Series synopsis
Peak Practice is a British drama television series that premiered on ITV1 on May 10, 1993. It ended on January 31, 2002. It stars Kevin Whately, Amanda Burton, Maggie O'Neill and Saskia Wickham.
Peak Practice is a British drama series about a GP surgery in Cardale — a small fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District — and the doctors who worked there. It ran on ITV from 10 May 1993 to 30 January 2002 and was one of their most successful series at the time. It originally starred Kevin Whately as Dr Jack Kerruish, Amanda Burton as Dr Beth Glover and Simon Shepherd as Dr Will Preston, though the roster of doctors would change many times over the course of the series.
Cardale was based ...
Premise
Peak Practice is a British drama series about a GP surgery in Cardale — a small fictional town in the Derbyshire Peak District — and the doctors who worked there. It ran on ITV from 10 May 1993 to 30 January 2002 and was one of their most successful series at the time. It originally starred Kevin Whately as Dr Jack Kerruish, Amanda Burton as Dr Beth Glover and Simon Shepherd as Dr Will Preston, though the roster of doctors would change many times over the course of the series.
Cardale was based on the Staffordshire village of Longnor for the final series, but was previously based in the Derbyshire village of Crich, although certain scenes were filmed at other nearby Derbyshire towns and villages, most notably Matlock, Belper and Ashover.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Kevin Whately as Dr. Jack Kerruish
- Amanda Burton as Dr. Beth Glover
- Maggie O'Neill as Dr. Alex Redman
- Saskia Wickham as Dr. Erica Matthews
- Haydn Gwynne as Dr. Joanna Graham
- Sharon Hinds as Ellie Ndebala
- Mark Addy as Alec Kitson
- Veronica Roberts as Laura Elliott
Supporting cast
- Esther Coles as Kim Beardsmore
- Adrian Lukis as Dr. David Shearer
- Sarah Parish as Dawn Rudge
- Anne Reid as Rita Barrat
- Gray O'Brien as Dr. Tom Deneley
- Gary Mavers as Dr. Andrew Attwood
- Simon Shepherd as Dr. Will Preston
- Joseph Millson as Dr. Sam Morgan
- Deborah Grant as Carol Johnson
Guest cast
- Susannah Corbett as Dr. Kerri Davidson
- Tony Audenshaw as Peter Castle
- Caroline Catz as Carol Dart
- Minnie Driver as Sue Keel
- Vincent Regan as Peter Doland
- Daniel Ryan as Damien
- Ian Mercer as 'Clarkey' Clarke
- Hugh Bonneville as Dominic Kent
- Tony Doyle as Bob Massey
- Judy Loe as Sheila Massey
- Albert Welling as Ross Bain
- Amanda Walker as Elaine Deneley
Episodes
This series spans 12 seasons with 152 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 8 | May 10, 1993 | June 28, 1993 |
| Season 2 | 13 | March 1, 1994 | May 24, 1994 |
| Season 3 | 15 | January 31, 1995 | May 16, 1995 |
| Season 4 | 10 | February 27, 1996 | April 30, 1996 |
| Season 5 | 14 | January 14, 1997 | April 22, 1997 |
| Season 6 | 14 | January 5, 1998 | April 20, 1998 |
| Season 7 | 13 | January 5, 1999 | April 6, 1999 |
| Season 8 | 13 | September 14, 1999 | December 14, 1999 |
| Season 9 | 13 | January 4, 2000 | March 28, 2000 |
| Season 10 | 13 | September 5, 2000 | December 19, 2000 |
| Season 11 | 13 | January 2, 2001 | April 5, 2001 |
| Season 12 | 13 | October 25, 2001 | January 31, 2002 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sharp Practice Dr Jack Kerruish finishes his last day at The Dry River Clinic in Africa. Jack is moving back to England as he not welcome by the African government any longer. Jack feels he has finished the job he came to do and after a farewell from his African friends, he travels to England to find work as a country G.P. Meanwhile in the rural village of Cardale, Derbyshire, Dr Beth Glover; senior partner of The Beeches surgery is greeted by a speeding sports car driven by her flash ex-colleague Dr. Daniel Acres. Dan is about to begin his first day at the new health centre. He wants Beth to join him there but she says no - she's happy at The Beeches. Beth's partner Dr Will Preston arrives for work and tells Beth he doesn't know how will they cope now Dan has gone. As they walk into The Beeches it is a state of chaos with patients everywhere and local pensioner Alice North demanding to be seen quicker than she was last week, practice receptionist Kim Beardsmore says she's she what she can do. Jack i |
May 10, 1993 |
| 2 |
