Breathtaking on ITV1 is based on doctor/writer Rachel Clarke's unflinching memoir of the greatest public health crisis in living memory. The drama stars Joanne Froggatt as a frontline hospital consultant (all three episodes can already be watched on ITVX).
Downton Abbey star Joanne plays Abbey Henderson, a doctor and mother of two small children, who is known for her calm approach. But even Abbey struggles to cope as the virus takes hold and the NHS is totally overwhelmed. The three-part series has been adapted by Rachel herself, alongside former hospital doctors, Jed Mercurio (the man behind Line of Duty and Bodyguard) and Prasanna Puwanarajah.
"I feel truly honored to be playing Dr Abbey Henderson in Breathtaking, based on Dr Rachel Clarke’s beautifully written, poignant and shocking book of the same name," says Joanne Froggatt.
“When I first read the incredible scripts they moved me to tears on many occasions. I felt so passionately that I had to be a part of telling this story, the real story, of what was really happening behind the closed doors of the hospitals during the pandemic. Our NHS staff are nothing less than absolute heroes in my eyes, and I hope telling this story goes a little way towards us understanding their truth, their lived experience and honouring their unbelievable commitment and sacrifice on behalf of us all.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Breathtaking on ITV1 and ITVX…
Breathtaking release date
Breathtaking is a three-part drama that will be shown on ITV1 over three consecutive nights, Monday 19 February 2024 at 9 pm, plus Tuesday 20 February and Wednesday 21 February, also at 9 pm. The whole series can be watched now ITVX.
Is there a Breathtaking trailer?
Yes a trailer has been released by ITV for Breathtaking. Take a look below at the choas and heartbreak inside the hospital during the pandemic. Below it is a short clip showing what happens in Breathtaking episode 1...
Breathtaking plot
Breathtaking shows the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of acute medicine consultant Dr Abbey Henderson. She works in a big inner-city hospital and the drama shows how she and her colleagues fought desperately to save the lives of coronavirus patients while dealing with an incredible amount of fear and frustration themselves. As well as following Abbey, the drama weaves in the lives of her fellow doctors, nurses, patients and paramedics whose ambulances were queued outside hospitals as the NHS struggled to cope with the unprecedented demand.
“There is so much misinformation and rewriting of history around what really happened inside our hospitals during the pandemic,” says writer Rachel Clark. “The truth is, NHS staff gave everything they had in impossible conditions that sometimes cost them their lives. It is an honour to try and depict the courage and decency of my NHS colleagues on screen, and I’m so grateful to ITV and HTM Television for giving me the chance to show the public the truth.”
Breathtaking cast — Joanne Froggatt as Dr Abbey Henderson
Joanne Froggatt plays an overworked doctor during the start of the COVID pandemic. She is best known for playing Anna Bates in ITV period drama Downton Abbey and starred in the ITV1 thriller series Liar, playing Laura Nielson. She's also starred in North Shore, Last Light, Sherwood, The Harrowing, The Commons and Robin Hood. Joanne started her career playing Zoe Tattersall in Coronation Street and voices Wendy in the children’s series Bob The Builder.
Who else is starring in Breathtaking?
ITV has now provided a full cast list...
Dr Abbey Henderson – JOANNE FROGGATT
Fit Tester – AMBER MULDOON
Dr Ant Vyas – BHAV JOSHI
Emma Mutamba Irungu – DONNA BANYA
Archie Williams – JOSEPH CHARLES
Dr Joanne Alba – STEPHANIE STREET
Dr Neil Westland – THOM PETTY
Chantelle Gregory – NAOMI DENNY
Dr Rossi – AFRO PARISE
Dr Metin Ozkul – PHILIP ARDITTI
Yussuf Ahmad – TAMER DOGHEM
Clare Boxall – LUCY MONTGOMERY
HCA June – STACEY GREGG
Mrs Ahmad – ROXANNE SCRIMSHAW
Dr Huw Shelby – GEORGE GEORGIOU
Divina Aquino – GEORGIA GOODMAN
Nick Henderson – CHRISTOPHER HATHERALL
Tommy Henderson – HENRY MEREDITH
Robyn Henderson – ELEANORE-BEATRIZ VIVEIROS
Dr Mike Prentiss – MARK DEXTER
Alison Frampton – TAMMY HEATH
Cressida Frost – MARY WOODVINE
ITU Junior Doctor – TADGH SNODGRASS
Paramedic 2 – ALICE MCCARTHY
Paramedic 1 – GERARD GILROY
ED Nurse – MARK WEINMAN
Behind the scenes, locations and more on Breathtaking
Filming on Breathtaking took place in Belfast and finished in May 2023. It's written by Rachel Clarke, Jed Mercurio and Prasanna Puwanarajah, and produced by Jed Mercurio's HTM Television (Trigger Point, DI Ray, Bloodlands and Stephen). The drama has been directed by Craig Viveiros (Angela Black, The Watch, The War of the Worlds).
Jed Mercurio says: “Everyone at HTM Television has felt privileged to dramatise Rachel Clarke’s hauntingly illuminating memoir of health workers struggling to cope with the extraordinary challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m honoured to have collaborated with Rachel and Prasanna on this important drama, and thrilled to be working with a cast led by Joanne Froggatt and crew led by director Craig Viveiros.”
Director Craig Viveiros says: “I’m honoured to be working with Jed, Rachel and Prasanna on this timely, important project. After reading the first few pages of the script, I knew this was a project I wanted to be involved with. Its unique, bold and unflinching take on life on the front line during the pandemic was immediately captivating. I’m delighted to once again be working with Joanne Froggatt, her ability to effortlessly bring the humanity and empathy to any character she portrays meant she was the perfect performer to bring Abbey to life.”
