Breathless

[Perdita]

ITV has commissioned a new medical drama set in the 1960s.

Breathless will be centred on a group of gynaecologists working in London at the advent of the 'sexual revolution' in 1961, before the legalisation of abortion and the introduction of the contraceptive pill.

"There were some women working in this area and they will be in the series, but gynaecology was a mainly male world at this time," a source told The Guardian.

"This was before the pill and the legalisation of abortion and the 1960s hit the country and it was a totally different world. It was also before Profumo, and there was a lot of covering up going on within the establishment which at the time was relatively immune from scrutiny."

Breathless has been co-created by Paul Unwin (Casualty), who confirmed via the Sofa Productions website website on Friday (February 1) that he will storyline the series and write a number of scripts.

The six-part drama is yet to be cast, but ITV is believed to have set a target premiere date of early 2014.

The BBC's Call the Midwife, based on Jennifer Worth's memoirs of her time working as a midwife in London's East End during the 1950s, has enjoyed continued ratings popularity since its return to screens earlier this month.

Miranda Hart was also recently honoured with the 'Drama Performance: Female' prize at the National Television Award for her work on the series.

[alan45]

As the stylish and compelling new ITV medical drama, Breathless, begins filming in London, Jack Davenport (Smash, Pirates of the Caribbean) is joined by Natasha Little (Kidnap and Ransom, Vanity Fair), Oliver Chris (One Man Two Guvnors, Green Wing), Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey, Sons of Anarchy), Joanna Page (The Syndicate, Gavin & Stacey), Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion, Rock & Chips), Catherine Steadman (The Tudors, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys, Monroe), Pippa Haywood (Mr Selfridge, Scott & Bailey) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Prisoners Wives).

Produced for ITV by ITV Studios, the drama follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital, a world in which everything and everyone has their place. But underneath the shiny veneer simmers a cauldron of lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex.

Breathless has been co-created and written by Paul Unwin, who will also direct the first two episodes of the series. The other writers are Peter Grimsdale (the show’s co-creator) and Simon Tyrrell (Lightfields, Survivors).

The series opens in 1961, a time when Britain was on the brink of the ‘60s revolution – abortion is illegal and the contraceptive pill is only just available to married women. Set in and around a busy Gynaecology unit, medicine becomes the perfect stage to play out the shifting and complex moral codes of early 1960s society.

Jack Davenport plays Otto Powell, a brilliant and charismatic surgeon, who passionately believes he can make a difference to women’s lives, even if that means risking imprisonment under the abortion laws of 1961.

Otto and his elegant wife, Elizabeth (Natasha Little), preside over the rich ensemble of characters – they are the beautiful people living the consumerist dream and the couple that the others aspire towards. But Otto and Elizabeth are hiding a devastating secret about their marriage - an event in their past which could shatter the careful illusion they have created.

Otto’s oldest friend and closest colleague, Dr Charlie Enderbury (Shaun Dingwall), is an experienced anaesthetist who is married to ex-nurse Lily (Joanna Page). Together they share a warm and loving marriage and Charlie hopes for a promotion that will guarantee a better life for him and his wife.

But his hopes are dashed when newcomer Dr Mehta (Ronny Jhutti) is appointed Chair of Anaesthesiology and the couple struggle to keep up in the wake of their circle of friends. Charlie also holds another, far deeper burden – he alone knows the truth about Otto and Elizabeth.

Dr Richard Truscott (Oliver Chris), a junior consultant, oozes boyish confidence and charm in the face of his medical students and is constantly irritated by Otto’s superiority. He is engaged to Jean (Zoe Boyle), a sensual and fiery nurse who is convinced her dream is to become a doting housewife living in the lap of luxury, but as an independent woman, Jean cannot always do what her husband expects of her.

New to London is Jean’s sister Angela (Catherine Steadman), who arrives from Portsmouth to take up a job in the hospital. Angela is a dynamic and striking nurse with a strong moral sense who won’t let her responsibilities be compromised. But when she meets the charismatic Otto Powell, she can’t help feel an urge of temptation that she struggles to repress and no one has caught Otto’s eye in years in the way that Angela has.

