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Series · 1989 – 2000 · Drama

Children's Ward

★5.2 1989 – 2000 12 Seasons Paul Abbott TV-MA

Children's Ward is a British children's television drama series produced by Granada Television and broadcast on the ITV network as part of its Children's ITV strand on weekday afternoons. The programme was set – as the title suggests – in Ward B1, the children's ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital, and told the stories of the young patients and the staff present there. Aimed at older children and teenagers, Children's Ward was a long-lived series for a children's drama, starting life in 1988 as a contribution to the Dramarama anthology strand, "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night", then first broadcast as a series 1989 and running from then until 2000. The series was conceived by Granada staff writers Paul Abbott and Kay Mellor, both of whom went on to enjoy successful careers as award-winning writers of adult television drama. At the time, they were both working on the soap opera Coronation Street, and had recently collaborated on a script for Dramarama. Abbott, who had been through a troubled childhood himself, had initially wanted to set the series in a children's care home rather than a hospital, but this was vetoed by Granada executives. During the course of its run, however, Children's Ward won many plaudits for covering difficult issues such as cancer, alcoholism, drug addiction and child abuse in a sensitive manner. The programme won many awards, including in 1996 a BAFTA Children's Award for Best Drama, won by an episode in which a serial killer lures children to him via the internet and is – highly unusually for children's television – not eventually caught.

Seasons & episodes

12 seasons · 142 episodes

Episode 1

Episode 01

Episode 1

Mar 15, 1989

Fiona is knocked down by a car whilst running away to a concert. But her mum nearly causes another accident when she slaps a hot cup of tea from Mags's hand. Dave is stressed the new doctor hasn't arrived, and makes sure everybody knows it.

Episode 2

Episode 02

Episode 2

Mar 22, 1989

An over-keen new boy nurse causes a series of mishaps, Keely has her eye on a gorgeous stud who's been visiting Billy, and a nasty nasty man combines a sweet treats trolley with a lemon sour manner.

Episode 3

Episode 03

Episode 3

Mar 29, 1989

Fiona's still in a coma, but the other kids disown her. Gary is more interested in awkwardly chatting up Diane than making amends for his mishaps. Alex is at risk of not seeing half of these silly antics.

Episode 4

Episode 04

Episode 4

Apr 5, 1989

Mrs. Brett starts to behave like an acceptable human being after her stern talking to by Dave, but his school-masterly manner does not work as well on Billy. A gypsy dumps her boy in the children's ward without so much as a sprig of heather.

Episode 5

Episode 05

Episode 5

Apr 12, 1989

Billy continues with his coke habit - the liquid kind. The kids take their revenge on the terrible trolley tyrant. Something is afoot with Darren. The staff worry about gypsy George fitting in, but it's another kind of fit that's the problem.

Episode 6

Episode 06

Episode 6

Apr 19, 1989

Billy is a bully. Dave jealously guards his jealousy over Charlotte's engagement.

Episode 7

Episode 07

Episode 7

Apr 26, 1989

After downing vodka in a way that even a seasoned alcoholic would struggle with, Billy loses his bottle. Mags keeps riding her bike, but she's on the road to nowhere. McKeown says och aye to Alex's operation.

Episode 8

Episode 08

Episode 8

May 3, 1989

Priorities are all over the place when Tiffany puts meeting a radio disc jockey over a holiday in Spain, and Billy's parents would rather squabble than help their son.

Episode 9

Episode 09

Episode 9

May 10, 1989

Ben's inability to lose weight is a cause for concern. Meanwhile, Keely's weight loss causes concern.

Episode 10

Episode 10

Episode 10

May 17, 1989

The staff get to the nitty gritty of the head lice problem. Suzanna is happy with her nose, and knows what makes her happy. The problem child finally shows some vulnera-Billy-ty. Sleeping Beauty's eyes are opened. Dean's been mean.

Episode 11

Episode 11

Episode 11

May 24, 1989

A game of musical romances begins, both on the staff and the patient side. The wanderer returns, in the form of George's father. Fiona's dreams are driving her silly.

Episode 12

Episode 12

Episode 12

May 31, 1989

McKeown takes the high road by retiring early. Billy gets less silly by mentioning the meal he saw flushed by Keely.

Episode 13

Episode 13

Episode 13

Jun 7, 1989

The old forgotten birthday cover for surprise party is wheeled out for Alex's 12th. But there is a far less predictable twist in the tail of this first series.

About the series

Children's Ward poster
Audience score
★ 5.2 /10

based on 4 votes

Synopsis

Children's Ward is a British children's television drama series produced by Granada Television and broadcast on the ITV network as part of its Children's ITV strand on weekday afternoons. The programme was set – as the title suggests – in Ward B1, the children's ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital, and told the stories of the young patients and the staff present there. Aimed at older children and teenagers, Children's Ward was a long-lived series for a children's drama, starting life in 1988 as a contribution to the Dramarama anthology strand, "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night", then first broadcast as a series 1989 and running from then until 2000. The series was conceived by Granada staff writers Paul Abbott and Kay Mellor, both of whom went on to enjoy successful careers as award-winning writers of adult television drama. At the time, they were both working on the soap opera Coronation Street, and had recently collaborated on a script for Dramarama. Abbott, who had been through a troubled childhood himself, had initially wanted to set the series in a children's care home rather than a hospital, but this was vetoed by Granada executives. During the course of its run, however, Children's Ward won many plaudits for covering difficult issues such as cancer, alcoholism, drug addiction and child abuse in a sensitive manner. The programme won many awards, including in 1996 a BAFTA Children's Award for Best Drama, won by an episode in which a serial killer lures children to him via the internet and is – highly unusually for children's television – not eventually caught.

DramaKids

Cast

8 principal cast

Nikki Sanderson

Nikki Sanderson

Alan Rothwell

Alan Rothwell

Steven Arnold

Tina O'Brien

Tina O'Brien

Victoria Finney

Victoria Finney

Richard Calabro

Nina Baden-Semper

Nina Baden-Semper

Judy Holt

Where to watch Children's Ward

Children's Ward is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The drama from Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor has 12 seasons and 142 total episodes, rated 5.2/10 by 4 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does Children's Ward have?

Children's Ward has 12 seasons with 142 episodes in total.

Is Children's Ward still on the air?

Children's Ward has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs Children's Ward?

Children's Ward airs on ITV1.

When did Children's Ward first air?

Children's Ward first aired on March 15, 1989.

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