Six episodes in to Critical, and we’re getting used to the format of Sky’s new medical drama. A patient arrives, probably with breathing difficulties; there’s a period of jargon-led assessment; via a detour to the CT department we move to theatre; and ultimately the patient will be opened up, at which point cue graphic detail … >

In a nice change of pace to the usual problem of insufficient resources and staff, this week the Critical trauma team has quite the opposite problem when they find themselves with too many doctors. More specifically, Lorraine Rapparport (the marvellous Claire Skinner) is back after her sudden disappearing act in the first episode. It turns … >

“It’s working, you’re making the team a unit,” says Fiona to Glen at the end of this week’s Critical. It’s probably as reckless a statement as saying, “See you back in Blighty” during a War film, and almost certainly next week the team will be disbanded, or will be fiercely at loggerheads with each other, … >

It’s an indication of how engrossing Critical is that despite my squeamishness with regard to medical matters I’m finding it compulsive viewing. In fact during this week’s episode I found myself delighted to focus on the exposed chest cavity of the patient – mainly because it allowed me to divert my attention away from the … >

With great economy, the second episode of Critical sets about bringing the show’s wide cast of characters to life. It’s not easy task in a programme set in ‘real time’ (or “The Golden Hour” as one of the characters labels it), but it’s an impressive demonstration of the old adage of ‘show not tell’. The … >

At the start of Critical’s first episode, an air ambulance helicopter comes in to land on the rooftop helipad of a building called General Hospital. However, any suggestion that this familiar name brings with it the comfortable ‘doctor/nurse romance’ territory of the afternoon soap is promptly expelled as the anonymous patient-of-the-week projectile vomits a spray … >