Breathless has been commissioned for ITV by Acting Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November.

"I'm delighted to be adding a new medical drama to our roster of returning series. Paul and Peter have created a compelling group of characters at a fascinating point in the history of the NHS" said Steve.

Breathless is produced by Jolyon Symonds (Thorne, Complicit). ITV Studios Kate Bartlett will executive produce the series with Paul Unwin, who is directing the first two episodes.

Kate Bartlett, executive producer for ITV Studios said: "Breathless is an exhilarating and charismatic character drama, set against a glamorous London backdrop. The medical stories and events are there to illuminate and complicate the lives of our key characters and 1961 is a fascinating time in which to explore the changing role of women in society."

ITV Studios Global Entertainment will distribute Breathless internationally.

[alan45]

As the stylish and compelling new ITV medical drama, Breathless, begins filming in London, Jack Davenport (Smash, Pirates of the Caribbean) is joined by Natasha Little (Kidnap and Ransom, Vanity Fair), Oliver Chris (One Man Two Guvnors, Green Wing), Zoe Boyle (Downton Abbey, Sons of Anarchy), Joanna Page (The Syndicate, Gavin & Stacey), Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion, Rock & Chips), Catherine Steadman (The Tudors, Salmon Fishing in the Yemen), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys, Monroe), Pippa Haywood (Mr Selfridge, Scott & Bailey) and Iain Glen (Game of Thrones, Prisoners Wives).

Produced for ITV by ITV Studios, the drama follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses working in a London hospital, a world in which everything and everyone has their place. But underneath the shiny veneer simmers a cauldron of lies, deception and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex.

Breathless has been co-created and written by Paul Unwin, who will also direct the first two episodes of the series. The other writers are Peter Grimsdale (the show’s co-creator) and Simon Tyrrell (Lightfields, Survivors).

The series opens in 1961, a time when Britain was on the brink of the ‘60s revolution – abortion is illegal and the contraceptive pill is only just available to married women. Set in and around a busy Gynaecology unit, medicine becomes the perfect stage to play out the shifting and complex moral codes of early 1960s society.

Jack Davenport plays Otto Powell, a brilliant and charismatic surgeon, who passionately believes he can make a difference to women’s lives, even if that means risking imprisonment under the abortion laws of 1961.

Otto and his elegant wife, Elizabeth (Natasha Little), preside over the rich ensemble of characters – they are the beautiful people living the consumerist dream and the couple that the others aspire towards. But Otto and Elizabeth are hiding a devastating secret about their marriage - an event in their past which could shatter the careful illusion they have created.

Otto’s oldest friend and closest colleague, Dr Charlie Enderbury (Shaun Dingwall), is an experienced anaesthetist who is married to ex-nurse Lily (Joanna Page). Together they share a warm and loving marriage and Charlie hopes for a promotion that will guarantee a better life for him and his wife.

But his hopes are dashed when newcomer Dr Mehta (Ronny Jhutti) is appointed Chair of Anaesthesiology and the couple struggle to keep up in the wake of their circle of friends. Charlie also holds another, far deeper burden – he alone knows the truth about Otto and Elizabeth.

Dr Richard Truscott (Oliver Chris), a junior consultant, oozes boyish confidence and charm in the face of his medical students and is constantly irritated by Otto’s superiority. He is engaged to Jean (Zoe Boyle), a sensual and fiery nurse who is convinced her dream is to become a doting housewife living in the lap of luxury, but as an independent woman, Jean cannot always do what her husband expects of her.

New to London is Jean’s sister Angela (Catherine Steadman), who arrives from Portsmouth to take up a job in the hospital. Angela is a dynamic and striking nurse with a strong moral sense who won’t let her responsibilities be compromised. But when she meets the charismatic Otto Powell, she can’t help feel an urge of temptation that she struggles to repress and no one has caught Otto’s eye in years in the way that Angela has.

Breathless has been commissioned for ITV by Acting Director of Drama Commissioning Steve November.

"I'm delighted to be adding a new medical drama to our roster of returning series. Paul and Peter have created a compelling group of characters at a fascinating point in the history of the NHS" said Steve.

