The Indian Doctor in Wales
Post categories: Television
| 11:50 UK time, Monday, 15 November 2010
A new period comedy drama begins on Â鶹Éç One Wales today, in which a sleepy Welsh mining village is changed by the arrival of the new local GP, a high-flying Delhi graduate played by Sanjeev Bhaskar.
Sanjeev Bhaskar in The Indian Doctor. Photo: Â鶹Éç/Rondo Media/Laurence Cendrowicz
The Indian Doctor explores the reactions of the residents of mining village Trefelin after their replacement GP turns out not to be quite what they expected. Dr Prem Sharma (Bhaskar) is the Indian doctor who arrives in the valleys in this daytime drama set in 1963.
But it's not just the locals who are surprised: Prem's regal wife Kamini isn't too happy with the situation either.
Bhaskar has written an article on the Â鶹Éç TV blog in which he describes filming in Wales and working with his co-stars Ayesha Dharker (Kamini) and Mark Williams - who all starred together in the 2002 film Anita And Me.
He also describes how paying the Severn Bridge toll to enter Wales felt like entering a theme park, and how he enjoyed working on the project in Wales:
"There were so many highlights - it was probably the best telly experience I've had in the last five years. I tried to learn two Welsh words a day. Everyone from the make-up department to sound and cameras pitched in with suggestions - that was fun."
Read the rest of his blog article on the Â鶹Éç TV Blog, and watch The Indian Doctor today at 2.15pm on Â鶹Éç One Wales.
Comment number 1.
At 15th Nov 2010, sue wrote:Are you mad, showing this programme at 2pm, its far too good are you repeating elsewhere at a decent time. Get it out there its only me who's watching it as I'm a carer. Love the wife. move it!
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Comment number 2.
At 15th Nov 2010, Laura C - Â鶹Éç Wales Interactive wrote:Hi Sue, I'm glad you enjoyed the programme. For those of us who are unable to watch daytime Â鶹Éç drama there is the benefit of Â鶹Éç iPlayer - the first episode of The Indian Doctor is now online and available until the afternoon of Friday 26 November 2010.
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Comment number 3.
At 15th Nov 2010, juliangwent wrote:I watched them film this is Blaeanavon but did not expect it to be thsi good I do hope they will ake a second series i love this its funny as well.Well done Â鶹Éç.
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Comment number 4.
At 16th Nov 2010, audrey wrote:Whoever decided to premiere this series in a daytime slot? An absolutely first class drama that deserves prime time airing!The acting is so good that the whole half hour is entertaining and the plot is completely believable! Please tell me that this is not a one-off.
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Comment number 5.
At 16th Nov 2010, Jancarr wrote:Regards to the new series that has been on this week the indian doctor it has been atonic for me in the afternoons watching the indian doctor combining period drama with just the right amount of humour and romance. both of the performences , and the story line have been excelent please please please continue the serie Â鶹Éç many thanks from Jannet avery aged 72 exeter
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Comment number 6.
At 17th Nov 2010, nev wrote:Saw episode 1 by accident when resting a pulled muscle. Have just downloaded episode 2. How many are there? Hope the writers have kept it up. An engaging mix of sentiment and edge. Delicate acting - exaggerated but controlled and illuminating.
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Comment number 7.
At 17th Nov 2010, Laura C - Â鶹Éç Wales Interactive wrote:Hi Nev, there are five episodes in total, the last being on Friday this week. Thanks to everyone for their thoughts on the programme - there are a lot more comments that you can read through on Sanjeev Bhaskar's blog article on the Â鶹Éç TV Blog.
It's also worth noting that there's a documentary programme on tonight, The Real Indian Doctors, on Â鶹Éç One Wales at 10.45pm (which should be on Â鶹Éç iPlayer after transmission).
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Comment number 8.
At 17th Nov 2010, debi wrote:Why is such a great drama shown in the daytime. This should have a prime time slot so it can be seen by everyone. Finally we are seeing something on TV worth watching, just such a shame I will only see the first episode! I can't access i player or catch up tv so hope the Â鶹Éç will let us know this drama is being re run at a better time!
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Comment number 9.
At 19th Nov 2010, Val wrote:Class drama! Story line, humour, no aggression or violence and great casting. More dramas like this please!!!
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Comment number 10.
At 19th Nov 2010, alan wrote:My wife managed to watch the first showing and said that I should watch it because she utterly enjoyed watching such a good television drama so I did on the I player at night after work believe me you have got a fantastic programe and all week after work I could not get to watch it soon enough well done you left it open now get it put on in the evening so more people can enjoy what I have seen fill the slot now the other side has dumped heartbeat!
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Comment number 11.
At 20th Nov 2010, seraphina manferrari wrote:I loved this drama and it is a pity it is on in the afternoon. However, for older people who perhaps can't get out or use the internet, it is probably a refreshing change to some of the predictable programmes on daytime TV. I only came across it when I was searching for something else on Â鶹Éç i player and hadn't seen it advertised on TV. I just wish it was on for a whole hour, I love Sanjeev Bhaskar, it was a real gem of a programme. Whoever did the research was spot on. I really hope this will be more than a one off. Thanks
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Comment number 12.
At 20th Nov 2010, taffy1171 wrote:Ex-pat resident now in Harrogate. I was a teenager in a South Wales village at the time portrayed, in a mining family. Series was reasonably authentic, well acted and brilliantly cast. One of the scenes had me in stitches as I could put names to the characters, I suppose we all can do that. Please rush forward the next series and a much longer run. Congrats to to Sanjeev on an empathetic interpretation of the 60's valleys.
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Comment number 13.
At 21st Nov 2010, kerrywales wrote:I heard about this on Channel 5!!? So I decided to watch it on iPlayer.
They are right.
Why on earth is this on daytime. Well written. Well acted. Beautiful scenery (bit biased there). Well produced. This really deserves a mass audience.
This really is an award winning production. Everyone involved should be really proud.
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Comment number 14.
At 22nd Nov 2010, mollybawn wrote:What a great show - good story lines, humour, drama and, great acting. I hope there are more series in the pipeline. What about an evening slot. I am sure this programme will be a hit. It is with me.
Molly, Darwen
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Comment number 15.
At 24th Nov 2010, Laura C - Â鶹Éç Wales Interactive wrote:Good news, for viewers in Wales at least: The Indian Doctor is being repeated on Â鶹Éç One Wales - tune in to episode one at 10.45pm tonight, or you can still watch the episode on Â鶹Éç iPlayer.
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Comment number 16.
At 27th Nov 2010, zykie178 wrote:Really enjoyed watching first episode on Iplayer. Saw programme advertised and missed it, didn't realise programme on in the afternoon weekday! Thought it would be on in the evening. Does anyone know if the other episodes are going to shown on iplayer?!
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