The Royal Episode Guide

Episode Guide

The Royal: Season 8 (2009)

• Season 8 Episode 8: Manouvres

  A day at the park ends in disaster for the Ormerod family; Dr. Ellis risks getting too involved with a troubled patient.

• Season 8 Episode 7: Tutti Frutti

  A secret from Jean's past comes back to haunt her; Dr. Weatherill must break some news to a young couple; Alun may have found true love.

• Season 8 Episode 6: Please Release Me

  A grieving family points a finger at Dr. Ormerod; Dr. Ellis deals with a situation at a prison; Faye overcomes her fear of needles.

• Season 8 Episode 5: Should I Stay or Should I Go

  A new student nurse arrives; Lizzie falls for a motorcycle stunt rider.

• Season 8 Episode 4: Any Old Iron

  Nurse Susie Dixon falls for a rich playboy; Ormerod is asked to rescue a grieving widow.

• Season 8 Episode 3: These Foolish Things

  Weatherill treats a schoolgirl whose crush on a teacher has spiralled out of control, while Ormerod and Ellis launch a daring cliff rescue when a family picnic goes awry. Jack and Alun use an old map to hunt for buried treasure underneath the hospital, and an old friend of Matron is taken ill. Sixties-set medical drama, starring Amy Robbins, Robert Daws, Neil McDermott and Wendy Craig

• Season 8 Episode 2: Counting Chickens

  Dr Ellis confronts local prejudice when he discovers one of his patients has contracted a rare disease abroad. Jack and Alun begin a crackpot scheme to raise chickens, Brigid makes a big decision about baby Aisling's future, while Jean becomes more frustrated with Lizzie's incompetence. Medical drama, starring Neil McDermott, Linda Armstrong and Glynis Barber

• Season 8 Episode 1: Safe As Houses

  Dr Ormerod and Dr Weatherill accompany Brigid back to Ireland for Moira's funeral, and uncover shocking family secrets in the process. Meanwhile, a new locum is thrown in at the deep end at the Royal. Medical drama set in Sixties Yorkshire, starring Linda Armstrong, Robert Daws and Amy Robbins, with Glynis Barber joining the cast

The Royal: Season 7 (2008)

• Season 7 Episode 12: Compromising Positions

  Sister Brigid helps secure a future for Moira and her baby, but when events take a shocking turn Weatherill and Ormerod are left to make a heartbreaking decision. Susie tries her best to be a model nurse and breaks off her relationship with Carnegie - who then proposes to her - while Bobby takes matters into his own hands with the violent stepfather of a local thug. Linda Armstrong, Amy Robbins, Robert Daws and Sarah Beck Mather star

• Season 7 Episode 11: The Best of Intentions

  Dr Burnett races to save two schoolgirls who have fallen unconscious with carbon monoxide poisoning, while Susie has to think fast when Matron collapses during their picnic and ends up in hospital, giving the student nurse the chance to prove herself. Elsewhere, Weatherill gets to the bottom of a family problem involving a man training for the priesthood. Damian O'Hare, Sarah Beck Mather and Wendy Craig star

• Season 7 Episode 10: In the Air

  With Susie and Carnegie's relationship the talk of the hospital, Matron reaches the end of her tether when her niece turns up late for work and she decides to suspend her. Mr Rose faces a personal trial when his golfing friend ends up in the operating room and Dr Burnett wrestles with a dilemma. Ormerod and Bobby try to rescue a farmer who is trapped under a combine harvester. Starring Sarah Beck Mather, Wendy Craig and Damian O'Hare

• Season 7 Episode 9: Busman's Holiday

  Mr Middleditch makes a surprise announcement on his birthday which causes an argument between Weatherill and Ormerod, but the celebrations are interrupted when a bus full of day-trippers crashes down a nearby bank. Susie bets Lizzie she will get Carnegie to ask her out, and Jack is given a fright when a body in the mortuary springs back to life. Rural drama starring Ian Carmichael, Robert Cavanagh and co-starring Gareth Hale

• Season 7 Episode 8: Pastures New

  Dr Burnett is called out to a dilapidated farmhouse, where a teenager is running a high fever and his family seems to be struggling to cope. As the staff try to diagnose the youngster's illness, his pregnant mother is rushed to the hospital with the same symptoms and is left fighting for her life. Meanwhile, Ormerod and Rose attend to Sir Edward Fawcett, an eccentric explorer who wants to hike around Mexico, despite having a condition that means his days of adventure are over. Medical drama, guest starring Brian Blessed and Phyllis Logan

