Owen, M.D.

Owen, M.D.
GenreDrama
Written byBrian Finch
William Emms
et al
Directed byTristan de Vere Cole
Ronald Wilson
Robert Knights
et al
StarringNigel Stock
Joan Newell
Alan Moore
Opening themeSleepy Shores
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes61
Production
Running timeSeries 1 – 25 minutes
Series 2 – 50 minutes
Original release
NetworkBBC1
Release22 September 1971 (1971-09-22) –
17 June 1973 (1973-06-17)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Owen, M.D. was a BBC 1 television series that ran from 1971 to 1973. It centred around the eponymous lead character's new country practice, following his departure from The Doctors, which had been set in north London.[1]

Two-part stories aired in the 7 p.m. slot every Wednesday and Thursday for six months, "a strange mixture of corn and ham", according to TV critic Patrick Campbell, "intended to catch the Crossroads audience that thrives on cliches and stock situations".[2] The second series, in 1973, consisted of nine 50-minute episodes broadcast on Sunday evenings.[3]

The theme music to the programme - "Sleepy Shores" by the Johnny Pearson Orchestra - spent 15 weeks in the UK charts between late 1971 and early 1972, peaking at No.8.[4] Of the run, 50 episodes have not survived, and five of the remainder only exist as monochrome Telerecordings.[5]

  1. ^ ”Exit The Doctors, Enter Owen .M.D.”, The Stage, 9 September 1971
  2. ^ Patrick Campbell, The Stage, 23 September 1971.
  3. ^ BBC Schedules April 1973
  4. ^ Johnny Pearson Orchestra at Official Charts.com
  5. ^ "Missing or incomplete episodes for programme Owen M.D.". Lost Shows. Kaleidoscope. Retrieved 3 January 2017.