I do like a TV doctor. I’m not talking about proper doctors who sit on studio sofas dispensing wisdom. I’ve nothing against them – why, I worked with Dr Hilary Jones on ITV and he was a very nice chap – but it’s to fictional doctors I want to entrust my care.
I’ve not always felt this way. Either the standard of fictional TV medics has improved or, more likely, I’m losing the plot. It’s a relatively recent thing. I never watched ER, for some reason, and I find Casualty to be quite entertaining without ever fantasising about being rushed into Holby City hospital for emergency treatment. As for being treated by the staff of Grey’s Anatomy, that would be fine, but the constant playing of pop songs at key moments would get on my nerves. Nurse Jackie? Jackie Peyton and Dr O’Hara are a compelling nurse-doctor pairing, but too unhinged for me to take the risk with them. Shame, but I’ve got to be sensible.
