UKTV is expanding its popular ‘Inside the…’ franchise – which includes Inside the Ambulance and Inside the Vets – with a new 20-part Inside the Operating Theatre series.
Airing on W, the broadcaster’s premium entertainment channel, the series will an “an exclusive and intimate insight” to the busy day surgery unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, where staff carry out a huge variety of operations and procedures, from cardiology through to plastic surgery.
Seeing more than 70% of operations going through its doors, the day surgery is at the heart and soul of the NHS, enabling patients to be in and out in one day.
Inside the Operating Theatre was commissioned by UKTV’s deputy director of commissioning and head of factual and factual entertainment, Hilary Rosen and ordered by Richard Watsham, director of commissioning, and Steve North, genre general manager for comedy and entertainment.
The series is executive produced by Audrey Neil for Brown Bob Productions.
Hilary Rosen said: “Brown Bob’s latest addition to the ‘Inside the…’ franchise is their most ambitious rig to date, and I can’t wait to see how the stories from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s operating theatres unfold.
“Once again, they will deliver a strong cast of returning characters working at the hospital, alongside the powerful and intimate stories told by the patients who comes through the doors.”
Adam Collings, channel director for W, said: “We’re thrilled to be extending the ‘Inside the…’ brand even further and exploring the inner workings of a surgery.
“Inside the Ambulance continues to delight our viewers, so it’s great that we’re able to broaden the perspective to another group of highly skilled professionals.”
Jacqueline Hewer, Creative Director of Brown Bob said: “Day surgery is the future of the NHS, and this series is designed to showcase the incredible level of treatment that can be done in units like this.
“We’re delighted to be extending our ‘Inside the…’ brand, and promise to deliver our trademark mix of drama, warmth and wit.”
Inside the Operating Theatre will air on W in 2019.