• Season 7 Episode 7: Home From the Hill

  As the staff come to terms with the recent tragic events, new ambulance driver Bobby makes a dramatic entrance. Marian finds herself a partner for the gig by Alun's band - but the evening ends in chaos when a fire breaks out at the overcrowded club. Up on the moors, a shooting incident leaves Ormerod and Bobby in danger and the mountain rescue team is called out to an elderly lady lying wounded outside her decaying farmhouse. Guest starring former Coronation Street star Sean Wilson

• Season 7 Episode 6: Stolen Dreams

  The hospital staff are pushed to their limits when an amusement arcade collapses. In the search for survivors, a child is found with a suspected blood-clotting disorder and the team must find his mother to obtain his medical history. Stella enters the wreckage to free a girl who is trapped under a fruit machine, but when she becomes blocked in, Frankie tries to save her - and declares his feelings in the process. Medical drama, starring Natalie Anderson and Scott Taylor

• Season 7 Episode 5: To Love and to Lose

  Maria Dannini suffers injury when her ice-cream parlour is vandalised, but further revelations lead to a more serious medical situation. Sister Brigid faces a dilemma when her pregnant sister Moira arrives wanting advice on an abortion. Elsewhere, a cunning Susie has a plan to get rid of Eric, and Burnett decides to stay at The Royal. Guest starring Sally Ann Matthews, Rocky Marshall, Oliver Farnworth and Lisa Hogg

• Season 7 Episode 4: Slings and Arrows

  Eric Fogle is appointed as new head porter, putting Alun's nose out of joint. The hospital receives a letter of resignation from Dr Banner in Australia and has to appoint a partner to the practice - Weatherill believes she knows just the person, but Dr Ormerod favours Dr Burnett. Elsewhere, when Lucy Bayliss is involved in a horse-riding accident an X-ray reveals a more long-term problem. With Berwick Kaler and guest star Claire King

• Season 7 Episode 3: Blood's Thicker Than Water

  An accident at the harbour leaves a fisherman concerned for the future of his family when Burnett is forced to amputate his hand. Weatherill treats a woman admitted with pneumonia who is deeply concerned about her father's presence around her daughter. Ken bids a final farewell to The Royal, but Lizzie's resolve flounders at the last minute. Michael Starke, Amy Robbins and Michelle Hardwick star

• Season 7 Episode 2: On the Road

  Nick admits some of Elsinby's homeless people to the hospital, despite the inevitable disapproval from Carnegie. Ormerod's intention to keep Dr Weatherill on light duties is scuppered when she attends an emergency call on the coastal road, where a woman trapped in a car is about to give birth. Meanwhile, Matron is surprised by the identity of the new student nurse, and a gossipy patient reveals the whereabouts of Ken. James Green and Judith Barker guest star

• Season 7 Episode 1: Against All Odds

  The train on which Marian was travelling crashes, trapping her in the wreckage. Although she cannot escape, she's free to move around the carriage to help those injured, assisted by fellow passenger Dr Nick Burnett - who turns out to be the Royal's new locum. Back at the hospital, a shortage of staff puts the casualty department under pressure when the crash victims begin to arrive. Damian O'Hare joins the cast, and Gerard Horan guest stars

The Royal: Season 6 (2007)

• Season 6 Episode 12: Love and Loss

  Jill becomes unwell after receiving the results of a pregnancy test. Elsewhere, when a baby goes missing, suspicion falls on the parents of a girl admitted with a broken ankle. Meanwhile, Gordon makes a discovery about a diabetic patient that explains his behaviour and, in a dramatic finale, tragedy looms. Guest starring Daniel Casey in the last episode of the series. Last in the series

• Season 6 Episode 11: Can't Buy Me Love

  Suspicion falls on Adam over missing hospital funds and Mike attends a meeting to assess the mental welfare of a 50-year-old man (guest Andrew Dunn) who still lives with his mother. Elsewhere, Gordon's ex-father-in-law pays an unexpected visit with some sobering news and Ken has a confession to make to his colleagues. Michael Jayston makes a guest appearance

