This is Going to Hurt: release date of Ben Whishaw BBC series based on Adam Kay’s book, trailer, and cast

This Is Going To Hurt stars Ben Whishaw, and is adapted from Adam Kay’s memoir of the same name

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Ambika Mod and Ben Whishaw in This Is Going To Hurt (Credit: Sister/BBC One)Ambika Mod and Ben Whishaw in This Is Going To Hurt (Credit: Sister/BBC One)
Ambika Mod and Ben Whishaw in This Is Going To Hurt (Credit: Sister/BBC One)

This Is Going To Hurt, a new medical drama starring Ben Whishaw, is starting on BBC One on Tuesday 8 February 2022.

The series is adapted from Adam Kay’s memoir of the same name, an account of his time as a junior doctor in the NHS.

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Here’s everything you need to know about This Is Going To Hurt.

What is it about?

The series takes place on an Obstetrics and Gynaecology ward in 2006, and follows acting consultant Dr Adam Kay as he tries to navigate the strains and stresses of working in medicine.

In particular, This Is Going To Hurt sees him trying to cope with the emotional pressure and mounting guilt over an operation that didn’t go as well as he’d hoped.

Who is in the cast?

The series stars Ben Whishaw as Adam Kay. You might recognise Whishaw from television dramas like The Hour, Fargo, or A Very English Scandal, or from film roles in Mary Poppins Returns and My Brother Tom. He’s also the voice of Paddington from the Paddington movies.

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He’s joined by newcomer Ambika Mod, who appears as student doctor Shruti. Mod has previously appeared in Trying and The Mash Report, but her star turn here is her highest-profile role to date.

The rest of the cast includes Alex Jennings (A Very English Scandal, The Crown), Harriet Walter (Succession), Michele Austin (The Bill), Kadiff Kirwan (Timewasters, Fleabag), and Rory Fleck Byrne (The Foreigner).

Is there a trailer?

Yes, there is, and you can see it – with Ben Whishaw delivering both babies and sarcastic quips alike – right here.

When and how can I watch it?

This Is Going To Hurt begins on BBC One at 9pm on Tuesday 8 February 2022.

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All 7 episodes of the series will be available as a boxset on BBC iPlayer immediately afterwards.

What do the reviews say?

In NationalWorld’s review, we praised the series for its balance of visceral drama with caustic humour, and highlighted Ben Whishaw’s performance in particular.

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