Monroe (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Monroe is a British medical drama
television series created and written by Peter Bowker
and produced by Mammoth Screen
for the ITV
network. The series follows a neurosurgeon
named Gabriel Monroe, played by James Nesbitt
. The six-part series was commissioned by ITV as one of a number of replacements for its long-running police drama series The Bill
, which was cancelled in 2010. Filming on Monroe began in Leeds
in September 2010, with production based in the old Leeds Girls' High School
in Headingley
. The first episode was broadcast on ITV on 10 March 2011 to strong ratings. A second series was commissioned in July 2011 and will begin production in 2012.
announced to the trade magazine Broadcast in July 2009 that he was developing a "big medical drama" for ITV. Bowker had worked on medical dramas early in his career, including Casualty
and Medics. ITV's director of drama Laura Mackie told The Stage
that the series would be "grown-up" and would be based around a single character, like ITV's Doc Martin
. Mackie believed that other broadcasters were reluctant to create series with one lead character—instead making ensemble shows like Casualty and Holby City
—so Bowker's series would not overlap with anything already being screened.
Bowker told the Media Guardian that he had been inspired to create a series about a neurologist
after his four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a benign
brain tumour. He wanted the drama of Monroe to be similar to the American medical series House
; "It may be foolish to compare the two but with neurologists, as with House, there is this very intense 10 days when you work with them on a case and then you say goodbye – it is really quite fascinating and will hopefully make great drama." Independent production company Mammoth Screen
developed the series with Bowker, having previously worked with him on his Wuthering Heights
adaptation. The drama entered the pre-production stage in March 2010, when Laura Mackie and ITV's director of television Peter Fincham
commissioned it for the network. Formal greenlighting was expected to happen in the first week of April 2010.
Film director Paul McGuigan
signed on as lead director of Monroe. McGuigan researched the nature of the series by meeting with neurosurgeons and watching a brain operation being performed. Steve Lawes, with whom McGuigan worked on his other television series, Sherlock, was originally announced as the director of photography. McGuigan directed the first three episodes of the series, and David Moore directed the last three. The cast and crew met for a script read-through the week before filming began and the principal cast attended a "boot camp" at Leeds General Infirmary
.
. Eight weeks were spent converting the school into the hospital set, with the ward set built in the old library.
, who starred in Bowker's Iraq War drama Occupation
, told the Radio Times
in May 2010 that he had been cast in the series. The ITV Press Centre confirmed Nesbitt's involvement on the same day the magazine was published, and announced that he would be playing the title role and that the series would commence filming in Leeds
in September 2010 for broadcast in 2011. To research the role, Nesbitt watched surgery being performed and consulted neurosurgeon Philip Van Hille. Nesbitt said of Van Hille's advice, "It's been an extremely important as I knew nothing about it [neurosurgery]. He taught me technique, but most of all he taught me about the relationship with patients." Monroe is described by ITV as "a brilliant and unusual neurosurgeon – a flawed genius who never lets anyone forget his flaws or his genius."
ITV's Autumn/Winter 2010 press pack refers to other characters in the series: "[Monroe's] trainees, his anaesthetist, his poker school – and his female colleague, heart surgeon Jenny Bremner, who has contempt for his cockiness." While appearing on This Morning
to promote his role in Mammoth Screen's Bouquet of Barbed Wire
, actor Tom Riley announced that he would be playing Monroe's anaethestist. To research the role, he met with anaesthetists in Leeds shortly before filming began, and watched brain surgery being performed on 20 September. Riley revealed the name of the character as Laurence Shepherd on Twitter.
The ITV Press Centre announced on 23 September the further casting of Sarah Parish
as Jenny Bremner, Manjinder Virk as registrar Sally Fortune, Susan Lynch
as Monroe's wife Anna, and Luke Allen-Gale and Michelle Asante as Daniel Springer and Kitty Wilson, two of Monroe's trainees. Liz Hume-Dawson plays theatre nurse Wicken in at least four episodes. Hume-Dawson has previously portrayed medical professionals in such productions as Bodies
. Andrew Gower
, a Spotlight Prize
winner, plays regular character Dr Mullery, in his first professional role.
ITV commissioned a second series from Mammoth Screen in July 2011, to begin production in 2012.
