Maternal, which also stars Lisa McGrillis, will focus on three working mothers on the NHS frontline. 

itv have commissioned a new six-part drama exploring the lives of three female Doctors in the post-pandemic NHS. The show follows their stories, each juggling the demands of both motherhood and medicine.

Maternal‘s cast has three high-profile names: Parminder Nagra (DI Ray, Blacklist), Lara Pulver (The Split, Sherlock) and Lisa McGrillis (King Gary, Avoidance).

ITV say:

Maternal explores working motherhood with wit, warmth and humour and offers a unique perspective on our beloved, overstretched NHS, and the people who hold it together. Sometimes.

Parminder Nagra plays Dr Maryam Afridi, a Paediatric Registrar. She is full of doubt that she can cope with the emotional demands of treating children now that she has her own

Lara Pulver is Ms Catherine MacDiarmid; a single mother and successful surgeon, she’s determined to be one of the boys in the macho world of surgery.

Finally, Lisa McGrills plays Dr Helen Cavendish. A Registrar in Acute Medicine, she wrestles with a self-prescribed role that sees her mothering everyone in her life.

Jacqui Honess-Martin

This is writer Jacqui Honess-Martin’s first television work, though she’s an experienced director and theatre writer. She commented:

“I am thrilled to bring this funny, warm and quietly political story to ITV. It’s been humbling to have the opportunity to hear the stories of so many brave and brilliant female doctors working in the NHS over the past two years and I know the incredible team working on this show will do them proud.”

The show’s director is James Griffiths (Black-ish, Episodes). Its executive producers is Patrick Spence and Kat Pugsley for ITV Studios, alongside Honess-Martin and Griffiths. The Producer is Betsan Morris Evans (Ridley Road, War of the Worlds).

ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill, who commissioned the show, adds:

“Jacqui’s scripts are brilliant, and they perfectly capture how difficult it can be for women juggling family life, whilst under pressure at work, making critical life or death decisions. It’s hard to believe this is her first television drama. I’m thrilled Parminder, Lara and Lisa will lead our cast and to be working with Patrick Spence and James Griffiths on what promises to be a modern and engaging medical drama.”

Maternal is currently filming and we expect it to air on itv in 2023.