Best known to Doctor Who fans as Madame Vastra, Scottish actress Neve McIntosh stars as head nurse Nicola Hicklin in Sky1’s Critical.
An ultra-realistic real-time medical drama from Line of Duty creator Jed Mercurio, the 13-part series begins at 9pm on Tuesday 24 February on Sky1. Set in a state-of-the-art Major Trauma Centre, each episode scrubs into a different case.
Lennie James (Line of Duty) leads the ensemble cast as locum trauma consultant Glen Boyle, alongside Catherine Walker (Strike Back) as trauma registrar Fiona Lomas, Claire Skinner (Outnumbered) as trauma consultant Lorraine Rappaport and Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat) as junior doctor Dr. “Harry” Bennett-Edwardes.
What made you want to be involved with Critical?
“The prospect of working with Jed Mercurio again. I did Bodies with him, so this is all his fault! We have had some very good chats about the character.
“At first, Jed thought that she could actually be the same character I played in Bodies, but I said, “No, no.” I didn’t want to go back. It’s great because now I get the chance to do something completely different.”
Could you please outline your character for us?
“At the beginning, people won’t like Nicola because she’s very strict. There is a whole issue about whether she’s a goodie or a baddie. She doesn’t stand any nonsense, but she is in charge so she has to be strict.
“She’s everybody’s boss, but she’s not above getting her hands dirty. If there is muck on the floor that needs cleaning, she’ll be down there doing it herself.”
What drives her?
“Nicola is all about the team. At first, she clashes with Glen and Fiona because she feels they have a secret alliance, and in Nicola’s mind everyone should be part of the team. She doesn’t like anything that is done out of sight, and she can get quite nippy. In the end, we see that she’s a goodie, but she still doesn’t kiss anyone’s behind.”
How is her relationship with Glen?
“At the start, she has no idea who Glen is, so she’s suspicious of him. He’s heading up the trauma team, and they all have to put ultimate trust in him, but she doesn’t really know him. So to begin with, they have some fiery exchanges.”
Do you enjoy those scenes?
“Yes, they are good face-off moments, which are always fun to play! Conflict is always more interesting to play. Not everyone gets along in the trauma unit. In a hard-pressed job like this, there will always be friction.
“I really admire medical people. They have a great sense of humour, and they just have to get on with it. You can’t spare the feelings of anyone in the team. Their attitude is, ‘This person is dying, so just shut up and get on with the job.'”
Have you enjoyed working on the same set for so long?
“Definitely. Working here together for 10 months has helped us bond. We even rigged up a basketball net made out of a waste-paper basket and manufactured balls out of rubber gloves and bits of paper. But sadly the props department needed the basket back so they took it away. We’ve had a real laugh here.”
What do you like about working with Jed?
“He makes it so easy for actors. We don’t have to think about our lines. We accept everything he gives us for our characters because we know it’ll be so good.
“With some writers, the script looks beautiful on the page, but actually nobody speaks like that. That never happens with Jed. His dialogue is effortless and natural.”
What do you hope audiences will take away from this drama?
“I’d like to think they’ll gain an even greater respect for the NHS than they already have. We show the most severe things that can happen to people and then demonstrate that during the first hour afterwards, the doctors and nurses do their very best to save them. That’s incredible. People should really appreciate what they do.”
Watch a preview…
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