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...
television series created and written by Peter Bowker
Peter Bowker
Peter Bowker is a British playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for the television serials Blackpool , a musical drama about a shady casino owner; Occupation , which follows three military servicemen adjusting to civilian life after a tour of duty in Iraq; and Desperate Romantics , a...
and produced by Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen is a UK based independent production company that was established in 2007 by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer. It produces high quality drama for key UK broadcasters, especially ITV, and international distribution.- Forthcoming productions :...
for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network. The series follows a neurosurgeon
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
named Gabriel Monroe, played by James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt
James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
. The six-part series was commissioned by ITV as one of a number of replacements for its long-running police drama series The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
, which was cancelled in 2010. Filming on Monroe began in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in September 2010, with production based in the old Leeds Girls' High School
Leeds Girls' High School
Leeds Girls' High School was an independent, selective, fee paying school for girls aged 3–18 located in Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
in Headingley
Headingley
Headingley is a suburb of Leeds in West Yorkshire, England. It is approximately two miles out of the city centre, to the north west along the A660 road...
. The first episode was broadcast on ITV on 10 March 2011 to strong ratings. A second series was commissioned in July 2011 and will begin production in 2012.
Development
Screenwriter Peter BowkerPeter Bowker
Peter Bowker is a British playwright and screenwriter. He is best known for the television serials Blackpool , a musical drama about a shady casino owner; Occupation , which follows three military servicemen adjusting to civilian life after a tour of duty in Iraq; and Desperate Romantics , a...
announced to the trade magazine Broadcast in July 2009 that he was developing a "big medical drama" for ITV. Bowker had worked on medical dramas early in his career, including 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 Medics. ITV's director of drama Laura Mackie told The Stage
The Stage
The Stage is a weekly British newspaper founded in 1880, available nationally and published on Thursdays. Covering all areas of the entertainment industry but focused primarily on theatre, it contains news, reviews, opinion, features and other items of interest, mainly to those who work within the...
that the series would be "grown-up" and would be based around a single character, like ITV's Doc Martin
Doc Martin
Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Mark Crowdy, Craig Ferguson and Dominic Minghella. The show is filmed on location in the fishing village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom, with filming of most interior scenes...
. Mackie believed that other broadcasters were reluctant to create series with one lead character—instead making ensemble shows like Casualty 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...
—so Bowker's series would not overlap with anything already being screened.
Bowker told the Media Guardian that he had been inspired to create a series about a neurologist
Neurologist
A neurologist is a physician who specializes in neurology, and is trained to investigate, or diagnose and treat neurological disorders.Neurology is the medical specialty related to the human nervous system. The nervous system encompasses the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. A specialist...
after his four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a benign
Benign
A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks the ability to metastasize. Common examples of benign tumors include moles and uterine fibroids.The term "benign" implies a mild and nonprogressive disease. Indeed, many kinds of benign tumors are harmless to human health...
brain tumour. He wanted the drama of Monroe to be similar to the American medical series House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
; "It may be foolish to compare the two but with neurologists, as with House, there is this very intense 10 days when you work with them on a case and then you say goodbye – it is really quite fascinating and will hopefully make great drama." Independent production company Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen
Mammoth Screen is a UK based independent production company that was established in 2007 by Michele Buck and Damien Timmer. It produces high quality drama for key UK broadcasters, especially ITV, and international distribution.- Forthcoming productions :...
developed the series with Bowker, having previously worked with him on his Wuthering Heights
Wuthering Heights (2009 television serial)
Wuthering Heights is a two-part ITV television serial adaptation of the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. The episodes were adapted for the screen by Peter Bowker and directed by Coky Giedroyc...
adaptation. The drama entered the pre-production stage in March 2010, when Laura Mackie and ITV's director of television Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham
Peter Fincham is a British television producer and executive, currently the Director of Television for the ITV network. He was also formerly the Controller of BBC One, the primary television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation, until his resignation on 5 October 2007, following...
commissioned it for the network. Formal greenlighting was expected to happen in the first week of April 2010.
Film director Paul McGuigan
Paul McGuigan (filmmaker)
Paul McGuigan is a film director, best known for directing films such as Lucky Number Slevin and Push. He has also directed episodes of Sherlock and Monroe.-Filmography:-Awards:...
signed on as lead director of Monroe. McGuigan researched the nature of the series by meeting with neurosurgeons and watching a brain operation being performed. Steve Lawes, with whom McGuigan worked on his other television series, Sherlock, was originally announced as the director of photography. McGuigan directed the first three episodes of the series, and David Moore directed the last three. The cast and crew met for a script read-through the week before filming began and the principal cast attended a "boot camp" at Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds General Infirmary
Leeds General Infirmary, also known as the LGI or, more correctly, The General Infirmary at Leeds, is a large teaching hospital based in the centre of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England and is part of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust....
