When I was first asked to write for Casualty I said, sorry, I can't do blood. The team said okay and I wrote them a story about a young boy with a mental illness.
Later I was asked to write for Holby City. They had a rule at the time that each episode must have an open heart surgery scene. I'd toughened up by then and took their commission. But - full disclosure - I had to write those scenes at arms length and with my eyes squinted half-shut.
Full disclosure number 2: my favourite medical series of all time? Also ER.
Ugh! Glad I never got into the writing of these things. Watching them is enough for me. 'It's not real, you know', but having to attend a PM .. not for me.
Enjoyed this Maria. My mum has a fascination with all things medical, and I must’ve inherited her interest to some degree as I’m currently reading a book on pathology! Not to everyone’s taste, granted 🥴
I really enjoyed this post Maria.
I am also squeamish about blood.
When I was first asked to write for Casualty I said, sorry, I can't do blood. The team said okay and I wrote them a story about a young boy with a mental illness.
Later I was asked to write for Holby City. They had a rule at the time that each episode must have an open heart surgery scene. I'd toughened up by then and took their commission. But - full disclosure - I had to write those scenes at arms length and with my eyes squinted half-shut.
Full disclosure number 2: my favourite medical series of all time? Also ER.
I've never thought before about how awkward it must be to write for a medical drama if you're squeamish, Gillian!
Oh yes, it's a tough job, being a TV scriptwriter!
When I wrote for Silent Witness I had to go to a post-mortem. Now, that, Wendy, really was tough.
Ugh! Glad I never got into the writing of these things. Watching them is enough for me. 'It's not real, you know', but having to attend a PM .. not for me.
Enjoyed this Maria. My mum has a fascination with all things medical, and I must’ve inherited her interest to some degree as I’m currently reading a book on pathology! Not to everyone’s taste, granted 🥴
I won’t lie, it wasn’t the best day of my life. But in the pub afterwards, the pathologist was surprisingly good company.
Good read, Maria. I was a loyal fan of ER – think I saw every episode – but only sporadically saw the others you've mentioned.
I'd forgotten that Mitchell & Webb sketch – very funny! Thanks for the reminder.