Outsiders Ellie tries to help pensioner Douglas Hart with his cataract problem. However he is stubborn and gets by with a lot of help from his close friend Alice North. Will is being constantly nagged by is wife Sarah. She feels Jack's presence at The Beeches will push Will into being a part-timer. Will says 'Roll on the day'.Dan Acres implies to Sarah that Jack and Beth are seeing each other. Jack and Ellie tell Beth that she must be more firmer with hospital in order for Douglas to get the operation he needs. Beth says it's not as easy as that and that patients have to wait their turn. Jack later pops around to Beth's to discuss waiting list procedures. She invites him to stay for dinner. They resolve to have a work free conversation, despite the initial awkwardness they find that they alcohol in common! Sarah presses Will about Jack and Beth, she tells him what Dan said and says with Jack and Beth now 'at it' he will certainly be pushed out of the practice. Douglas falls over whilst trying to |
May 17, 1993 |
| 3 |
Growing Pains Teenager Gemma Sinclair gets an injury whilst training for a running event. Her father; Alan is convinced that Gemma is the next big thing in running and his constant pushing does not help her recover. Whilst Will is playing squash; Sarah is in bed with Dan Acres. They have been having an affair. She asks Dan to persuade John Reginald to make Will a partner at the health centre. Dan says he will try. Will tells Sarah he is happy at The Beeches. Sarah tells him that Jack doesn't think very highly of him. The Beeches crew attend an opera recital. Jack and Ellie are bored stiff, whilst Sarah spends the evening flirting and exchanging looks with Dan. Jack and Ellie convince Beth to take a weekend off as she is exhausted. Beth says shared nightcalls with the health centre would be the perfect solution - if they weren't at war. Gemma takes a shine to Jack as he treats her injury. After he finishes surgery he finds a package on his car bonnet. It is a tape from Gemma telling him how much she |
May 24, 1993 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
In Good Faith Jack and Beth give Will a few days off as he and Sarah are moving house. Beth asks Will how things are going he says he and Sarah are trying to sort out their money troubles, hence the house move. Beth tells Jack she wants to spend the evening alone so that she can catch up with herself. He agrees it's a good idea - he's got a tax form to fill in. No sooner have they arrived home to their separate houses they both get bored and lonely. Beth attempts to call Jack but he beats her to it - arriving on her doorstep with a bottle of wine. She is happy to see him. Trevor is having problems 'performing' and keeps giving Leanda the brush off. She is heartbroken and thinks Trevor doesn't want her anymore. Trevor visits Jack but find it hard to explain the sexual problems he is encountering. He later talks to Will who tells Trevor he is suffering from stress. Beth goes to see Will and hands him a housewarming present. He teases her about she and Jack and tells her he should stop stringing Jack a |
March 1, 1994 |
| 2 |
Old Habits Sarah is upset that she and Will haven't received and invitation to the captains ball. Will assures her that it's probably just stuck in the post. Beth asks Jack if they can meet for supper. He tells her he's not sure what kind of relationship they have anymore. He's confused as to whether they are friends, lovers, what? Beth assures him that nothing's changed and it will just take them a while to get back to where they were before he proposed. Beth battles with Rob Clulow, a friend of The Beeches staff whom, despite a heart condition can't give up smoking. Beth tries to get Mr. Jenkins to operate on Rob but he refuses seeing as how Rob has made no attempt to quite smoking. Jack and Beth are adamant that Rob should have the operation but Will agrees with Jenkins. Rob's son Harry becomes friends with Tony Preston. They both go to the new school. Whilst playing at the wreck Tony and Harry become involved in a fight with some older lads. In no time at all bricks and stones are being hurl |
March 8, 1994 |
| 3 |
Love Thy Neighbour Will and Sarah host a housewarming party. Beth is not happy that Will has invited fundholding advisor Greg Miller and when Sarah tells Greg it's Beth who's holding The Beeches back from going fundholding, Beth makes sure her views on fundholding are made clear. Brian Drake complains to Beth that Jack won't fit him in for a medical even though he needs it for work. Beth asks Jack why he hasn't fit Brian in and Jack explains that he was keeping to the practice policy - non-urgent medicals are carried out in the third Saturday of every month. Chloe is tired and irritable. James tells Jack he thinks something is wrong with her. Chloe goes to see Jack and tells him she has found a lump in her neck. Jack feels it and doesn't think it is anything serious but send Chloe for a biopsy anyway. The biopsy shows that Chloe has Hodgkin's disease - a form of Cancer. Chloe insists that James shouldn't know that she is sick. Jack tells her he will help her beat this illness. Jack is surprised to see Br |