.
Production
Filming on the series commenced on 26 September 2010. The principal setting of St Matthews Hospital has been created within the former Leeds Girls' High SchoolLeeds Girls' High School
Leeds Girls' High School was an independent, selective, fee paying school for girls aged 3–18 located in Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
. Eight weeks were spent converting the school into the hospital set, with the ward set built in the old library.
Characters
Actor James NesbittJames Nesbitt
James Nesbitt is a Northern Irish actor. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in the nearby village of Broughshane, before moving to Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher like his father, so he began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
, who starred in Bowker's Iraq War drama Occupation
Occupation (TV serial)
Occupation is a BAFTA Award–winning three part drama serial broadcast by BBC One in June 2009. It was written by Peter Bowker and has been produced by Kudos for BBC Northern Ireland.It took four years to bring the serial to screen...
, told the Radio Times
Radio Times
Radio Times is a UK weekly television and radio programme listings magazine, owned by the BBC. It has been published since 1923 by BBC Magazines, which also provides an on-line listings service under the same title...
in May 2010 that he had been cast in the series. The ITV Press Centre confirmed Nesbitt's involvement on the same day the magazine was published, and announced that he would be playing the title role and that the series would commence filming in Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
in September 2010 for broadcast in 2011. To research the role, Nesbitt watched surgery being performed and consulted neurosurgeon Philip Van Hille. Nesbitt said of Van Hille's advice, "It's been an extremely important as I knew nothing about it [neurosurgery]. He taught me technique, but most of all he taught me about the relationship with patients." Monroe is described by ITV as "a brilliant and unusual neurosurgeon – a flawed genius who never lets anyone forget his flaws or his genius."
ITV's Autumn/Winter 2010 press pack refers to other characters in the series: "[Monroe's] trainees, his anaesthetist, his poker school – and his female colleague, heart surgeon Jenny Bremner, who has contempt for his cockiness." While appearing on This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
to promote his role in Mammoth Screen's Bouquet of Barbed Wire
Bouquet of Barbed Wire
Bouquet of Barbed Wire is a British television series based on a 1969 novel by Andrea Newman. The series – whose title comes from an incident that occurred to Newman and her mother while on a walk – was made by London Weekend Television for ITV in 1976...
, actor Tom Riley announced that he would be playing Monroe's anaethestist. To research the role, he met with anaesthetists in Leeds shortly before filming began, and watched brain surgery being performed on 20 September. Riley revealed the name of the character as Laurence Shepherd on Twitter.
The ITV Press Centre announced on 23 September the further casting of Sarah Parish
Sarah Parish
Sarah Parish is an English actress.Parish is known for her work on such TV series as: Peak Practice, Hearts and Bones, Cutting It, Doctor Who, Mistresses, Merlin and the new ITV medical drama Monroe....
as Jenny Bremner, Manjinder Virk as registrar Sally Fortune, Susan Lynch
Susan Lynch
Susan 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...
as Monroe's wife Anna, and Luke Allen-Gale and Michelle Asante as Daniel Springer and Kitty Wilson, two of Monroe's trainees. Liz Hume-Dawson plays theatre nurse Wicken in at least four episodes. Hume-Dawson has previously portrayed medical professionals in such productions as Bodies
Bodies (TV series)
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...
. Andrew Gower
Andrew Gower (actor)
Andrew Gower is a British actor best known for his recurring role on the ITV medical drama Monroe. In the summer of 2011, he was cast on the BBC Three supernatural drama series, Being Human.-Life and career:...
, a Spotlight Prize
The Spotlight (directory)
The Spotlight is a UK directory of actors and actresses. It was established in 1927.It originally existed as a printed directory, but now also exists as an online interactive directory....
winner, plays regular character Dr Mullery, in his first professional role.
Broadcast
Episode 1 of Monroe was broadcast on 10 March 2011 at 9 pm then each of the remaining 5 were shown weekly until 14 April 2011.ITV commissioned a second series from Mammoth Screen in July 2011, to begin production in 2012.
Episodes
| # | Title | Writer | Director | Viewers (including ITV1 HD) |
|---|