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Children's Ward
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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.
Castfull cast & details
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01Episode 1March 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
- S01E02Episode 2March 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
- S01E03Episode 3March 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 mi
- S01E04Episode 4April 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
- S01E05Episode 5April 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 D
- S01E06Episode 6April 19, 1989—Billy is a bully. Dave jealously guards his jealousy over Charlotte's engagement.
- S01E07Episode 7April 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
- S01E08Episode 8May 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 sq
- S01E09Episode 9May 10, 1989—Ben's inability to lose weight is a cause for concern. Meanwhile, Keely's weight loss causes concern.
- S01E10Episode 10May 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 chil
- S01E11Episode 11May 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 dre
- S01E12Episode 12May 31, 1989—McKeown takes the high road by retiring early. Billy gets less silly by mentioning the meal he saw flushed by Keely.
- S01E13Episode 13June 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
Season02
- S02E01Series 2, Episode 1January 8, 1990—
- S02E02Series 2, Episode 2January 15, 1990—
- S02E03Series 2, Episode 3January 22, 1990—
- S02E04Series 2, Episode 4January 29, 1990—
- S02E05Series 2, Episode 5February 5, 1990—
- S02E06Series 2, Episode 6February 12, 1990—
- S02E07Series 2, Episode 7February 19, 1990—
- S02E08Series 2, Episode 8February 26, 1990—
- S02E09Series 2, Episode 9March 5, 1990—
- S02E10Series 2, Episode 10March 12, 1990—
- S02E11Series 2, Episode 11March 19, 1990—
- S02E12Series 2, Episode 12April 2, 1990—
- S02E13Series 2, Episode 13April 9, 1990—
Season03
- S03E01Series 3, Episode 1October 23, 1990—
- S03E02Series 3, Episode 2October 30, 1990—
- S03E03Series 3, Episode 3November 6, 1990—
- S03E04Series 3, Episode 4November 13, 1990—
- S03E05Series 3, Episode 5November 20, 1990—
- S03E06Series 3, Episode 6November 27, 1990—
- S03E07Series 3, Episode 7December 4, 1990—
- S03E08Series 3, Episode 8December 11, 1990—
- S03E09Series 3, Episode 9December 18, 1990—
- S03E10Series 3, Episode 10January 8, 1991—
- S03E11Series 3, Episode 11January 15, 1991—
- S03E12Series 3, Episode 12January 22, 1991—
- S03E13Series 3, Episode 13January 29, 1991—
Season04
- S04E01Series 4, Episode 1October 15, 1991—
- S04E02Series 4, Episode 2October 22, 1991—
- S04E03Series 4, Episode 3October 29, 1991—
- S04E04Series 4, Episode 4November 5, 1991—
- S04E05Series 4, Episode 5November 12, 1991—
- S04E06Series 4, Episode 6November 19, 1991—
- S04E07Series 4, Episode 7November 26, 1991—
- S04E08Series 4, Episode 8December 3, 1991—
- S04E09Series 4, Episode 9December 10, 1991—
- S04E10Series 4, Episode 10December 17, 1991—
- S04E11Series 4, Episode 11December 24, 1991—
Season05
- S05E01Series 5, Episode 1October 13, 1992—
- S05E02Series 5, Episode 2October 20, 1992—
- S05E03Series 5, Episode 3October 27, 1992—
- S05E04Series 5, Episode 4November 3, 1992—
- S05E05Series 5, Episode 5November 10, 1992—
- S05E06Series 5, Episode 6November 17, 1992—
- S05E07Series 5, Episode 7November 24, 1992—
- S05E08Series 5, Episode 8December 1, 1992—
- S05E09Series 5, Episode 9December 8, 1992—
- S05E10Series 5, Episode 10December 15, 1992—
Season06
- S06E01Series 6, Episode 1October 12, 1993—
- S06E02Series 6, Episode 2October 19, 1993—
- S06E03Series 6, Episode 3October 26, 1993—
