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Bodies (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Bodies is a BAFTA
-nominated British
television medical drama
produced by Hat Trick Productions
for the BBC
. Created by Jed Mercurio
, the series began in 2004 and is based on his book Bodies. The first series debuted on BBC Three
as the channel at this time was trying to break out into hour-long dramas. The first series soon made the move to a terrestrial channel as BBC Two
aired it in the late 2004. With end of the first series left open-ended, BBC Three
and BBC Two
co-commissioned a second series, increasing the number of episodes from six to ten.
BBC Two debuted the second series in September 2005 with BBC Three airing the next episode straight after the episode on BBC Two. Despite widespread critical acclaim, the BBC axed the drama after the second series because of declining viewing figures.
After the second series ended, Max Beesley
told BBC Radio 1's The Chris Moyles Show
that an additional one or two episodes were being planned to conclude the series. The drama has been described as a "dark, sometimes funny" take on the favourite genre made popular through shows such as Casualty
and Holby City
.
The series, starring Max Beesley, Keith Allen and Patrick Baladi
has developed a cult following with its gritty storylines and gruesome theatre scenes. The series was also broadcast to American audiences on digital channel BBC America
during the late summer/early autumn of 2005.
The last episode was broadcast on 13 December 2006 on BBC Three.
Rob Lake (Max Beesley
), who starts the first series in a new post in the Obstetrics and gynaecology
Department at the fictional South Central Infirmary, under the guidance of consultant obstetrician Roger Hurley (Patrick Baladi
).
Initially, Lake seeks to become a 'whisteblower' after seeing Hurley's gross incompetence and negligence, particularly after he badly mishandles a birth in which a miscarriage occurred, leaving the mother suffering substantial brain damage.
However, pressure from outside authorities, hospital politics and blackmail from Hurley eventually forces Lake into silence. Unable to oust him yet forced to work with him, Lake soon seeks a way out and finds one with a post at another hospital. But Hurley, despite agreeing that he should move on, changes his mind, scuppers Lake's opportunity by informing his new employers there of some of the mistakes Lake had made and his real reasons for wanting to leave.
At the end of the season, Lake is stuck in the doldrums at the same hospital whilst Hurley soon comes in line for promotion as the hospital's clinical director.
At the start of the second series, Lake is about to leave the hospital but, with no real job prospects elsewhere, he decides to remain. Lake and Hurley then begin to form a respectful professional relationship, with Lake turning a blind eye to Hurley's incompetence.
Despite this, Donna Rix, a nurse with whom Lake was having an affair, views Hurley's ineptitude with increasing alarm. She starts to vocalize her distress and sends anonymous letters to Hurley and other members of staff in an attempt to bring wider attention to this issue. Lake, seeing this, pleads with Donna to act with restraint, claiming that Hurley will be brought down but not in this fashion.
Towards the end of the series, Hurley's life begins to take a downward spiral. Attempts to have another child are scuppered after he finds out he has a low sperm count and furthermore, is suspected of having an affair with a fellow doctor, soon leading to the breakdown of his marriage.
Rob is now placed at a University Hospital and is about to father a child with co-worker Polly Grey (Tamzin Malleson
). Hurley's life however has continued to deteriorate. He is forced to resign from his position after being arrested for indecent exposure and takes up a new job coincidentally at Rob's new place of work. Donna on the other hand has left nursing altogether and has become a journalist.
When Lake and Hurley meet up once more, old tensions are revived. However, Hurley's reputation has experienced significant decline and is a far weaker figure in Lake's eyes. Consequently, he renews his attacks on Hurley's incompetence with renewed vigour, especially after encountering another maternal and foetal death at the hands of Hurley; and also by the fact Lake has begun to show symptoms of almost certainly fatal disease, vCJD
due to Hurley cutting Lake during a surgical operation, so feels he has little to lose.
Around this time, Lake's girlfriend Polly then goes into labour. Complications soon arise and the baby has to be delivered surgically, bringing Lake into direct conflict with Hurley. Hurley begins to operate, however halfway through, Lake, fearing further harm to mother and child, forces him to step aside and allow him to finish. The birth goes through successfully, but Polly is so distraught by the process that she promises that he will never see her or his baby. Consequently, Lake, without a family and with a potentially fatal disease decides to fully indict Hurley. Knowing that it will ruin his career, Lake reports Hurley to the General Medical Council
, subsequently suspending him from his position as consultant at University Hospital. The special ends with Lake sitting down with a fellow consultant where he then finds out whether he has contracted the human strain of Mad cow disease
; however they are not revealed to the viewer.
