Picking Up the Pieces (TV series)
| Picking Up the Pieces | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Medical drama |
| Created by | Anita Pandolfo |
| Written by | Anita Pandolfo Paul Henry Powell |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Kirsty MacColl |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Rob Pursey |
| Producer | Paul Marquess |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Production company | Central Television |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 29 October – 17 December 1998 |
Picking Up the Pieces is a British medical drama about an ambulance service team. It aired on ITV between 29 October and 17 December 1998 and was produced by Central Television.[1]
Premise
The series follows the lives of a team of paramedics and emergency medical technicians with the North Area Ambulance Service, facing life and death situations in the fictional city of Matherton.[1]
Production
The series was filmed in the Derbyshire town of Ilkeston, using the real life ambulance station and vehicles in the series.[2] The opening and closing theme of the series was created by Kirsty MacColl after she was contacted by the series producer to write a theme with a Northern Soul feel.[3]
Cast
Main
- Amanda Abbington as Louise Hunter (Staff Nurse)
- Simon Chadwick as Tony Anzari (Emergency Medical Technician)
- Ken Christiansen as Geoff Squires (Emergency Medical Technician)
- Terence Hillyer as Alan Boddington
- Des McAleer as Bill Tansey (Ambulance Manager)
- Diane Parish as Lisa Gee (Paramedic)
- Jenna Russell as Bernadette Wallace (Paramedic)
- Rachel Sanders as Caroline Marshall
- Richard Standing as Michael Lowther (Emergency Medical Technician)
- Roger Walker as Barry Courtland (Emergency Medical Technician)
Recurring
- Francesca Folan as Dr. Stephanie Reynolds (episodes 1–2 & 5–8)
- Ruth Jones as Marie (episodes 3, 5, 7 & 8)
- Scott Steele as Tom Gallagher (episodes 1 & 3–5)
- Angela Lonsdale as Clare (episodes 5–7)
- James Vaughan as Arthur (episodes 4 & 8)
- Sharon Muircroft as Maureen (episodes 3 & 4)
Guest appearances
Picking Up the Pieces features a number of notable future established actors in guest appearances, including: Richard Bremmer, Fiona Dolman, Martin Freeman, Melanie Gutteridge, Raza Jaffrey, Maxine Peake, Joanna Scanlan, Rhashan Stone and Jeremy Young.[4]
Episodes
| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | UK viewers (millions) [5] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Roger Gartland | Anita Pandolfo | 29 October 1998 | 7.81 | |
|
The paramedics attend a heart-attack victim – in a brothel – and lives are at risk when an ambulance crashes. | ||||||
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Indra Bhose | Anita Pandolfo | 5 November 1998 | N/A | |
|
Lisa cannot find a hospital bed for a dying man, while Michael puts his job on the line for the sake of a patient. | ||||||
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Gwennan Sage | Anita Pandolfo | 12 November 1998 | N/A | |
|
Michael and Tony try to help a wife who has been assaulted but end up facing violence themselves. Meanwhile, a woman goes into labour in Bernadette's ambulance. | ||||||
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Roger Gartland | Anita Pandolfo | 19 November 1998 | N/A | |
|
Bill and Bernadette confront difficult decisions while trying to rescue a trapped man. Meanwhile, Caroline and Boddington find themselves in a compromising situation. | ||||||
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Laura Sims | Anita Pandolfo | 26 November 1998 | 6.46 | |
|
Geoff and Lisa find themselves in trouble after pushing a teenage girl too far. Meanwhile, Barry confronts the reality of undergoing a vasectomy. | ||||||
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Christopher King | Anita Pandolfo | 3 December 1998 | N/A | |
|
Bernadette discovers the importance of maintaining emotional boundaries with patients, while Tony finds himself falling in love. | ||||||
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Bill Eagles | Anita Pandolfo | 10 December 1998 | 7.15 | |
|
Tony faces danger after a syringe accident while treating someone from his past, and Barry is upset about the on-board computers. | ||||||
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Laura Sims | Anita Pandolfo | 17 December 1998 | 6.87 | |
|
The paramedics respond to a prison riot and Lisa is finally forced to admit the truth. | ||||||
References
- ^ a b "Picking up the Pieces". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 January 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ Wiles, Leo; Arup, Evie. "The Insider: Picking up a piece of the old action". TV Times (17-23 October 1998 ed.). p. 4. Retrieved 16 February 2025.(subscription required)
- ^ "Picking Up the Pieces". Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Picking up the Pieces (TV Series 1998) - Cast credits". IMDb. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Weekly top 30". BARB. Retrieved 16 February 2025.