The Royal Today is a British medical drama, and a spin-off of the similarly themed drama The Royal. The concept is that, while The Royal is set in the late 1960s, The Royal Today featured the same hospital in the present day, with a new set of characters working in the same location. Each episode follows the events of a single day, and the show was broadcast daily (except for the weekends), so the series could be said to progress in real time.
The first series of 50 half-hour episodes began on 7 January 2008 on the ITV network airing from 4 pm to 4:30 pm. Although there were a number of running storylines, the series generally eschewed the use of cliffhangers. The series was axed in March 2008 after poor ratings – an average of 1.175 million viewers.
Cast and characters Actor Character Role Episodes Andrew Scarborough Dr Jonathan Ormerod(son of Dr Gordon Ormerod and Dr Jill Weatherill from The Royal) Consultant physician, medical director 1–50 Paul Nicholas Mr Woods Consultant general surgeon, clinical lead 1–50 Kirsty Mitchell Dr Sarah Chatwin Specialist registrar in general medicine 1–50 Fiona Dolman Pamela Andrews Specialist registrar in general surgery 1–50 Caroline Carver Heather Dunstan Staff nurse 1–50 Ben Hull Adam Fearnley Charge nurse 1–50 Mark Wells Kieran Marwood A&E staff nurse 1–50 Sophia Di Martino Gemma Pennant Student nurse 1–50 Lucie Trickett Carrie Jepson Student nurse 1–50 Jon Lolis Kristaps Porter 1–50 Steve Huison Norman Dunstan Porter 1–50 Libby Davison Isla Watkins Theatre nursing sister 1–50 Victoria Pritchard Alana Sczumanska Anaesthetist 1–50 Lisa Davina Phillip Pearl McDonald Nurse 1–50 Pal Aron Dr Vijay Chohan Radiology Registrar 3–50 Leah Bracknell Jenny Carrington Clinical matron 3–50 Flora Nicholson Lesley Goodrich 1–2(Murdered) Edward Peel David Collingworth 1–25(Transferred) Vickie Gates Maisy Spencer 40–47(Discharged) Laura Carter Charlotte Winters Patient 34
Setting There are two separate blocks at St. Luke's in Bradford used for shooting The Royal and The Royal Today. One of the previously unused blocks has undergone a makeover to transform it into a modern hospital, this also includes a bar area (seen in episode one) having been built. Exterior shots are filmed around North Yorkshire, particularly Scarborough. The last day of shooting the series was Friday 16 November 2007.
Named wards include: Ward Opened by Named after Explanation Middleditch Wing (General Surgery) Unknown Middleditch Family Mr TJ Middleditch was the hospital's secretary from 1948 until the late 1960s, and his grandfather was the founding member of The Royal when it was opened in 1886. Woods – Coombes Ward Mr Coombes Mr WoodsMr Coombes Woods – Coombes ward is part of Middleditch Ward. In 2008, millionaire Mr Ray Coombes was taken into surgery for a life-saving operation. Mr Woods had a bet with Coombes that if he got out alive he would fund a new ward. As Mr Woods convinced him to, Matron said his name could be on the ward instead of Coombes', but Mr Woods said that would be unfair and that both their names should be on it. Middleditch Ward Unknown Middleditch Family Middleditch Ward is housed in the Middleditch Wing and run by Charge Nurse Adam Fearnley. Goodwin Ward Unknown Dr Jeff Goodwin Goodwin Ward is housed in the Middleditch Wing upstairs and as of episode one of series one is closed for redecoration, as stated by Pearl. Premature Baby Unit Dr Jill Weatherill Dr Jill Weatherill Jill campaigned to open this ward in the late 1960s. However, the maternity unit at The Royal was closed in 2006 (assuming The Royal Today is set in 2008). High Dependency / Intensive Care Unit NHS Nobody Ward where critically ill patients are closely monitored and treated. Radiology NHS Unknown X-ray department run by Vijay
Episode list Title Original airdate Episode no. Episode 1 7 January 2008 UK / 5 May 2009 Australia 1 (1x01) Student nurses Carrie, Lesley and Gemma are rushing to get ready for their first day on the wards at The Royal. Their day seems set for disaster when Gemma is almost run over by Charge Nurse Adam Fearnley before she has even set foot in the hospital.
Dr Jonathan Ormerod and Dr Sarah Chatwin's first patient of the day is Ella, a young woman in her twenties, who has fainted and been brought to A&E by concerned fiancé Stan. Ormerod and Chatwin are concerned when they discover she has recently undergone breast enhancement surgery in Poland. She wants to be "Posh Spice perky" in time for her wedding in two weeks' time and arranged a cheap cosmetic surgery deal overseas. The doctors suspect she us suffering from a serious staphylococcal infection as a result of the surgery and much to Ella's dismay, Ormerod tells her she has to have the implants removed. Will Ella recover in time for her big day?
On Middleditch Ward, Adam and Nurse Heather Dunstan are struggling to tend to their patients and have to deal with unruly nineteen-year-old Keeley whose intoxicated boyfriend cannot keep his hands off her. Their day goes from bad to worse when they are informed they have been landed with student nurses Carrie, Lesley and Gemma. Gemma and Carrie, who were looking forward to some hands-on experience with the patients, are disappointed when they are assigned to Nurse Pearl who has them preparing the lunch trolley and making beds.