The storyline closest to one of love was the Rob and Donna affair, and even that was portrayed at times as being sordid and depraved, underlining the sombre nature of the show.
British Academy Television Awards
The British Academy Television Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . They have been awarded annually since 1954, and are analogous to the Emmy Awards in the United States.-Background:...
-nominated British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television medical drama
Medical drama
A medical drama is a television program, in which events center upon a hospital, an ambulance staff, or any medical environment.In the United States, most medical episodes are one hour long and, more often than not, are set in a hospital. Most current medical Dramatic programming go beyond the...
produced by Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions
Hat Trick Productions is a British independent production company that produces television programmes, mainly specialising in comedy.-History:...
for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Created by Jed Mercurio
Jed Mercurio
Jed Mercurio is a British author; TV and film producer and medical doctor-Biography:Jed Mercurio is a British writer who also writes under the name John MacUre. He created the television series Cardiac Arrest and Bodies and the sci-fi miniseries Invasion: Earth...
, the series began in 2004 and is based on his book Bodies. The first series debuted on BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
as the channel at this time was trying to break out into hour-long dramas. The first series soon made the move to a terrestrial channel as BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
aired it in the late 2004. With end of the first series left open-ended, BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
co-commissioned a second series, increasing the number of episodes from six to ten.
BBC Two debuted the second series in September 2005 with BBC Three airing the next episode straight after the episode on BBC Two. Despite widespread critical acclaim, the BBC axed the drama after the second series because of declining viewing figures.
After the second series ended, Max Beesley
Max Beesley
Maxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
told BBC Radio 1's The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show
The Chris Moyles Show is the current BBC Radio 1 breakfast show in the UK, and has been since Chris Moyles became the station's breakfast show presenter on 5 January 2004. From 2004 to 2007, the show was broadcast 6:55–10:00 am each weekday, but since 15 October 2007 it has started from...
that an additional one or two episodes were being planned to conclude the series. The drama has been described as a "dark, sometimes funny" take on the favourite genre made popular through shows such as Casualty
Casualty (TV series)
Casualty, stylised as Casual+y, is a British weekly television show broadcast on BBC One, and the longest-running emergency medical drama television series in the world. Created by Jeremy Brock and Paul Unwin, it was first broadcast on 6 September 1986, and transmitted in the UK on BBC One. The...
and Holby City
Holby City
Holby City, stylised as Holby Ci+y, is a British medical drama television series that airs weekly on BBC One.The series was created by Tony McHale and Mal Young as a spin-off from the established BBC medical drama Casualty, and premiered on 12 January 1999...
.
The series, starring Max Beesley, Keith Allen and Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor.Baladi was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife...
has developed a cult following with its gritty storylines and gruesome theatre scenes. The series was also broadcast to American audiences on digital channel BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
during the late summer/early autumn of 2005.
The last episode was broadcast on 13 December 2006 on BBC Three.
Plot
The story is centred around specialist registrarSpecialist registrar
A Specialist Registrar or SpR is a doctor in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland who is receiving advanced training in a specialist field of medicine in order eventually to become a consultant...
Rob Lake (Max Beesley
Max Beesley
Maxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
), who starts the first series in a new post in the Obstetrics and gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology
Obstetrics and gynaecology are the two surgical–medical specialties dealing with the female reproductive organs in their pregnant and non-pregnant state, respectively, and as such are often combined to form a single medical specialty and postgraduate training programme...
Department at the fictional South Central Infirmary, under the guidance of consultant obstetrician Roger Hurley (Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi
Patrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor.Baladi was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife...
).
Series 1
It soon becomes apparent to Lake that Hurley, a friendly and professional doctor with a strong academic background, is nevertheless incompetent as a surgeon and regularly bungles surgical procedures, to the detriment of his patients. Hurley is, however, protected by a shroud of silence: "Doctors look after doctors" is a commonly-repeated phrase in the series.Initially, Lake seeks to become a 'whisteblower' after seeing Hurley's gross incompetence and negligence, particularly after he badly mishandles a birth in which a miscarriage occurred, leaving the mother suffering substantial brain damage.
