Parminder Nagra races along a hospital corridor in her jammies, barefoot. It’s the first scene in ITV’s exciting new medical drama Maternal, but Nagra’s anxiety dream could well be her own. After all, she’s been back on the wards for the past 14 years as Dr. Neela Rasgotra.
‘This is not your typical medical drama,’ says Nagra, while filming in a St Helens office block doubling as City General Hospital. ‘It does that beautiful thing of straddling the line between the black humour of life and a highly pressurised job.’
The way Jacqui Honess-first Martin’s television script, Maternal, juggles parenting, jobs, and relationships is delightful. Mum’s Lisa McGrillis plays Helen, a registrar, and Lara Pulver plays Catherine, a surgeon. After maternity leave, the three buddies returned to their rigorous occupations.
‘Maryam wants to go to work to get away from the kids but at the same time she doesn’t really,’ says Nagra. ‘She’s doubting how she can make her work and family life function. But when she’s thrown into the deep end at the hospital, she realises how good she is at her job, too.
‘Us three actors have all got kids, and when you’re not doing a nine-to-five job, how do you make that work? For years I thought there was a secret formula until I realised there’s not. Everyone’s just sort of futzing their way through. You just figure it out – because you have to.’
For McGrillis, this meant that her own baby daughter played the role of her character’s child. ‘I was like, “Listen, I’ll just take a cut of her wage, act as her agent – 75 per cent, maybe,”’ she laughs.
McGrillis’ son also spent time on set during her daughter’s scenes.
‘It was a wonderful nightmare, if I’m honest. I know people will be able to relate to this – that idea of keeping a hold of a part of yourself when you have a family. So many friends say, “God, Lisa you seem to be absolutely smashing this being a parent and being back at work.” And I’m like, “Oh my God – I feel like I’m doing a terrible job at everything.”’
‘I have such respect for the NHS… even when it’s failing, it’s still operating on some level,’ adds Pulver. ‘My mother-in-law was in hospital recently and there were 180 patients being admitted into that A&E that day.’
So what can a six-part drama add to that conversation?
‘Well, Maternal is absolutely shining a spotlight on the NHS in a celebratory way,’ says Pulver, ‘just as much as in an eye-opening way.’
Maternal continues on ITV1 on Monday at 9pm. The full series is available now on ITVX