Life Support (British TV series)

Life Support is a British television medical drama series, written and devised by Ashley Pharoah, that first broadcast on BBC1 on 19 July 1999.[1] Produced by BBC Scotland, the series follows the work of clinical ethicist Katherine Doone (Aisling O'Sullivan) and her colleagues based at Glasgow's Caledonian hospital. Just a single series of six episodes were broadcast, with the final episode broadcasting on 23 August 1999. The series was directed by Richard Laxton and Morag Fullerton, while Matthew Hall, Peter Hall and Andrea Earl contributed scripts. Art Malik, Richard Wilson, Gilbert Martin and Julie Graham are also credited as principal members of the cast.[2]

Life Support
GenreMedical drama
Created byAshley Pharoah
Directed byMorag Fullerton
Richard Laxton
Starring
ComposerAdrian Corker
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerBarbara McKissack
Producers
  • Margaret Enefer
  • Paddy Higson
EditorColin Monie
Running time50 minutes
Production companyBBC Scotland
Release
Original networkBBC1
Original release19 July (1999-07-19) –
23 August 1999 (1999-08-23)

O'Sullivan said of her role in the series; "Initially, when I read the script and saw that it was a medical drama, I wasn't interested, but then I saw that it was addressing these subjects in a very different way from what we're used to. Medicine has become so complicated that the man in the street doesn't know what's going on. So this is a new and necessary discipline." Series creator Ashley Pharoah said of O'Sullivan's casting; "As soon as we saw her audition tape, we knew. She had just what we wanted. You can believe the intellectual stature. the gravitas; she's young and attractive - and she can do comedy. She is perfect for Katherine."[3]

Notably, the series remains unreleased on VHS or DVD. The Evening Standard noted of the series axing; "On the whole, Life Support failed to captivate audiences, although several critics liked it."[4]

Cast
Dr. Katherine Doone, as portrayed by Aisling O'Sullivan

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date Viewers
(millions)
1"Where Angels Fear to Tread"Richard LaxtonAshley Pharoah19 July 1999 (1999-07-19)N/A
When a severely injured young man is brought into intensive care, Katherine comes into conflict with the hospital hierarchy.[5]
2"Trust"Richard LaxtonAshley Pharoah26 July 1999 (1999-07-26)5.33[6]
Katherine is determined that an 11-year-old leukaemia patient should have a say in his treatment, bringing her into conflict with new consultant Dr. Tom Scott and the boy's parents.[7]
3"The Price of Love"Richard LaxtonMatthew Hall2 August 1999 (1999-08-02)N/A
Called as a prosecution witness in the murder trial of Elaine MacKenzie, Katherine finds herself facing her father, who is acting for the defence.[8]
4"Playing God"Morag FullertonPeter Hall9 August 1999 (1999-08-09)N/A
Katherine uncovers a bitter family battle raging over the care of a patient, and her investigations into a colleague's behaviour again bring her into conflict with Dr. Blake.[9]
5"Soul and Conscience"Morag FullertonAndrea Earl16 August 1999 (1999-08-16)N/A
Katherine battles to save the life of an overdose victim determined to die.[10]
6"The Undiscovered Country"Morag FullertonAshley Pharoah23 August 1999 (1999-08-23)N/A
Katherine feels she is making a real difference at the Caledonian. She helps a woman with motor-neurone disease and arbitrates between a patient's wife and mistress. But after an almost perfect day at Loch Lomond, she faces the hardest ethical decision of her life.[11]

References
  1. Douglas, Colin (7 August 1999). "Ethics in a twist". BMJ: British Medical Journal. 319 (7206): 390. doi:10.1136/bmj.319.7206.390. PMC 1127014. PMID 10435986.
  2. "Robert Hanks' Television Review". 20 July 1999. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  3. "Doone the right thing". Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  4. "Creating a little terror". Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. "Life Support 1". 15 July 1999. p. 74. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
  6. "Weekly top 30 programmes - BARB". www.barb.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  7. "Life Support 2". 22 July 1999. p. 68. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
  8. "Life Support 3". 29 July 1999. p. 78. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
  9. "Life Support 4". 5 August 1999. p. 74. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
  10. "Life Support 5". 12 August 1999. p. 74. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
  11. "Life Support 6". 19 August 1999. p. 76. Retrieved 3 May 2018 – via BBC Genome.
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