Doctors series 1
{{redirect|The Doctors (series 1)||Doctor (disambiguation)#Series}}
{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox television season
| bgcolour = #F3F781
| series_number = 1
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Christopher Timothy
- Mark Frost
- Corrinne Wicks
- Akbar Kurtha
- Jacqueline Leonard
- Maggie Cronin
- Carli Norris
- Yvonne Brewster
- Sarah Manners
}}
| num_episodes = 41
| network = BBC One
| first_aired = {{Start date|2000|03|26|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2000|05|19|df=y}}
| next_series = Series 2
}}
The first series of the British medical soap opera Doctors originally aired between 26 March and 19 May 2000. It consisted of 41 episodes, which was the initial order for the entire programme, but it was later renewed for more following a positive reception. Mal Young, the original executive producer of Doctors, introduced nine regular characters for the series and many of the storylines focused on doctor Mac McGuire (Christopher Timothy).
The BBC felt that transmitting the first series of Doctors was an ambitious move due to there being nothing similar at the time. They hoped that it would attract both loyal and casual viewers, due to the combination of a steady core cast and self-contained medical stories in each episode. It was trialled in various timeslots to find the best audience before the BBC settled on an afternoon slot.
Cast
All characters in the first series were introduced by the programme's first executive producer, Mal Young. The original nine regular characters to be introduced in Doctors were Mac McGuire (Christopher Timothy), Steve Rawlings (Mark Frost), Helen Thompson (Corrinne Wicks), Rana Mistry (Akbar Kurtha), Caroline Powers (Jacqueline Leonard), Kate McGuire (Maggie Cronin), Anoushka Flynn (Carli Norris), Ruth Harding (Yvonne Brewster) and Joanna Helm (Sarah Manners).{{Cite tweet|number=1242141595199250439|title=How many of our original cast did you remember? Don't forget - Doctors is 20 on Thursday, and we're celebrating with an explosive hour long episode...|user=BBCDoctors|date=23 March 2020|author=Doctors}} Norris departed from her role as Anoushka at the end of the series, becoming the first regular to depart from Doctors.{{cite web |title=Anoushka Flynn |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/LDVzVYhySpGG05TSMYzxpW/anoushka-flynn |publisher=BBC |access-date=27 August 2021 |archive-date=20 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920205129/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/LDVzVYhySpGG05TSMYzxpW/anoushka-flynn |url-status=live }}
=Main characters=
{{div col|colwidth=35em}}
- Yvonne Brewster as Ruth Harding
- Maggie Cronin as Kate McGuire
- Mark Frost as Steve Rawlings
- Akbar Kurtha as Rana Mistry
- Jacqueline Leonard as Caroline Powers
- Sarah Manners as Joanna Helm
- Carli Norris as Anoushka Flynn
- Christopher Timothy as Mac McGuire
- Corrinne Wicks as Helen Thompson
{{div col end}}
Production
Doctors was created by Chris Murray,{{cite news |last=Parker |first=Robin |title=Doctors creator pens Cannes procedural |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/doctors-creator-pens-cannes-procedural/5138411.article |access-date=22 March 2021 |work=Broadcast |date=8 April 2019 |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322123731/https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/drama/doctors-creator-pens-cannes-procedural/5138411.article |url-status=live}} and the first series had Mal Young as the original executive producer.{{cite news |title=Soap opera showrunner Mal Young gives a masterclass in drama production |url=https://rts.org.uk/article/soap-opera-showrunner-mal-young-gives-masterclass-drama-production |access-date=22 March 2021 |publisher=Royal Television Society |archive-date=22 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322123735/https://rts.org.uk/article/soap-opera-showrunner-mal-young-gives-masterclass-drama-production |url-status=live}} Musician Paul Hemmings was hired to compose the theme music for the opening and closing titles.{{cite web|url = https://newsoundgeneration.co.uk/12-questions-with-musician-paul-hemmings/|title = 12 Questions with musician Paul Hemmings|date = 19 January 2021|access-date = 28 September 2021|archive-date = 28 September 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210928125516/https://newsoundgeneration.co.uk/12-questions-with-musician-paul-hemmings/|url-status = live}} When the series premiered, Jane Lush, the BBC's head of daytime programming, felt that commissioning Doctors was an ambitious move. She thought that the series offered something new and that viewers would not realise they would want a series like Doctors until they had seen it. Lush felt that despite its serial element, the premise of the programme meant that people could "dip in and out" since the core cast would stay the same and the episodes would be self-contained.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/688406.stm|title=Doctors go on call|publisher=BBC News|date=23 March 2000|access-date=26 December 2017|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216032453/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/688406.stm|url-status=live}} Young echoed Lush's comments and said that he had wanted to create a daytime drama series long before his involvement with Doctors. Young thought that the previously unfilled daytime slot would be good for the series due to there being an increase of remote workers in 2000.