March 16, 1994 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Light at the End of the Tunnel Jack is observing with the cave rescue team when they are called out to an emergency. A group of schoolchildren and their teacher have become trapped inside. Beth and Kim have a mid morning break. It's Jack and Beth's first wedding anniversary and Beth is convinced that Jack has forgotten. Kim assures her that he's probably got a big romantic surprise planned. Jack calls Beth at The Beeches. She is concerned when he tells her he will be taking part in the rescue. His mobile cuts out as he is about to wish her 'Happy Anniversary'. Isabel visits Paul; and old friend and a doctor. Isabel has cancer of the pancreas. Paul informs Isabel that she could have several months of good living before her condition worsens. The news isn't of any comfort to Isabel who confides in Paul that she has yet to tell anyone of her condition - not even Beth. Despite opposition and bad weather; the cave rescues leader Tommo insists that the rescue go ahead. He takes a team underground including Jack as the onl |
January 31, 1995 |
| 2 |
Tender New practice nurse Laura Elliott starts work at The Beeches. She's soon thrown out of her depth when Alice demands an appointment during full surgery. Will tells Laura he'll pay Alice a home visit. When he sees Alice he tells her she shouldn't have snapped at Laura like she did and prescribes rest and warmth. Jack and Will clash when Trevor pushes Will to stand for a seat on the local council. Jack isn't convinced that Will could be 'champion of the people'. However Will decides to give it a go and attends a council members dinner and dance with Trevor and Leanda. Pat Hargrove who is on the council board talks to Will and intends to boost his council campaign. Jack and Beth move into their new house with help from Isabel who is putting a brave face on her illness. Alice's nosy neighbour, Mrs Roberts, alerts Will that she hasn't seen Alice all morning. Will becomes concerned when he gets no answer from Alice's house. He breaks in and finds her unconscious. Alice is taken away in an amb |
February 7, 1995 |
| 3 |
Coming In Jack, Beth, Will and Isabel have dinner together. However Will is left in the dark over Isabel's cancer. Isabel tells Beth she's coping well and refuses Beth's offer of a Macmillan nurse. A group of people arrive in Cardale. They have a history of mental health and their presence splits the Cardale community in half. One patient is convinced that his poorly child is the result of the groups unhealthy living. It is discovered that the child has Weils disease and more and more patients become convinced that the rats which cause the disease are coming from the groups home. With mental illness close to his heart, Jack finds himself fighting the mental health patients course. Beth is concerned that he is becoming too involved. Jack investigates the claim against the group and finds dead cattle near a stream where the infected children has been playing. Jack, Beth and Laura attend a meeting to ban mental health patients from residing in Cardale. They are on the side of the mental health pati |
February 14, 1995 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Holding it Together Erica Matthews is lost in the peaks trying to find her way to a house call. On her travels she overtakes a car; on looking in her rear window she is concerned to see that the car is no longer behind her. She goes to investigate and sees the car half in the river. Erica offers her assistance to the driver; Mick who is sitting on the river bank and is alarmed when he says his daughter; Debbie us still trapped in he car. Erica rescues the girl from the car and performs CPR on her. They are taken to the hospital where Erica is questioned by the police. Meanwhile at The Beeches Will is having problems with the FHSA. They are unhappy with the way The Beeches is performing. Will explains that in the past two months he has lost both his partners and his fund manager and that he is doing his best to hold things together. The FHSA explain that The Beeches is losing patients and state the fact that there still no new partners to replace Jack or Beth. Will tells them that a Dr. Webster has express |
February 27, 1996 |
| 2 |
