Maternal is a British medical drama television drama series created by Jacqui Honess-Martin. The series began broadcast on ITV on 16 January 2023, as well as on ITVX.[1][2] The show was cancelled after one season.[3]

Maternal
GenreMedical drama
Created byJacqui Honess-Martin
Written byJacqui Honess-Martin
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersJames Griffiths
Kathryn Pugsley
Patrick Spence
ProducerBetsan Morris Evans
Running time59 minutes
Production companyITV Studios
Original release
NetworkITV
Release16 January (2023-01-16) –
20 February 2023 (2023-02-20)

Plot

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Following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, three female doctors return to frontline medicine after their maternity leave.[4]

Cast

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Production

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The series was inspired by real surgeon Zoe Barber, who works at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant.[5] The series was playwright Jacqui Honess-Martin's television debut.

Episodes

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All episodes were made available on ITVX on 16 January 2023, prior to their linear broadcast.

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.K. viewers
(millions)
1"Episode 1"James GriffithsJacqui Honess-Martin16 January 2023 (2023-01-16)N/A
2"Episode 2"James GriffithsJacqui Honess-Martin23 January 2023 (2023-01-23)N/A
3"Episode 3"Amanda BlueJacqui Honess-Martin30 January 2023 (2023-01-30)N/A
4"Episode 4"Amanda BlueJacqui Honess-Martin6 February 2023 (2023-02-06)N/A
5"Episode 5"Rebecca GatwardJacqui Honess-Martin13 February 2023 (2023-02-13)N/A
6"Episode 6"Rebecca GatwardJacqui Honess-Martin20 February 2023 (2023-02-20)N/A

Reception

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The series received positive reviews from critics. Isobel Lewis from The Independent gave the first episode four out of five stars, praising the acting, dialogue and topicality of the drama.[6] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising the depth of the three lead characters, and remarked that it had 'grit in the storytelling oyster that produces something rather wonderful'.[7] Anita Singh in The Telegraph also gave it four stars out of five, proclaiming it as superior to another recent medical drama, This Is Going to Hurt.[8] In a more mixed review, Carol Midgley in The Times gave it three stars, finding the show reliant on cliches.[9]

References

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  1. ^ "Meet the cast of Maternal, ITV's new medical drama". Radio Times. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  2. ^ Dray, Kayleigh (2023-01-11). "Maternal - ITV's major new medical drama - is a must-watch". Stylist. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  3. ^ https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/itv-cancel-popular-drama-series-26590689
  4. ^ "ITV commissions six part medical drama, Maternal". Press Centre. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
  5. ^ https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2023-01-20/the-real-life-mum-and-medic-behind-itv-drama-maternal
  6. ^ "Timely drama Maternal shows something needs to change in the NHS – review". The Independent. January 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Maternal review – you know these exhausted women in your bones". the Guardian. January 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Singh, Anita (January 16, 2023). "Maternal, review: witty hospital drama exposes the hardships for working mums". The Telegraph – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  9. ^ Midgley, Carol. "Maternal review — stick with this medical drama, doctor's orders" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
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