Getting On (British TV series)
A satirical sitcom about an NHS geriatric ward.
Getting On is a satirical British sitcom set on a geriatric ward in an NHS hospital. It was created by its core cast—Jo Brand, Vicki Pepperdine, and Joanna Scanlan—and first aired in July 2009. The series received strong critical acclaim but was not renewed for a fourth series.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Sitcom; black comedy
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- Company
- Vera Productions
- Writer
- Jo Brand
- Vicki Pepperdine
- Joanna Scanlan
- Director
- Peter Capaldi, Susan Tully
- Starring
- Jo Brand
- Vicki Pepperdine
- Joanna Scanlan
- Ricky Grover
- Ending theme
- "Roll River Roll" by Richard Hawley
- Country
- United Kingdom
Facts from the source article.
Characters
Kim Wilde, played by Jo Brand, is a return-to-work nurse who struggles with modern NHS challenges such as C. diff, form-filling, and political correctness. She is the most empathetic staff member toward patients and their families, often clashing with colleagues focused on rules. Dr Pippa Moore, played by Vicki Pepperdine, is the Care of the Elderly Consultant who is uptight and self-centred, lacking people skills and oblivious to the offence she causes. She is unhappily married to a pilot named Philip and has a crush on Dr Healy. Denise "Den" Flixter, played by Joanna Scanlan, is the ward sister and Kim's immediate superior, legally separated from her husband. Hilary Loftus, played by Ricky Grover, is the male matron who has a relationship with Den, complicated by his inexperience and homosexual identity.
Reception
The show received very high praise from UK television critics, who commended the actors' performances and the gritty, realistic portrayal of an NHS hospital. The Telegraph named it the best British television show of the year. Brand, Scanlan, and Pepperdine won the 2010 Royal Television Society Award for Best Writing in Comedy and the 2010 Writer's Guild Award for Best Comedy. Jo Brand won the BAFTA for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2011, and the trio were nominated for the 2012 Royal Television Society Award and BAFTA Award for Best Writing in Comedy.
Home video releases
All three series of Getting On have been released on DVD via 2entertain distribution. Series One was released on 7 September 2009, Series Two on 6 December 2010, and a box set of both series on the same date. Series Three was released on 26 November 2012, alongside a complete series box set. In Australia, the Complete Series 1 & 2 was released on 7 July 2011 via Roadshow distribution; the third series has not been released there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which network aired Getting On (British TV series)?
Getting On aired on BBC Four.
How many episodes of Getting On (British TV series) are there?
Getting On has 15 episodes across 3 seasons.
When did Getting On (British TV series) first air?
Getting On first aired on 8 July 2009.
When did Getting On (British TV series) end?
Getting On last aired on 21 November 2012.
More in 2010s British Medical Television Series
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