A NEW medical drama from the producers of Line of Duty has cast Irish actor Niamh Algar in its lead role.
ITV has commissioned Malpractice which follows Algar as Dr Lucinda Edwards as an enquiry is launched into her actions on the night the death of an opioid overdose victim.
Despite the support of her medical supervisor, Dr Leo Harris, played by James Purefoy (A Discovery of Witches, Pennyworth, Sex Education), the victim's grieving father Sir Anthony Owusu, played by Brian Bovell (Crime, Strike), demands an enquiry into Lucinda’s actions on the fateful night.
Leading the medical investigation is Dr Norma Callahan played by Irish actor Helen Behan (Holding, The Virtues) and Lucinda’s former colleague, Dr George Adjei, played by Jordan Kouamé (Megalomania). While George feels this was an unavoidable tragedy, Norma is suspicious of Lucinda’s behaviour and decisions in the lead up to Edith’s death.
Malpractice is written by Grace Ofori-Attah, whose credits include In the Long Run and Urban Myths, directed by Philip Barantini (Boiling Point, The Responder, Villain) and produced by Sophie Reynolds (State of the Union).
The five-part series will be executive produced by Simon Heath, CEO of World Productions, which produced the highest rated dramas of 2021 on ITV and BBC1 in The Pembrokeshire Murders and Line of Duty and were responsible for producing the critically acclaimed drama, Anne, which aired on ITV earlier this year.
Filming of the show will take place in and around Leeds, with the cast including Hannah Walters (Boiling Point, Time) in the role of Matron Beth Relph, Priyanka Patel (Britney, Another Me) as Dr Rayma Morgan, Scott Chambers (Chicken, Innocent S2) as Dr Oscar Beattie, Tristan Sturrock (Poldark, Doc Martin) as Dr Mike Willet and Georgina Rich (Heartstopper, War of the Worlds) playing Dr Eva Thornbury.
Grace Ofori-Attah said about the show:
“I’d worked as an NHS doctor for over a decade when I first came to World with an idea that would become Malpractice. Malpractice explores the inevitable pressure-cooker created when doctors under investigation are forced to second-guess their clinical decisions, justify their every action but carry on with the day job as normal. It has been an absolute joy and privilege creating Malpractice with the team at World, who are well-versed in creating drama that’s endlessly entertaining and surprising, and I can’t wait to see it on screen.”
Algar, who comes from Mullingar in Co Westmeath, said she was "blown away" by the script and the team attached to the show's creation.
"I’m a huge fan of Phil Barantini’s work, his movie Boiling Point is an astonishing piece of work and I’m so excited to see how he approaches Malpractice. I’m absolutely over the moon that we are working together on this special series."
Algar has previously starred in Raised by Wolves and Deceit, and won Best Actress in a Leading Role - TV Drama at the 2020 IFTAs for her performance in The Virtues.