• Season 6 Episode 10: Laura

  A train crash claims the life of an infant, making Jill more determined than ever to support Carnegie's plans for a premature baby unit at the hospital. Meanwhile, local farmer Sam Benson (guest star Jack Deam) causes concern with his erratic behaviour, and Stella's rapist requires life-saving surgery after being attacked by the father of another victim

• Season 6 Episode 9: Scabs

  A piano teacher (guest star George Costigan) remains suspiciously secretive about his past when brought in to casualty after collapsing outside the hospital. Matron's revelation about Susie cools Alun's interest in her, and Mike takes pity on a mother while he treats her son. Elsewhere, Jill delivers bad news to an elderly patient and the porters are forced to take industrial action in support of a colleague

• Season 6 Episode 8: Coming to the Boil

  A patient is admitted with a fever and a swollen arm covered in black lesions, but Mike is nowhere to be seen. Blood tests confirm a case of anthrax, prompting an investigation by the Public Health Officer. Elsewhere, a specialist is summoned when a woman's dizzy spells cause concern, while Alun and Lizzie are intrigued by the mysterious appearance of a young woman

• Season 6 Episode 7: Starting Over

  Mr Middleditch makes a surprise return to the hospital in the back of an ambulance, having hurt his ankle while fishing. Stella grudgingly welcomes Marian McKaig as her room-mate, but the new nurse quickly catches Alun's eye. Meanwhile, a frantic mother calls for Mike's help at a hippie commune, where her hostile husband is refusing help from the outside world. Ian Carmichael rejoins the series, which continues from earlier in the year. Ted Robbins guests

• Season 6 Episode 6: Cursed and Blessed

  An expectant mother attends for treatment, but is harassed by her ex-husband. Stella is relieved to find she has not contracted an infection from her attacker, but suffers accusations of lying to save her reputation. Meanwhile, Sister Brigid makes a misguided suggestion, and a surprise visitor from overseas forces Goodwin to reconsider his future plans. The series continues later in the year

• Season 6 Episode 5: Dr Who?

  A mix-up over the job offer results in two new doctors arriving at the hospital to take up the position. Meanwhile, Catherine makes her feelings clear to Carnegie about their relationship and Stella's night out ends badly. Hospital drama, starring Robert Cavanah

• Season 6 Episode 4: Fear of the Expected

  Joan bids a fond farewell to her friends at the hospital, but a last-minute intervention by her mother makes her reconsider her decision to leave. Meanwhile, Carnegie courts a wealthy patient in the hope of raising funds for the new hospital wing, and an alcoholic lets his family down at the worst possible moment. Hospital drama, starring Kananu Kirimi and Robert Cavanah

• Season 6 Episode 3: Hoping for the Best

  Goodwin and Makori work through the night to save a toddler diagnosed with meningitis, while a dying mother worries that her alcoholic husband will not be able to care for their children after she is gone. Meanwhile, Nkeshi's future may be decided by a job offer in Cameroon

• Season 6 Episode 2: Home and Dry

  Dr Goodwin returns from Africa with Biafran orphan Nkeshi, and shocks his colleagues when they realise he has smuggled the child into the country illegally. The presence of an unhappy celebrity causes a paparazzi furore, and nearly costs Frankie his job. Dr Weatherill deals with an uncooperative alcoholic on her first day back at work. Medical drama, starring Paul Fox

• Season 6 Episode 1: Absent Friends

  New series of the medical drama, starring Robert Daws and Amy Robbins. After finding out about the hospital's staffing problems, Jill offers to cut short her maternity leave and return to work, while Matron notices that Catherine is doing her best to avoid Adam. Out in Africa, Jeff faces the horrors of war and makes a promise to a dying woman - but faces difficulties in keeping his word

The Royal: Season 5 (2006)

• Season 5 Episode 12: From This Day Forward

  A wedding reception held on Elsinby Pier ends in tragedy when a fishing trawler sails badly off course. Meanwhile, Adam faces up to a tough decision and the staff at the hospital prepare for a new arrival as Jill goes into labour. Last in series, starring Robert Cavanah and Amy Robbins