- S06E04Series 6, Episode 4November 2, 1993—
- S06E05Series 6, Episode 5November 9, 1993—
- S06E06Series 6, Episode 6November 16, 1993—
- S06E07Series 6, Episode 7November 23, 1993—
- S06E08Series 6, Episode 8November 30, 1993—
- S06E09Series 6, Episode 9December 7, 1993—
- S06E10Series 6, Episode 10December 14, 1993—
Season07
- S07E01Series 7, Episode 1October 11, 1994—
- S07E02Series 7, Episode 2October 18, 1994—
- S07E03Series 7, Episode 3October 25, 1994—
- S07E04Series 7, Episode 4November 1, 1994—
- S07E05Series 7, Episode 5November 8, 1994—
- S07E06Series 7, Episode 6November 15, 1994—
- S07E07Series 7, Episode 7November 22, 1994—
- S07E08Series 7, Episode 8December 6, 1994—
- S07E09Series 7, Episode 9December 13, 1994—
- S07E10Series 7, Episode 10December 20, 1994—
Season08
- S08E01Series 8, Episode 1September 5, 1995—
- S08E02Series 8, Episode 2September 12, 1995—
- S08E03Series 8, Episode 3September 19, 1995—
- S08E04Series 8, Episode 4September 26, 1995—
- S08E05Series 8, Episode 5October 3, 1995—
- S08E06Series 8, Episode 6October 10, 1995—
- S08E07Series 8, Episode 7October 17, 1995—
- S08E08Series 8, Episode 8October 24, 1995—
- S08E09Series 8, Episode 9October 31, 1995—
- S08E10Series 8, Episode 10November 7, 1995—
- S08E11Series 8, Episode 11November 14, 1995—
- S08E12Series 8, Episode 12November 28, 1995—
Season09
- S09E01Series 9, Episode 1September 10, 1996—
- S09E02Series 9, Episode 2September 17, 1996—
- S09E03Series 9, Episode 3September 24, 1996—
- S09E04Series 9, Episode 4October 1, 1996—
- S09E05Series 9, Episode 5October 8, 1996—
- S09E06Series 9, Episode 6October 15, 1996—
- S09E07Series 9, Episode 7October 22, 1996—
- S09E08Series 9, Episode 8October 29, 1996—
- S09E09Series 9, Episode 9November 5, 1996—
- S09E10Series 9, Episode 10November 12, 1996—
- S09E11Series 9, Episode 11November 19, 1996—
- S09E12Series 9, Episode 12November 26, 1996—
Season10
- S10E01Series 10, Episode 1November 11, 1997—
- S10E02Series 10, Episode 2November 18, 1997—
- S10E03Series 10, Episode 3November 25, 1997—
- S10E04Series 10, Episode 4December 2, 1997—
- S10E05Series 10, Episode 5December 9, 1997—
- S10E06Series 10, Episode 6December 16, 1997—
- S10E07Series 10, Episode 7January 6, 1998—
- S10E08Series 10, Episode 8January 13, 1998—
- S10E09Series 10, Episode 9January 20, 1998—
- S10E10Series 10, Episode 10January 27, 1998—
- S10E11SSeries 10, Episode 11February 3, 1998—
- S10E12Series 10, Episode 12February 10, 1998—
Season11
- S11E01Series 11, Episode 1February 4, 1999—
- S11E02Series 11, Episode 2February 11, 1999—
- S11E03Series 11, Episode 3February 18, 1999—
- S11E04Series 11, Episode 4February 25, 1999—
- S11E05Series 11, Episode 5March 4, 1999—
- S11E06Series 11, Episode 6March 11, 1999—
- S11E07Series 11, Episode 7March 18, 1999—
- S11E08Series 11, Episode 8March 25, 1999—
- S11E09Series 11, Episode 9April 1, 1999—
- S11E10Series 11, Episode 10April 8, 1999—
- S11E11Series 11, Episode 11April 15, 1999—
- S11E12Series 11, Episode 12April 22, 1999—
- S11E13Series 11, Episode 13April 29, 1999—
Season12
- S12E01Series 12, Episode 1February 10, 2000—
- S12E02Series 12, Episode 2February 17, 2000—
- S12E03Series 12, Episode 3February 24, 2000—
- S12E04Series 12, Episode 4March 2, 2000—
- S12E05Series 12, Episode 5March 9, 2000—
- S12E06Series 12, Episode 6March 16, 2000—
- S12E07Series 12, Episode 7March 23, 2000—
- S12E08Series 12, Episode 8March 30, 2000—
- S12E09Series 12, Episode 9April 6, 2000—
- S12E10Series 12, Episode 10April 13, 2000—
- S12E11Series 12, Episode 11April 20, 2000—
- S12E12Series 12, Episode 12April 27, 2000—
- S12E13Series 12, Episode 13May 4, 2000—
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