Bodies (TV Series)

Bodies (TV series)

Bodies is an award-winning British television medical drama produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. Created by Jed Mercurio, the series began in 2004 and is based on his book Bodies. The series won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series in 2005, having been a nominee in 2004; it was nominated in the same category for the BAFTA Awards in 2004 and 2005. The series also won the Royal Television Society Award for Best Make-Up Effects in 2004 and again in 2005. In December 2009, The Times ranked Bodies in 9th place in its list of "Shows of the Decade". In January 2010, The Guardian ranked Bodies number 20 of "The Greatest Television Dramas of All-Time".

The first series debuted on BBC Three as the channel at this time was trying to break out into hour-long dramas. The first series soon made the move to a terrestrial channel as BBC Two aired it in the late 2004. With end of the first series left open-ended, BBC Three and BBC Two co-commissioned a second series, increasing the number of episodes from six to ten.

BBC Two debuted the second series in September 2005 with BBC Three airing the next episode straight after the episode on BBC Two. Despite widespread critical acclaim, the BBC did not order a third series as it was not possible to renew the co-commission from both BBC3 and BBC2.

After the second series ended, Max Beesley told BBC Radio 1's The Chris Moyles Show that an additional one or two episodes were being planned to conclude the series. The drama has been described as a "dark, sometimes funny" take on the favourite genre made popular through shows such as Casualty and Holby City.

The series, starring Max Beesley, Keith Allen and Patrick Baladi has developed a cult following with its gritty storylines and gruesome theatre scenes. The series was also broadcast to American audiences on digital channel BBC America during the late summer/early autumn of 2005.

The last episode was broadcast on 13 December 2006 on BBC Three.