Sky announces real-time '24-style' medical drama Critical

Line of Duty star Lennie James is set to star in a new Sky1 medical drama set in real time.

James will star as locum trauma consultant Glen Boyle in Critical, a 13-part series about a state-of-the-art Major Trauma Centre, a unit which only treats the most gravely ill or seriously injured.

The commission comes as a part of Sky's commitment to produce 100 hours of new drama which the broadcaster promised would not be 'po-faced, stick up your backside morose'.

Producers have promised Critical will be 'one story, one place, one hour - a real-time medical and emotional ride in which every second counts during the most life-threatening hour of a patient's treatment'.

Joining Lennie James on the cast will be Catherine Walker (Strike Back), Claire Skinner Outnumbered) and Kimblerley Nixon (Fresh Meat)

The series has been created by Jed Mercurio (Line of Duty and Bodies) and James explained how the prospect of working with Jed was a major factor in his agreeing to the project.

"The chance to work with Jed again and come home to be part of such an exciting and ballsy project was too good an oppurtunity to turn down," he said.

 

Sean Marland

Sean is a Senior Feature writer for TV Times, What's On TV and TV & Satellite Week, who also writes for whattowatch.com. He's been covering the world of TV for over 15 years and in that time he's been lucky enough to interview stars like Ian McKellen, Tom Hardy and Kate Winslet. His favourite shows are I'm Alan Partridge, The Wire, People Just Do Nothing and Succession and in his spare time he enjoys drinking tea, doing crosswords and watching football.