THE WRONG CALL?

MALPRACTICE RETURNS FOR A SECOND SERIES, ELLA WALKER MEETS THE CAST AND CREW

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IMAGINE if a split-second decision could derail your career and endanger lives? It’s not a workplace issue most of us face, but for doctors, it can be a daily challenge.

Those moments, when everything has the potential to spiral out of control, are what ITV medical thriller Malpractice dramatically explores.

The hit show is back for a second series, with former NHS doctor and executive producer and writer, Grace Ofori-Attah (Boiling Point, Playing Nice), once again taking the helm.

“We have Dr James Ford, who is a psychiatrist, who is coming to the end of a working day when he receives referrals for two patients, and he doesn’t necessarily make the right decision... or does he?” she says, explaining the premise for this season.

“It all goes horribly wrong, and investigators sweep in - Norma and George - and they gradually unpick his work, his life, and then we find out that maybe there’s something else going on.”

Series one revolved around a malpractice case in A&E, so for series two, Grace says: “I thought it would be really cool to try to set this in the world of psychiatry, because that’s where I became a medical consultant, and the cases are no less fascinating.”

Irish actress Helen Behan, who's appeared in This Is England ‘88 and The Virtues, plays Dr Norma Callahan, tasked with investigating Ford’s situation, along with Dr George Adjei (Jordan Kouame).

Having starred in the first series, Helen’s thrilled to be back. “It's such a gift to get a second series, because you can really dig in and develop that character,’ she says.

“(Norma’s] become more three-dimensional. She’s not just this work-hungry robot and that was really fantastic. To be able to have a second crack at a character when they're under your skin, and you know them really well, is a great opportunity.”