 February 2023 |
Plot
editFollowing the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, three female doctors return to frontline medicine after their maternity leave.[4]
Cast
edit- Parminder Nagra as Dr. Maryam Afridi
- Lara Pulver as Dr. Catherine MacDiarmid
- Lisa McGrillis as Dr. Helen Cavendish
- Raza Jaffrey as Dr. Jack Oliviera
- Oliver Chris as Dr. Guy Cavendish
- Abhin Galeya as Raz Farooqui
- Julie Graham as Dr. Susan Fisher
- Alexander Karim as Lars Nordstrom
Production
editThe series was inspired by real surgeon Zoe Barber, who works at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.[5] The series was playwright Jacqui Honess-Martin's television debut.
Episodes
editAll episodes were made available on ITVX on 16 January 2023, prior to their linear broadcast.
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.K. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | James Griffiths | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 16 January 2023 | N/A |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | James Griffiths | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 23 January 2023 | N/A |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Amanda Blue | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 30 January 2023 | N/A |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Amanda Blue | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 6 February 2023 | N/A |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Rebecca Gatward | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 13 February 2023 | N/A |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Rebecca Gatward | Jacqui Honess-Martin | 20 February 2023 | N/A |
Reception
editThe series received positive reviews from critics. Isobel Lewis from The Independent gave the first episode four out of five stars, praising the acting, dialogue and topicality of the drama.[6] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising the depth of the three lead characters, and remarked that it had 'grit in the storytelling oyster that produces something rather wonderful'.[7] Anita Singh in The Telegraph also gave it four stars out of five, proclaiming it as superior to another recent medical drama, This Is Going to Hurt.[8] In a more mixed review, Carol Midgley in The Times gave it three stars, finding the show reliant on cliches.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Meet the cast of Maternal, ITV's new medical drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ Dray, Kayleigh (2023-01-11). "Maternal - ITV's major new medical drama - is a must-watch". Stylist. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ Rodger, James (March 30, 2023). "ITV cancel popular drama series after just one season - leaving fans gutted". Birmingham Live.
- ^ "ITV commissions six part medical drama, Maternal". Press Centre. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
- ^ https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-01-20/the-real-life-mum-and-medic-behind-itv-drama-maternal
- ^ "Timely drama Maternal shows something needs to change in the NHS – review". The Independent. January 17, 2023.
- ^ "Maternal review – you know these exhausted women in your bones". the Guardian. January 16, 2023.
- ^ Singh, Anita (January 16, 2023). "Maternal, review: witty hospital drama exposes the hardships for working mums". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Midgley, Carol. "Maternal review — stick with this medical drama, doctor's orders" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.