Doctors was originally shown at 12:30 pm as a lead-in to BBC News at One.{{cite web |url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |title=Doctors – BBC One London – 26 March 2000 – BBC Genome |date=26 March 2000 |publisher=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk |access-date=13 January 2018 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901205837/http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2c4368cf31cc442ea1d06525601466b3 |url-status=live}} For a brief trial period in mid-2000, episodes from the first series were shown on Fridays at 7:00 pm, but due to rival soap Emmerdale being transmitted at the same time, Doctors suffered from low ratings, and was instead trialled in an afternoon time slot.{{cite web|url=https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html|title=Visiting the BBC One Doctors Set #Soapland|work=Diary of the Evans Crittens|date=10 April 2019|access-date=17 March 2020|archive-date=17 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200317215259/https://www.evans-crittens.com/2019/04/visiting-the-bbc-one-doctors-set-soapland.html|url-status=live}}
Episodes
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=1
|EpisodeNumber2=1
|Title=Letting Go
|WrittenBy=Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|26}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=2
|EpisodeNumber2=2
|Title=Coming & Going
|WrittenBy=John Brennan
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|27}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=3
|EpisodeNumber2=3
|Title=Crushed
|WrittenBy=Wendy Lee
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|28}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=4
|EpisodeNumber2=4
|Title=All That Glitters
|WrittenBy=Colin Bytheway
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|29}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=5
|EpisodeNumber2=5
|Title=A Life in a Day
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|30}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=6
|EpisodeNumber2=6
|Title=Picking Up the Pieces
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|03|31}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=7
|EpisodeNumber2=7
|Title=God's Will
|WrittenBy=Jenny Lecoat
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|03}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=8
|EpisodeNumber2=8
|Title=Confidential Information
|WrittenBy=Candy Denman
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|04}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=9
|EpisodeNumber2=9
|Title=Rub of the Green
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|05}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=10
|EpisodeNumber2=10
|Title=The Mourning After
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|06}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=11
|EpisodeNumber2=11
|Title=Second Fiddle
|WrittenBy=Colin Bytheway
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|07}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=12
|EpisodeNumber2=12
|Title=Clear View
|WrittenBy=Candy Denman
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|10}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=13
|EpisodeNumber2=13
|Title=Sex, Lies & Redtape
|WrittenBy=Paul Hodgson and Chris Stagg
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|11}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=14
|EpisodeNumber2=14
|Title=Cheated
|WrittenBy=Danny McCahon
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|12}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=15
|EpisodeNumber2=15
|Title=Game Over
|WrittenBy=Jenny Lecoat and Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|13}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=16
|EpisodeNumber2=16
|Title=Good to Talk
|WrittenBy=Paul Mousley
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|14}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=17
|EpisodeNumber2=17
|Title=A Matter of Community
|WrittenBy=Paul Mari
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|17}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=18
|EpisodeNumber2=18
|Title=Mum's the Word
|WrittenBy=Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|18}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=19
|EpisodeNumber2=19
|Title=Under Pressure
|WrittenBy=Candy Denman
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|19}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=20
|EpisodeNumber2=20
|Title=Abide With Me
|WrittenBy=Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|20}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=21
|EpisodeNumber2=21
|Title=Love Is the Drug
|WrittenBy=Gaby Chiappe
|DirectedBy=Nic Phillips
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|21}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=22
|EpisodeNumber2=22
|Title=Control
|WrittenBy=Jenny Lecoat
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|24}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=23
|EpisodeNumber2=23
|Title=Second Chance
|WrittenBy=Jaden Clarke
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|25}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=24
|EpisodeNumber2=24
|Title=Sins of the Mother
|WrittenBy=Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|26}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=25
|EpisodeNumber2=25
|Title=Late Action Hero
|WrittenBy=Paul Hodson and Chris Stagg
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|27}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=26
|EpisodeNumber2=26
|Title=Giving it Up
|WrittenBy=Terry Iland
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|04|28}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=27
|EpisodeNumber2=27
|Title=Loose Ends
|WrittenBy=Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|01}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=28
|EpisodeNumber2=28
|Title=With Friends Like These
|WrittenBy=Danny McCahon
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|02}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=29
|EpisodeNumber2=29
|Title=Catch 22
|WrittenBy=James Sefton
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|03}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=30
|EpisodeNumber2=30
|Title=Damage Limitations
|WrittenBy=Barbara Phillips
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|04}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=31
|EpisodeNumber2=31
|Title=Choices
|WrittenBy=James Sefton
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|05}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=32
|EpisodeNumber2=32
|Title=Twist of Fate
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|08}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=33
|EpisodeNumber2=33
|Title=A Helping Hand
|WrittenBy=Nick Warburton
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|09}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=34
|EpisodeNumber2=34
|Title=A Woman's Right to Choose
|WrittenBy=Tom Fry and Sharon Kelly
|DirectedBy=Rebecca Surridge
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|10}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=35
|EpisodeNumber2=35
|Title=Slim Chance
|WrittenBy=Paul Hodson and Chris Stagg
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|11}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=36
|EpisodeNumber2=36
|Title=False Alarm
|WrittenBy=Kathrine Smith
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|12}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=37
|EpisodeNumber2=37
|Title=Taking Stock
|WrittenBy=Anji Loman Field
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|15}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=38
|EpisodeNumber2=38
|Title=Never Walk Alone
|WrittenBy=David Howard
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|16}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=39
|EpisodeNumber2=39
|Title=Running Costs
|WrittenBy=Stephen Chester
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|17}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=40
|EpisodeNumber2=40
|Title=Baby Love
|WrittenBy=Chris Webb
|DirectedBy=Adrian Bean
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|18}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
{{#invoke:Episode list|sublist|Doctors series 1
|EpisodeNumber=41
|EpisodeNumber2=41
|Title=To Have and To Hold
|WrittenBy=Chris Murray
|DirectedBy=Neil Adams
|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|df=y|2000|05|19}}
|ShortSummary=
|LineColor=F3F781
}}
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0241383/episodes?season=1 Series 1] on IMDb
{{Doctors}}