Joanne Froggatt, best known for her role as Anna Bates in Downton Abbey, is set to star in a new ITV drama that aims to reveal the 'truth' of working in NHS hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic. The three-part series, titled 'Breathtaking', follows frontline hospital consultant Abbey Henderson as she witnesses the virus take hold in her own hospital.
The drama is based on the book of the same name by Dr Rachel Clarke, who drew on her own experiences as a doctor on the NHS frontline during the pandemic. Froggatt said she felt 'truly honoured' to play the lead role, adding that the scripts moved her to tears. She described NHS staff as 'absolute heroes' and expressed hope that the series would help viewers understand their 'truth and lived experience'.
Dr Clarke, who also serves as an executive producer, said there is 'so much misinformation and rewriting of history' around what happened inside hospitals during the pandemic. She praised the courage and decency of her NHS colleagues and said she was grateful for the opportunity to depict their sacrifices on screen.
The series was adapted for television by former junior hospital doctors Jed Mercurio and Prasanna Puwanarajah, alongside Dr Clarke. Director Craig Viveiros said the project's 'unique, bold and unflinching take on life on the front line' immediately captivated him. He noted that filming in long, real-time sequences would immerse viewers in the struggles faced by healthcare workers.
'Breathtaking' is produced by Brian J. Falconer, known for Derry Girls and The Dig, and executive produced by Mercurio, Clarke, and Puwanarajah. Filming took place in Northern Ireland earlier this year. The drama is expected to air on ITV, though a specific release date has not yet been announced.