A New Life The folk of Cardale take part in a fun run to raise money for some hospital equipment. Chloe, Erica and Kirsty join in the crowd cheering on Will, James and Andrew. Tony and Julian spend their last few days in England with Will. Erica joins them for dinner and Tony and Julian suggest that she move in next door to Will. Will explains to Erica that when he brought the house the cottage next door was part of the deal. Kate returns to The Beeches to talk to Will. She tells him she's not happy with the current night cover policy. He tells her she should come back and discuss it with him when she's been in Cardale a little longer. Erica is alarmed when Will, Kim and Andrew turn away a patient who claims his wife is unwell. She is appalled by their matter of fact approach to towards the situation. She soon understands their reasons when she pays the man a home visit and finds his wife is nothing but an empty quilt cover and a figment of his imagination. With Will's help Erica pronounces invis |
March 5, 1996 |
| 3 |
New Horizons Erica loses her keys. She goes round to Wills to get the master set. He is missing Tony and Julian and asks her if she'd like to stay for a drink but she says no, she has paperwork to catch up on. Kim asks Will how he is coping without the boys - he tells her he is slowly getting used to it. He is touched by her concern. Erica asks Andrew for a favour. She has flooded the bathroom at the cottage and managed to blow a fuse. She doesn't know how to fix it and doesn't want to tell Will. He agrees to go to the hardware store with her. Will tells them he is off to have lunch with Kate. Andrew asks if relations between them have improved after the night cover disagreement – Will says actually Kate is alright once you get to know her. Andrew helps Erica fix the fuse. He tells her he has noticed that she likes Will, he says she should hold a housewarming party in order to woo Will! Whilst out Andrew and Erica attend to Jill, a pregnant lady who has collapsed in the town. They find out her G.P |
March 12, 1996 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Eye of the Storm Andrew returns to Cardale, six months after leaving Will and Erica in the lurch. Can he persuade them to take him back? And a bereaved husband fights for custody of his epileptic daughter |
January 14, 1997 |
| 2 |
The Price Will suspects that Kate has post-natal depression. But as their baby daughter's health deteriorates, they have to face a much greater threat |
January 21, 1997 |
| 3 |
Innocent Blood As David's family join him in Cardale, he has to give the parents of a young boy he delivered 11 years ago some shattering news. Andrew has his powers of persuasion tested by a needle-shy patient whose exotic trip of a lifetime is put in jeopardy by his fear of jabs. And baby Emily's illness continues to put Will and Kate's relationship under strain |
January 28, 1997 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
All Fall Down A meningitis outbreak throws Cardale into chaos. Andrew, Erica and David work around the clock trying to avoid further cases of the disease and convince the health authority that all the children need to be vaccinated. Meanwhile Andrew and Erica discuss their relationship |
January 5, 1998 |
| 2 |
Through a Glass Darkly Dawn's outlook on life is suddenly changed when she finds a lump on her breast. Terrified she will die from the same disease that killed her mother; Dawn refuses to have any medical treatment. It's down to Erica to try and convince her to seek medical help, but it will it be Dawn's children who give her the real incentive to live? |
January 12, 1998 |
| 3 |
A Matter of Principle The stability of Claire's mental state is in jeopardy when her tablets start providing her with side effects. But when she goes to see Andrew tests reveal that it's not the tablets for her illness that are making her sick........ |
January 19, 1998 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Race Against Time Andrew and friend Ronnie are involved in a serious accident whilst rally car racing. Andrew escapes with minor injuries but Ronnie is in danger of losing his life if he doesn't receive urgent medical assistance.....Enter Dr Joanna Graham. |
January 5, 1999 |
| 2 |
The Ties that Bind Alice welcomes home daughter Patricia and granddaughter Nikki who have come to Cardale to get medical treatment for Nikki's leukaemia. Andrew has his work cut out with Ronnie and the community hospital whilst Joanna makes an interesting career move and it's time to say goodbye to Kim. |
January 12, 1999 |
| 3 |
Turn a Blind Eye Joanna becomes over involved with a patient and soon regrets her actions. Alice and Nikki wait to see if their transplant has been successful and old flames reignite between David and Patricia |