• Season 5 Episode 11: Keep On Running

  A patient who set fire to his own shop (guest star Tony Slattery) attempts to avoid police questioning by leaping into an ambulance and driving off towards the pier - unaware Alun and a sick man are in the back of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Dr Makori fears for her relationship with Dr Fox when he tells her he has been offered a job in Biafra. Medical drama, with Andy Wear, Paul Fox and Kananu Kirimi

• Season 5 Episode 10: Price of Progress

  When the X-ray machine breaks down, Carnegie has to tell the hospital staff they won't be getting a replacement - meaning patients will have to be taken elsewhere. Dr Makori gets a crash course in dealing with the locals as she struggles to treat a complex ailment, while a window cleaner is injured after trying to beat a hasty retreat from his married girlfriend's bedroom. Robert Cavanah stars

• Season 5 Episode 9: Winners and Losers

  Feathers are ruffled among the staff as a new locum arrives at the hospital, while Ormerod treats the same boy twice in one day - but has difficulty acting on his own advice. Carnegie and Catherine struggle to shake off Ken and Alun during their first date at the races, until their full attention is claimed when a jockey falls from his horse on the track. Robert Cavanah and Amelia Curtis star

• Season 5 Episode 8: Waifs and Strays

  Mr Rose and Dr Ormerod have an unexpected adventure when they attempt to rescue a drowning boy during a trip to a hippie commune. Catherine is asked on a date by a local fisherman, while Dr Goodwin discovers the parents of a sick baby are not all they seem after he diagnoses the infant's illness. Robert Daws, Denis Lill, Amelia Curtis and Paul Fox star

• Season 5 Episode 7: Love Is All You Need

  The medical drama returns after a summer break. Adam is quick to question Dr Weatherill's competence when a beach outing ends tragically for a family. Dr Ormerod leaps in to defend her - but ends up revealing his colleague's condition in his haste. Meanwhile, Dr Goodwin struggles to help a pair of teenage parents gain access to their baby. Amy Robbins and Robert Daws star

• Season 5 Episode 6: Letting Go

  Frankie accidentally injures a man attempting to steal his motorbike, but is stricken with guilt when the thief dies after crashing the vehicle. A woman being treated for severe burns disappears home, where Drs Ormerod and Weatherill discover her family secret, while Alun becomes obsessed by an expensive stereo system. Last in series, with Scott Taylor, Robert Daws and Amy Robbins

• Season 5 Episode 5: Fever

  The hospital has its hands full when a typhoid epidemic breaks out in the community. Things get worse as the disease's source is traced back to the wards and staff struggle to locate it. Dr Weatherill is forced to reprimand Dr Ormerod after catching him sleeping on the job - but also has a startling piece of news to give him. Drama, starring Robert Daws and Amy Robbins

• Season 5 Episode 4: Seeking Refuge

  Dr Goodwin is accused of taking sides when he goes too far to help a woman who claims her husband is hitting her, and there is a mystery to solve when a patient is admitted under a false name. Meanwhile, Dr Ormerod's strange behaviour shows signs of becoming worse - and Frankie fears the surgeon is becoming addicted to his medication. Medical drama, with Robert Daws, Wendy Craig and Amy Robbins

• Season 5 Episode 3: Thinking Too Hard

  A local nightclub owner is admitted with symptoms of poisoning, and his son is quick to point the finger of suspicion at his father's glamorous wife. Frankie is shocked to see Dr Ormerod doubt himself as they tend to a drunken farmer after a tractor accident, while Dr Goodwin deals with a case of domestic abuse and a stationery salesman takes a shine to Lizzie. Robert Daws and Scott Taylor star

• Season 5 Episode 2: Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man

  Mr Middleditch brings his reign to an end as he hands over the ledgers to the new administrator - having craftily secured the hospital's future. Dr Ormerod's plaster comes off, Mr Rose risks his own skin to save a friend during a game of golf, and a trivial accident leads a family to make a major and heartbreaking discovery. Ian Carmichael, Robert Cavanah, Robert Daws and Wendy Craig star

• Season 5 Episode 1: Loved and Lost

  Dr Ormerod returns to work after his accident, but when his brusque treatment of a hypochondriac schoolgirl ends in tragedy, it's clear he still needs time to recover. New nurse Catherine Deane starts her rounds on the wards, and Mr Middleditch has a surprise announcement to make. Robert Daws, Amelia Curtis and Ian Carmichael star