Breathless is produced by Jolyon Symonds (Thorne, Complicit). ITV Studios Kate Bartlett will executive produce the series with Paul Unwin, who is directing the first two episodes.

Kate Bartlett, executive producer for ITV Studios said: "Breathless is an exhilarating and charismatic character drama, set against a glamorous London backdrop. The medical stories and events are there to illuminate and complicate the lives of our key characters and 1961 is a fascinating time in which to explore the changing role of women in society."

ITV Studios Global Entertainment will distribute Breathless internationally.

[tammyy2j]

ITV Studios and PBS/WGBH Masterpiece will team up to produce “Breathless,” a 1961-set London medical drama starring Jack Davenport.

The show will feature on the professional and personal lives of a group of doctors and nurses working at a local hospital. Davenport (“Smash”) will play a surgeon who believes he can make a difference in womens’ lives. “Downton Abbey” vets Zoe Boyle and Iain Glen will also join the cast, along with Natasha Little (“Any Human Heart”)

Co-creator Paul Unwin is writing the series and will direct the first two episodes. Kate Bartlett of ITV Studios will be among the exec producers.

” Television dramas that tell good stories about womens’ lives in the 20th century are endlessly interesting to me,” said PBS Masterpiece exec producer Rebecca Eaton, “and apparently to lots of other people — look at the appeal of ‘Call the Midwife’ (also on PBS Masterpiece) and ‘Mad Men.’ We’re all fascinated by the enormous changes that happened just a short time ago. ‘Breathless’ is a sharp, visually-rich portrait of a group of people on the cusp of change.”

Said Tobias de Graaff, global television distribution director of ITV Studios Global Entertainment, which brokered the deal: “ ‘Breathless’ has all the characteristics of a drama with strong global appeal: a captivating story, a charismatic and talented cast, including the internationally renowned Jack Davenport, and sumptuous production values. We’re delighted to be working with Masterpiece, and we
look forward to huge interest from international clients.”

[tammyy2j]

.

[tammyy2j]

Breathless is set to premiere on Thursday October 10th at 9pm.

Created by Paul Unwin and Peter Grimsdale, Breathless is set in 1961, at a time when Britain was on the brink of the ‘60s revolution – abortion is illegal and the contraceptive pill is only just available to married women. Set in and around a busy Gynaecology unit in an NHS hospital, the drama series follows the lives of a group of doctors and nurses. Seemingly the normal workplace, under this veneer simmers a cauldron of lies, deceptions and guilty secrets, driven by love, ambition and sex. The series revolves around Otto Powell, a brilliant and charismatic surgeon, who passionately believes he can make a difference to women’s lives, even if that means risking imprisonment under the abortion laws of 1961. The drama series is being produced by ITV Studios and stars Jack Davenport (Smash), Iain Glen (Game of Thrones), Shaun Dingwall (Above Suspicion), Natasha Little (Kidnap and Ransom), Oliver Chris (Green Wing), Zoe Boyle (Sons of Anarchy), Joanna Page (The Syndicate), Catherine Steadman (The Tudors), Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys), Ronny Jhutti (Vexed) and Pippa Haywood (Mr Selfridge).

[tammyy2j]

http://www.digitalspy.ie/tv/news/a520140/breathless-new-itv-60s-drama-debuts-first-trailer-watch.html

^ Trailer can be viewed at above link

[Perdita]

Breathless has been dropped after a single series.

The period medical drama will not return for a second run, broadcaster ITV has confirmed.

Series star Zoe Boyle -- who played Jean Truscott - told Radio Times that Breathless would "unfortunately" not be returning but described working on the show as "a really fun experience".

"I loved the part and I loved the script and I loved the show as a whole," she said.

Breathless launched with 3.4m viewers in October, with an overnight audience of 2.11m tuning in for the final episode the following month.

Jack Davenport, Joanna Page, Sarah Parish and Iain Glen appeared alongside Boyle on the show.

ITV also axed crime drama Whitechapel in November, but has commissioned new original drama including John Simm thriller Prey and mystery series Grantchester.