ITV’s new medical drama Breathless is anything but bland

Dashing bedside manner: Jack Davenport puts a bit of ‘oomph’ into the NHS

I’ll be honest. I was convinced that Breathless, ITV’s new Sixties-set medical drama,  was going to be some sort of Heartbeat/The Royal clone – all shiny and bland, with a perky soundtrack and bugger-all in the way of substance to recommend it.

But, as so often happens these days, I was pleasantly surprised. The driving forces behind it are clearly influenced by Mad Men, and while there was nothing as vulgar as proper swearing or sweaty sex, there was a definite dark undertone to the opening instalment that kept me watching.

The big name at the centre of proceedings is Jack Davenport, on his best ‘posh bloke’ form as smooth medic Dr Otto Powell. We meet him when he steps in to assist braying colleague Richard Truscott, who is struggling with an ovarian cyst (as you do). Before you can say ‘toffs together’, all is under control, much to Truscott’s annoyance. We quickly learn more about these suave devils and their professional and personal lives – and discover neither of them is as squeaky clean as their dapper, polished images suggest.

Powell has the big house, trophy wife and perfect son, but he also performs illegal abortions, while the arrogant, ambitious Truscott’s gorgeous fiancee is hiding not one, but two secrets from her soon-to-be other half. Throw into the mix a new nurse who more than turns Powell’s head, as well as a desperate, nervy colleague who knows more about the latter’s past than can possibly be healthy, and we’ve got the makings of a decent drama on our hands.

Yes, Breathless is that rarest of beasts: a sexy and stylish offering that is bursting with promise. I’ll happily tune in for more, but my only hope is ITV doesn’t play its usual trick of sucking every iota of life out of a successful series and then keeping it on air long after its sell-by date.

For once guys, leave me wanting more, eh?

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN OF IT

WHAT’S IT CALLED?

Breathless

WHEN IS IT ON?

9pm, Thursday, October 10

WHAT CHANNEL?

ITV

WHO’S IN IT?

Jack Davenport, Natasha Little, Shaun Dingwall and a barely recognisable Joanna Page.

WHO SHOULD WATCH IT?

Anyone who still gets a kick out of Mad Men. This may be a watered-down imitation, but it’s still not bad.

WHO SHOULDN’T WATCH IT?

Folk who thought Heartbeat was cutting edge. *shudder*

Harry Potter is dead – long live Daniel Radcliffe

Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe play the same doctor at different heights in his life

Looking at the publicity images for this new comedy drama unsettled us, we have to say.

There, standing side by side, were Jon Hamm and Daniel Radcliffe, older and younger versions of the same character. The pedants in us cried: “They look nothing like each other. Hamm’s face is too long. Radcliffe’s ears are completely different, for god’s sake. Nobody will swallow it. They’re not even the same size.”

And yet swallow it we did. We even went back for more.

A Young Doctor’s Notebook is one of the most watchable, addictive offerings on the box – never mind just from Sky. It’s written by Mark Chappell, Alan Connor and Simon Pye, and if that wasn’t enough to make you tune in, then get this: Harry Potter is dead.

Sorry Hogwarts fans, but this really does prove, once and for all, that Radcliffe (for all his eyebrow issues) has shaken off the robes of the boy wizard once and for all, and is a good enough actor to more than hold his own against the spectacularly famous star of Mad Men.

Set in Russia, it follows the newly qualified doctor Vladimir Bomgard (Radcliffe) as he arrives in the arse-end of nowhere to begin his work tending to the local community. He’s bright-eyed, bushy eyebrowed and desperate to please, but looking like a teenager does little to endear him to his three colleagues, or his patients.

Luckily, his older self (Hamm) is on hand more often than not, to offer timely hints and tips about what he can expect, from the hot tap with a direct line to the centre of the Earth, to the fact all the syphilitic locals really want from their medical care is drops and gargles.

Over the course of four criminally short episodes, the story treads the finest of lines between high comedy and soul-destroying drama, as Bomgard’s naivete is replaced by something darker, more twisted, while at the same time, his older self reveals how much of a toll the pressure of his career choice has taken.

If A Young Doctor’s Notebook has a flaw, it’s that it ends rather abruptly, making us sneakily wonder if more episodes could be on their way. We really, really hope so.

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN OF IT

WHAT’S IT CALLED?

A Young Doctor’s Notebook

WHEN IS IT ON?

Thursday, December 6^th

WHAT CHANNEL?

Sky Arts 1

WHO’S IN IT?

Daniel Radcliffe (durr)

Jon Hamm (double durr)

WHO SHOULD WATCH IT?

Fans of great comedy and drama – and maybe JK Rowling.

WHO SHOULDN’T WATCH IT?

People who think Harry Potter is real

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The Indo says ‘woah!’