Critical (TV series)

Critical
GenreMedical drama
Created byJed Mercurio[1]
Written by
  • Jed Mercurio
  • Matthew Broughton
  • Laurence Davey
  • Mark Greig
  • Michael A. Walker
  • Tom Needham
  • Katherine McGinn
Directed by
  • Jon East
  • Michael Keillor
  • Philippa Langdale
Starring
ComposerRuth Barrett
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes13[2]
Production
Executive producers
  • Jed Mercurio
  • Mark Redhead
  • Cameron Roach
ProducerChristopher Hall
Running time60 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production companyHat Trick Productions
Original release
NetworkSky 1
Release24 February (2015-02-24) –
19 May 2015 (2015-05-19)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Critical, styled with a time-clock format as CR:IT:IC:AL, is a British medical drama series that aired on Sky 1 from 24 February[3] to 19 May 2015. The series is set in a fictional major trauma centre (MTC), City General Hospital, which treats critically ill patients. Each episode is based on one patient and efforts to save his or her life within one hour.[4] Created by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty and Bodies),[5] the drama follows the team of medical professionals whilst they make life-changing decisions.[6] The title refers to critical condition, the most serious medical state, as well as the decisions and actions of the staff; everything done within the first hour is absolutely vital and could determine whether a patient lives or dies.[7] The show was axed on 15 July 2015 after the series pulled in an average of 192,000 viewers.[8]

  1. ^ Plunkett, John (17 September 2013). "Bodies creator pens real-time medical drama for Sky 1". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  2. ^ "Lennie James to lead cast of Sky1's Critical" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Televisual.
  3. ^ "Critical: Every second counts as Lennie James leads ground-breaking Sky1-HD medical drama". Sky. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  4. ^ Lynn, Connolly (3 February 2014). "Critical coming to Sky 1! Is this the lovechild of ER and 24? Lennie James stars in "real-time" drama". Prime Time. Archived from the original on 20 January 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  5. ^ Plunkett, John (27 January 2014). "Line of Duty's Lennie James to star in Sky1 Jed Mercurio drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  6. ^ Drewett, Meg (27 January 2014). "Lennie James leads cast of new Sky1 medical drama Critical". Digital Spy. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  7. ^ Munn, Patrick (27 January 2014). "Lennie James Cast As Lead In Sky1's Medical Drama Series 'Critical'". TV Wise. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  8. ^ Jeffrey, Morgan (15 July 2015). "Sky1 calls time on Critical: No second series for medical thriller". Digital Spy. Retrieved 15 July 2015.