However, pressure from outside authorities, hospital politics and blackmail from Hurley eventually forces Lake into silence. Unable to oust him yet forced to work with him, Lake soon seeks a way out and finds one with a post at another hospital. But Hurley, despite agreeing that he should move on, changes his mind, scuppers Lake's opportunity by informing his new employers there of some of the mistakes Lake had made and his real reasons for wanting to leave.
At the end of the season, Lake is stuck in the doldrums at the same hospital whilst Hurley soon comes in line for promotion as the hospital's clinical director.
Series 2
The series continues with the main overlying storyline of the constant struggle between Hurley and Lake.At the start of the second series, Lake is about to leave the hospital but, with no real job prospects elsewhere, he decides to remain. Lake and Hurley then begin to form a respectful professional relationship, with Lake turning a blind eye to Hurley's incompetence.
Despite this, Donna Rix, a nurse with whom Lake was having an affair, views Hurley's ineptitude with increasing alarm. She starts to vocalize her distress and sends anonymous letters to Hurley and other members of staff in an attempt to bring wider attention to this issue. Lake, seeing this, pleads with Donna to act with restraint, claiming that Hurley will be brought down but not in this fashion.
Towards the end of the series, Hurley's life begins to take a downward spiral. Attempts to have another child are scuppered after he finds out he has a low sperm count and furthermore, is suspected of having an affair with a fellow doctor, soon leading to the breakdown of his marriage.
Finale
This 90-minute finale of the whole series, aired only on BBC Three, took up the story approximately three years after the end of the previous season.Rob is now placed at a University Hospital and is about to father a child with co-worker Polly Grey (Tamzin Malleson
Tamzin Malleson
Tamzin Malleson is an English actress. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London.She played one of the starring roles in the Channel 4 comedy, Teachers, for three of the programme's four series and starred in one of ITV's Poirot adaptations, "Evil Under The Sun." She has...
). Hurley's life however has continued to deteriorate. He is forced to resign from his position after being arrested for indecent exposure and takes up a new job coincidentally at Rob's new place of work. Donna on the other hand has left nursing altogether and has become a journalist.
When Lake and Hurley meet up once more, old tensions are revived. However, Hurley's reputation has experienced significant decline and is a far weaker figure in Lake's eyes. Consequently, he renews his attacks on Hurley's incompetence with renewed vigour, especially after encountering another maternal and foetal death at the hands of Hurley; and also by the fact Lake has begun to show symptoms of almost certainly fatal disease, vCJD
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease or CJD is a degenerative neurological disorder that is incurable and invariably fatal. CJD is at times called a human form of mad cow disease, given that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is believed to be the cause of variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease in humans.CJD...
due to Hurley cutting Lake during a surgical operation, so feels he has little to lose.
Around this time, Lake's girlfriend Polly then goes into labour. Complications soon arise and the baby has to be delivered surgically, bringing Lake into direct conflict with Hurley. Hurley begins to operate, however halfway through, Lake, fearing further harm to mother and child, forces him to step aside and allow him to finish. The birth goes through successfully, but Polly is so distraught by the process that she promises that he will never see her or his baby. Consequently, Lake, without a family and with a potentially fatal disease decides to fully indict Hurley. Knowing that it will ruin his career, Lake reports Hurley to the General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
, subsequently suspending him from his position as consultant at University Hospital. The special ends with Lake sitting down with a fellow consultant where he then finds out whether he has contracted the human strain of Mad cow disease
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
; however they are not revealed to the viewer.
Style
The series was quite different from most other archetypal British hospital dramas. The set and the lighting were gloomy and realistic, and the use of shaky, hand-held cameras gave it a naturalistic look. In addition, the surgical scenes were notable for their graphic nature, offering intimate detail of various procedures, the operational complications dealt with in explicit detail. As a result the themes were also often dark and depressing, including negligence, manipulation and death.The storyline closest to one of love was the Rob and Donna affair, and even that was portrayed at times as being sordid and depraved, underlining the sombre nature of the show.
Cast and crew
- Creator, Writer & Producer: Jed MercurioJed MercurioJed Mercurio is a British author; TV and film producer and medical doctor-Biography:Jed Mercurio is a British writer who also writes under the name John MacUre. He created the television series Cardiac Arrest and Bodies and the sci-fi miniseries Invasion: Earth...
