| Bramwell | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Created by | Lucy Gannon |
| Starring | Ruth Sheen Jemma Redgrave David Calder Kevin McMonagle Keeley Gainey |
| Country of origin | UK |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Harriet Davison Tim Whitby |
| Location(s) | Sarratt, Hertfordshire, England, UK |
| Running time | 54 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Whitby Davison Productions |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original run | 1 May 1995 – 1 June 1998 |
Bramwell is a British television series starring Jemma Redgrave as Dr. Eleanor Bramwell, a woman challenging the domination of men in the medical establishment, who runs a free hospital for the poor in the East End of London, during the late Victorian era (1895).
The series by Carlton Television was shown in Britain on ITV in four series from 1995 to 1998. It was subsequently shown in other countries, such as in the United States on PBS from 1996 to 2001.
Contents |
The series begins with Eleanor Bramwell, working as a doctor in a London hospital in 1895. She is treated as an inferior by the other doctors and her opinions are often ignored. After a disagreement with a senior doctor, Eleanor is dismissed. Her father, Robert Bramwell, recommends she join him in private practice, working with rich, elderly clients. Fortunately, Eleanor receives a better offer. Lady Peters, a friend of the family, offers to fund a small hospital in a London slum, where Eleanor treats the impoverished locals. Together, Eleanor and Lady Peters found 'The Thrift', a free hospital with six beds. The Thrift is named for its location on Thrift St.
The staff of the hospital rapidly expands. Stiff, serious Nurse Carr is hired to assist Eleanor and Mr. Bentley, a former patient with an amputated leg, is hired to act as a porter. Eleanor quickly finds the hospital desperately requires an anesthetist but has little money to pay for one. She begs a former colleague, Dr. Joe Marsham to work at The Thrift part-time and he agrees on the condition that he will be able to perform surgery as well.
The first season focus on the ups and downs of The Thrift. Each episode usually focuses on one patient or event occurring at The Thrift. Social issues of the time are often tackled such as racism, alcoholism or the conditions in the workhouse. Near the end of the season, it appears the Eleanor will be married to a family friend but breaks the engagement when she realizes she will be forced to give up her work. As the season closes, Lady Peters becomes seriously ill. Her personal physician misdiagnoses her condition and by the time her true condition is realized, it is too late to save her. After her death, her fortune is left to The Thrift.
In the Second Season, The Thrift attempts to survive without Lady Peters' guidance, management and financial assistance. A new character, Dr. Finn O'Neil is introduced when a cholera epidemic occurs in the area and Finn assists in the hospital. Eleanor, Robert and Dr. Marsham intensely dislike Finn and blame him for the death of a patient. Mr. Bentley also falls ill and due to a miscalculation in medication dosages, dies of poisoning. To assist the impoverished Bentley family, Eleanor hires Mr. Bentley's teenage son, Sydney to act as the porter. Later in the series, Mr. Marsham considers taking a better position in Edinburgh but remains at The Thrift when his wife is diagnosed with breast cancer. The cancer is too severe to save her and she dies in Dr. Marsham's arms. Eleanor, despite her original opinions of Dr. O'Neil, falls in love with him in the last episode of the season. They enjoy a brief romance but are soon separated. Finn is forced to take a two year position in Chicago but promises to marry Eleanor on his return. Robert Bramwell disapproves of Eleanor's relationship with Finn and is shocked when Eleanor admits she consummated the relationship with Finn. The usually close and happy relationship between Eleanor and her father is destroyed.
Season Three begins a year after Finn's leaving. He has returned to England for a conference and takes this opportunity to visit Eleanor. Eleanor confirms that she still wishes to be married to Finn in a year when he permanently returns to England. The time passes quickly and Finn soon returns but with shocking news. He has married a young daughter of an American colleague. Eleanor is crushed by the news and is forced to take a vacation from The Thrift. The Thrift struggles to manage without her for several months while she stays in the countryside with friends. It begins to appear that Eleanor with never be able to work again due to her fragile state until she discovers a measles epidemic occurring in the village. The outbreak causes Eleanor to rediscover her passion for medicine and her strong personality. She returns to London. Eleanor is once more forced to see Finn when his new bride becomes sick. As Eleanor cares for her, Finn admits his marriage was purely for money and status. He suggests that Eleanor become his mistress so that he can enjoy the benefits of marriage while still having Eleanor. She refuses and insists she does not love him. In the meantime, Robert has become engaged to a wealthy widow, Alice Costigan. Robert attempts to insist that Eleanor stay with him and Alice once they move but Eleanor refuses. Robert withdraws all financial support, leading Eleanor to propose to Dr. Marsham. He instead proposes to her, and she accepts.
The fourth season only included two episodes and was dramatically different from the previous three seasons. Robert Bramwell and Alice Costigan make no appearance in the season and their whereabouts are not mentioned. Sydney Bentley no longer appears but is replaced by another teenage porter, Tom. Tom only appears in one episode before enlisting in the army. The most apparent change is in the personality and behavior of Eleanor. She makes impulsive, often illogical decisions. She is constantly irritable. She spends little of her time at The Thrift. She is very unlike the Eleanor seen in previous seasons.
In the two episodes, Eleanor allows The Thrift to perform medical check-ups on soldiers, which leads to her meeting Major Quarry. She and Marsham disagree about her decision and decide to end the engagement. Eleanor has an affair with Major Quarry, despite their clearly different personalities and interests, resulting in a pregnancy. Eleanor makes plans to give the child up for adoption as Major Quarry is not interested in marriage and will be going to fight in the Boer War in a fortnight. She becomes obsessed with locating the child of a patient at The Thrift and searches the slums. She ignores her responsibilities at The Thrift, alienates her friends and coworkers and even steals money from The Thrift. Her behavior forces the manager of The Thrift and Marsham to dismiss her. She is devastated. At the last minute, Major Quarry leaves the military and proposes to Eleanor. She accepts his offer because she will be able to keep the child if she is married and because she loves him.
| Character | Actor |
|---|---|
| Dr. Eleanor Bramwell | Jemma Redgrave |
| Dr. Robert Bramwell | David Calder |
| Sir Herbert Hamilton | Robert Hardy |
| Lady Cora Peters | Michele Dotrice |
| Dr. Finn O'Neill | Andrew Connolly |
| Nurse Ethel Carr | Ruth Sheen |
| Dr. Joe Marsham | Kevin McMonagle |
| Sidney Bentley | Ben Brazier |
| Daniel Bentley | Cliff Parisi |
| Kate | Keeley Gainey |
| Alice Costigan | Maureen Beattie |