January 19, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Breaking Point Joanna runs into the middle of a medical emergency whilst on her day off. Rita Barratt arrives back in Cardale and back at The Beeches there's a special delivery for Dawn and Sam. |
September 14, 1999 |
| 2 |
Alone Cardale is thrown into a state of shock when Alice is brutally attacked in her own home. Can the pillar of the community recover from this devastating intrusion. Meanwhile Joanna, who is torn apart with guilt over the attack, turns to Martin for comfort. |
September 21, 1999 |
| 3 |
Eskimo Roll After disaster strikes at their home, Dawn and her children move in with Andrew. But as relations between Andrew and the children are frosty, family bliss looks unlikely. Alice struggles to come to terms with memories of her attack and Joanna and Martin reach an understanding over their relationship. |
September 28, 1999 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
And Then There Were Two As Andrew decides where his future lies, Joanna and Sam struggle to hold The Beeches together in his absence. A virus outbreak does nothing to help their situation especially when The Beeches is targeted as the cause. |
January 4, 2000 |
| 2 |
Close to Home New arrivals in Cardale as The Pullen family arrive to take over The Black Swan and Physio Kerri Davidson starts work at The Beeches. Meanwhile Joanna meets an old friend at a school reunion and Andrew solves Sam's housing situation. |
January 11, 2000 |
| 3 |
Family Values Sam helps Rob come to terms with his parental responsibilities on the anniversary of Allie's death, whilst Kerri tries to persuade Andrew to keep an open mind about her alternative health remedies |
January 18, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
For the Love of The Child The Beeches staff struggle to pick up the pieces after Joanna's tragic death. Andrew continues his dangerous liaison with Kate, Sam learns a secret about Kerri, whilst Tom has to decide whether there is a future from him in Cardale. Meanwhile new doctor Alex Redman makes a dramatic entrance. |
September 5, 2000 |
| 2 |
Hit and Run Alex finds the countryside is not as peaceful as she imagined when she is pushed by a patient and breathalysed on her way to work. Richard discovers Andrew and Kate's affair and breaks the news to The Beeches staff in spectacular fashion. |
September 12, 2000 |
| 3 |
Skin Deep The Beeches staff are torn as the repercussions of Andrew and Kate's affair takes hold. As the new partnership agreement is about to be signed, will Sam, Tom and Alex agree to stay at a practice which is at loggerheads with it's PCG chairman? |
September 19, 2000 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Still Waters Determined to save her marriage, Kate tries her hardest to get through to Will - but how will he react when he finds her move to Cardale is a permanent one? Meanwhile Tom and Alex have some unfinished business to sort out and Sam and Kerri begin to cope with the aftermath of the accident. |
January 2, 2001 |
| 2 |
Flesh and Blood Bridget oversteps the mark when she gets too close to a patient. Tom and Alex brush of their previous kiss, however Tom's true feelings may be revealed as Alex goes on a date with a GP from a rival practice. Meanwhile as Kerri struggles with her physio, Sam makes a decision that could put their future in jeopardy. |
January 9, 2001 |
| 3 |
Win Some, Lose Some Nick risks his health to pursue his cycling career, whilst Sam gets himself into deeper trouble to pay for Kerri's physio and their impending wedding. Meanwhile Will and Kate clash when their personal problems begin to cloud their work judgement. |
January 16, 2001 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Episode 1 New faces in Cardale. How will Alex's army pal Claire and Will's son Tony make their mark on Cardale? Has Alex recovered from her operation and have Will and Kate settled back into married life? |
October 25, 2001 |
| 2 |
Episode 2 More trouble for Will and Kate as secrets about Tony's life are revealed. The new pub landlord sparks off different reactions and Claire gets too close to comfort for Tom. |
November 1, 2001 |
| 3 |
Episode 3 A bitter row develops between Will and Kate when they clash over a patient and struggle to deal with the aftermath of Tony. Cardale becomes victim of an epidemic and Claire shows her true colours when she questions the basis of Alex's relationship with Tom. |
November 8, 2001 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 10, 1993 |
| Last aired | January 31, 2002 |
| Runtime | 60 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 21:00:00 |