The Practice (1985 TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Practice was a 1985 British television soap opera produced for ITV
by Granada Television
, which aired for two series in 1985 and 1986. The series was first introduced as a twice-weekly medical drama in January 1985, becoming Granada's second regular networked soap opera along with Coronation Street
, with the idea being that its hard-hitting storylines would be a competitor with the BBC
's EastEnders
which started airing the following month. The Practice was set in a GP's surgery
in the fictional Manchester
suburb of Castlehulme and had an initial run of 34 episodes airing for 30 minutes in an early evening slot on Friday and Sunday evenings throughout the Winter and Spring of 1985. However, the series did not perform as well as had been hoped and it disappeared from screens in May 1985. It returned for a second run of 13 one hour episodes between May and August 1986, this time airing in a 9pm slot on Friday evenings. After series two ended no further episodes were made.
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...
by Granada Television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
, which aired for two series in 1985 and 1986. The series was first introduced as a twice-weekly medical drama in January 1985, becoming Granada's second regular networked soap opera along with Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, with the idea being that its hard-hitting storylines would be a competitor with 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...
's EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
which started airing the following month. The Practice was set in a GP's surgery
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
in the fictional Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
suburb of Castlehulme and had an initial run of 34 episodes airing for 30 minutes in an early evening slot on Friday and Sunday evenings throughout the Winter and Spring of 1985. However, the series did not perform as well as had been hoped and it disappeared from screens in May 1985. It returned for a second run of 13 one hour episodes between May and August 1986, this time airing in a 9pm slot on Friday evenings. After series two ended no further episodes were made.