- Starring:
- Max BeesleyMax BeesleyMaxton Gig Beesley Jr. , known simply as Max Beesley, is an English actor and musician.Beesley rose to fame for his role of Andy Simpson in Every Woman, Every Man from 1993 to 1998, and has since appeared in a variety of television shows including Bodies, Hotel Babylon, London Ink, Survivors and...
- Dr. Rob Lake - Patrick BaladiPatrick BaladiPatrick Baladi was born on 25 December 1971 and is an English actor.Baladi was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England. His father is a gynaecologist from Libya, and his mother was a midwife...
- Dr. Roger Hurley - Neve McIntoshNeve McIntosh-Early life:Born in Paisley, Neve McIntosh grew up in Edinburgh, where she attended Boroughmuir High School. She moved to Glasgow to attend the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, after which she was in repertory companies at Perth and at The Little Theatre on the Isle of Mull.-Theatre:She...
- Sister Donna Rix - Keith Allen - Dr. Tony Whitman
- Susan LynchSusan LynchSusan Lynch is an actor from Northern Ireland.-Early life:Lynch was born in Corrinshego, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland to an Italian mother and Irish father. Her brother is actor John Lynch, she has a sister, Pauline, who is a drama teacher at St...
- Dr. Maria Orton - Tamzin MallesonTamzin MallesonTamzin Malleson is an English actress. She trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London.She played one of the starring roles in the Channel 4 comedy, Teachers, for three of the programme's four series and starred in one of ITV's Poirot adaptations, "Evil Under The Sun." She has...
- Dr. Polly Grey - Preeya KalidasPreeya KalidasPreeya Kalidas is a British singer and actress of Indian descent. She plays Amira Masood in the soap opera EastEnders. She returned to a career in singing, with her single "Shimmy" being released in July 2010 taken from her debut album Constant Craving, was supposed to be released in September...
- Dr. Maya Dutta - Simon LoweSimon LoweSimon Lowe is a British actor who, amongst other British titles, has played series regulars in Bodies and The Grimleys both of which were written by Jed Mercurio. He also played Derek Evans in EastEnders. He is also the regular character, Sgt...
- Dr. Tim Sibley - Hattie MorahanHattie MorahanHarriet Jane Morahan is an award-winning English television, film, and stage actress.-Background:Hattie Morahan is the youngest daughter of television and film director Christopher Morahan and actress Anna Carteret...
- Beth Lucas (Paediatrician) - Vicky HallVicky HallVicky Hall is an English actress. She was born in Newcastle in the United Kingdom.Best known for her character Lindsay in British comedy-drama Teachers. She has also appeared in television shows Hustle, Bodies, Shameless, Holby City, Doctors, Bonekickers, Byker Grove and Tracy Beaker Returns-...
- Chrissy Farrell - Nicholas Palliser - Sir Paul Tennant
- Saskia ReevesSaskia ReevesSaskia Reeves is a British actress perhaps best known for her roles in the films Close My Eyes and ID , and the 2000 miniseries Frank Herbert's Dune....
- Mary Dodd - Mary StockleyMary StockleyMary Stockley is a British stage, television and film actress.A former member of the National Youth Music Theatre, Stockley studied drama at university. She made her first television appearance in 2001 in the TV movie Being Dom Jolly, in 2002 going on to play Kate Matherson in eight episodes of...
- Susannah Marshall
- Max Beesley
DVD release
| DVD Name | | Episodes | | Release Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Complete Series One | 6 | October 30, 2006 |
| Complete Series Two and Finale | 11 | December 26, 2006 |
| The Complete Collection | 17 | April 9, 2007 |
Books
| Book Name | | Author | | Release Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bodies (Paperback) | Jed Mercurio | September 2, 2004 |
External links
- Bodies at bbc.co.ukBbc.co.ukBBC Online is the brand name and home for the BBC's UK online service. It is a large network of websites including such high profile sites as BBC News and Sport, the on-demand video and radio services co-branded BBC iPlayer, the pre-school site Cbeebies, and learning services such as Bitesize...
- Bodies at Hat Trick Productions
- Bodies makeup special effects at MakeupSFX Ltd.