Meanwhile, Lesley is doing the rounds with Heather when they hear raucous noise coming from Keeley's cubicle. It becomes clear Keeley's far from charming family are visiting and have brought vodka onto the ward. Heather and Lesley confront the rowdy party and confiscate the alcohol. Both Keeley's father and her boyfriend Phil are furious. They do not take kindly to being told off and become aggressive towards the nurses. Is this the last they have heard from Keeley's family?
In theatre, Consultant Surgeon Woods is operating on Ella. The infection is serious and he wastes no time as her life is under threat. She is more concerned her wedding dress will not fit if her bust size is reduced. The operation is successful, but Surgical Registrar Pamela is frustrated when Woods agrees to let her close the wound, but then takes over himself. Ella has no confidence without her implants and says she wants to have another operation once she has recovered. Will besotted Stan succeed in convincing Ella that looks are not everything?
Back on Middleditch Ward, Lesley is making her way to the kitchen with the confiscated vodka bottle when Keeley's dad suddenly appears chasing after her and demanding his booze back. As he lunges forward, Lesley dodges him and he falls to the floor unconscious. She is in shock and horrified when the crash team arrives and Keeley's dad still has not come round. Eventually, they find a pulse and move him to intensive care. However, when Ormerod and Sarah break the news to Keeley, her unstable boyfriend is furious and menacingly promises he will not let them get away with this.
Gemma and Carrie finish their day of menial labour and meet up with Lesley. They have arranged to go to the pub for a drink with Adam, to whom Gemma has taken a liking. As they are leaving, Lesley realises she has forgotten her swipe card and rushes back. On her way, she discovers Phil ransacking the drugs cabinets. She tries to placate him and asks him to leave but the angry thug attacks Lesley with a knife, leaving her seriously wounded on the ground. Will Sarah and Ormerod be able to save her before it is too late?
Note: 1.99m tuned in to this episode
Filming of the first episode began in July 2007 Episode 2 8 January 2008 UK / 6 May 2009 Australia 2 (1x02) Ormerod is desperately trying to staunch Lesley's bleeding. She has been stabbed three times and has lost a lot of blood. She is in a critical condition and is rushed straight to theatre.
Meanwhile, in casualty, Woods is with Mrs Ada Branksome, who has a blockage in her throat. Woods schedules her for an operation the next morning. Ada's daughter, Ellen, accompanies her mother. All is clearly not as it should be between them.
In the pub, Gemma and Carrie are discussing their disappointing first day at work. While Adam is at the bar, Gemma reveals she fancies him, and Heather wastes no time in telling the feisty young nurse Adam is her boyfriend and they live together. Despite Heather saying she and Adam are rock solid, there is a sense she might feel threatened by the presence of the new student nurses.
The police arrive at the crime scene and Ormerod informs them Phil, the suspect, is well known to the hospital owing to his mental health and drug dependency issues. Meanwhile, in theatre it does not look good for Lesley. Mr Woods is still attempting to stop the bleeding from Lesley's wounds. He cannot see what he is doing as there is so much blood, and the anaesthetist Alana cannot find Lesley's pulse.
In casualty, Triage Nurse Kieran is dealing with a new patient – Phil. He's tried to escape over the perimeter fence and a nasty iron spike is now protruding from his upper thigh. He is high on drugs and screaming in agony. Kieran prepares to move him up to theatre. How will the doctors respond to Phil when his victim is in such a critical condition?
Back in theatre, Woods is fighting a losing battle to save Lesley, but when the machine flatlines there is nothing more the team can do. Woods is furious he has been unable to save her and Alana has to break the bad news to distraught Gemma and Carrie. Everyone is feeling deflated and when Kristaps the porter comes rushing into theatre with Phil, and Ormerod informs them he is the attacker, Pamela is not sure she can go through with trying to save him. However, Woods urges her to be professional.
The next day, Phil is still on the ward guarded by two police officers and everyone resents tending to the murderer of one of their colleagues. Woods asks for him to be transferred to Ashfordly General and Adam states the need for heightened security on the wards. Will the staff at The Royal feel safe again?
As Ada goes up to theatre for her operation, it is clear she has a problematic relationship with Ellen who seems very upset. Woods discovers a large piece of sausage has been causing the blockage in Ada's throat. He also discovers a serious problem with her vocal cords. Ellen reveals to Woods her mother has been very difficult recently and she lost patience with her and forced the food down her throat. Her sense of shame is worsened when Woods breaks the news she has cancer of the larynx. Ellen is horrified that she has been so unsympathetic. Will Ada be able to forgive her daughter?
Later that evening, Ormerod reveals to Sarah that his wife has moved to her parents' for a while with their three children as their relationship has been suffering recently. Sarah is shocked to learn that Ormerod has been living alone for so long, and offers to accompany him to dinner. However, his beeper goes off, and ever the professional, he heads to casualty. Will Ormerod confront his marital problems or continue to bury his head in his work?
Note: 1.81m tuned in to this episode Episode 3 9 January 2008 UK / 7 May 2009 Australia 3 (1x03) A 17-year-old girl called Abigail arrives in casualty after falling off her horse. She is accompanied by her interfering father, Ben, and has abdominal pain. Ormerod quickly assesses her and believes the young girl is pregnant.
Meanwhile, Gemma and Carrie have arrived in theatre to observe their first operation. On Middleditch Ward, Adam is losing patience with Heather's brother, Porter Norman, who seems to be using his sister as his personal laundry service.