ITV Orders Covid-19 Drama from Jed Mercurio

ITV has commissioned Breathtaking, a drama series about a doctor working on the NHS frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The drama stars Joanne Froggatt (Sherwood, Downton Abbey, Angela Black, Liar) in the role of a frontline hospital consultant. It is based on doctor-writer Rachel Clarke’s personal memoir, adapted for television by Clarke and former junior hospital doctors Jed Mercurio and Prasanna Puwanarajah.

The drama has been directed by Craig Viveiros (Angela Black, The Watch, The War of the Worlds). Filming of the three-part series, produced by HTM Television, was completed in Northern Ireland earlier this year.

Mercurio commented: “Everyone at HTM Television has felt privileged to dramatize Rachel Clarke’s hauntingly illuminating memoir of health workers struggling to cope with the extraordinary challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m honored 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.”

Viveiros said: “I’m honored 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 humanity and empathy to any character she portrays meant she was the perfect performer to bring Abbey to life.”

Viveiros continued: “Shooting a large part of the miniseries in long, real-time sequences should make for captivating viewing and allow the audience to be immersed in the struggles our real-life heroes faced in the wards and emergency departments across the country, day after day, during the pandemic. This story is a chance for their voices and sacrifices to be seen and heard.”

ITV’s head of drama, Polly Hill, said: “Breathtaking is a heartbreaking account of life as an NHS doctor during the pandemic. It’s a chapter of recent history that should never be forgotten, and I can think of no one better than Jed, Rachel and Prasanna to write this topical and unflinching drama for ITV.”