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BBC adapts doctor’s diary as comedy drama

UK pubcaster the BBC has commissioned an eight-part medical comedy drama based on the memoirs of former junior doctor-turned-author Adam Kay.

Adam Kay

This is Going to Hurt is an adaptation of Kay’s diaries of the same name, which were written secretly in the little free time he had while working as a medic in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).

The bestselling book gives an honest account of life as a junior doctor, including 97-hour working weeks, life-and-death decisions and the sad truth that the hospital parking meter earns more than you do.

The 8×45’ TV series, which is set on a labour ward, is written by Kay and produced by Jane Featherstone’s Sister Pictures for BBC2.

Kay exec produces for Terrible Productions alongside Naomi De Pear for Sister Pictures and Mona Qureshi for BBC2. The drama was commissioned by Piers Wenger and Patrick Holland, controllers of drama and BBC2 respectively.

“The anarchic tone of Adam’s memoir masks a frank, insightful and often visceral portrait of a committed young professional struggling to do the job of his dreams,” said Wenger. “It is a deeply personal but definitive account of the 21st century NHS.”

“Junior doctors tend to have a rather quiet voice compared with the politicians, which is understandable – you don’t have much spare time if you’re working 100 hour weeks,” Kay added.

In related news, BBC2 has ordered a second season of restaurant business series Million Pound Menu. The programme, hosted by restaurant general manager Fred Sirieix, follows aspiring restauranteurs competing for investment from a panel of experts in the food concepts they believe will be the next culinary sensation.

Million Pound Menu (6×60’) is produced by Sony Pictures Television-backed prodco Electric Ray and is exec produced by Meredith Chambers. It was commissioned by Holland and David Brindley, head of commissioning, popular factual and factual entertainment.

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