The Royal: Season 4 (2004 - 2005)

• Season 4 Episode 12: While the Cat's Away

  Matron is forced to change her plans after a tragic turn of events and decides to withdraw her resignation. Nurse Taylor grows closer to Jeff as they tackle an unusual medical emergency, but later finds herself confronted by an angry Frankie. Harper's money-saving schemes backfire in spectacular fashion, while an argument over a patient's health sparks off a chain of events which leaves Gordon's life hanging in the balance. Medical drama starring Wendy Craig, Amy Robbins, Robert Daws and Zoie Kennedy

• Season 4 Episode 11: Sinking Feeling

  Johnny Lomax's proposal to Matron causes Nigel Harper to worry about the effect her decision will have on the hospital, and Jill comes into conflict with a strict Catholic family. Ormerod and Frankie face a tough rescue operation as they try to save an injured fisherman trapped on board a sinking ship, while Staff Nurse Taylor's plans for the future are thwarted once again. Starring Richard Johnson, Wendy Craig, John Axon and Zoie Kennedy

• Season 4 Episode 10: The Way We Were

  Dr Goodwin faces the pressure as rumours about him circulate the hospital and when Dr Weatherill passes on some important news, he wastes no time in using it to set the record straight. Nurse Taylor's happiness about her future with Frankie is sensationally shattered as the extent of his dishonesty is revealed, while Matron is shocked to see a familiar face on the ward. Medical drama starring Paul Fox, Amy Robbins, Zoie Kennedy, Scott Taylor and Wendy Craig

• Season 4 Episode 9: Say a Little Prayer

  Sister Brigid faces a struggle as she tries to convince her superior at the convent to seek medical help when it becomes obvious she is seriously ill. Jill discovers the answer to a puzzling case, before receiving news from Samantha about the father of her baby. Frankie tells Lizzie his amorous plans, then finds them thwarted when he sees Staff Nurse Taylor with Dr Goodwin. Linda Armstrong, Amy Robbins, Scott Taylor and Michelle Hardwick star

• Season 4 Episode 8: Everybody Needs Somebody

  When Matron is attacked by a thief, everyone is surprised to discover who was responsible - but there appears to be more to the case than meets the eye. Goodwin is upset when it becomes clear he has acquired a bad reputation around the hospital and the staff worry about the threat of a tuberculosis epidemic. Medical drama, starring Wendy Craig, Paul Fox, Robert Daws and Amy Robbins

• Season 4 Episode 7: Sins of the Father

  Nurse Stella Davenport arrives at the Royal with a less than favourable reputation, and soon causes a stir among the staff and patients as rumours about her circulate the hospital. Matron and Harper discover a new approach to interviewing when they try to fill a ward domestic vacancy, while Dr Ormerod is left to deal with the dramatic aftermath of a domestic dispute, and Lizzie realises her new scooter might have been an ill-advised purchase. Medical drama starring Natalie Anderson, Robert Daws and Wendy Craig

• Season 4 Episode 6: Duty Bound

  Samantha struggles to cope with the reality of her recent discovery and takes desperate action which leaves her life hanging in the balance as Nurse Taylor races to reach her. Frankie and Gordon attempt a daring rescue to help a teenager in danger on the weir, while Ken has something to hide from Harper. Rural hospital drama starring Anna Madeley, Scott Taylor and Robert Daws

• Season 4 Episode 5: It's What's on the Inside That Counts

  New recruit Thelma Parker catches the eye of Harper, but proves to be less popular with the rest of the team, and an injured boxer causes concern for the staff at the hospital. Dr Weatherill finds herself caught in an ethical battle when the parents of a dangerously ill baby refuse treatment, while Samantha receives unwanted news. Medical drama starring John Axon, Amy Robbins, Anna Madeley and Barbara Marten

• Season 4 Episode 4: The Rose Queen

  Dr Weatherill is involved in an air rescue to save an unconscious girl and finds herself braving a cliff abseil to reach the youngster. Dr Ormerod faces a difficult time when he misdiagnoses a patient who is left fighting for life in hospital. Sister Brigid has an accident on her bike, while Harper faces a staff revolt. Medical drama, starring Amy Robbins, Robert Daws, Linda Armstrong and John Axon

• Season 4 Episode 3: No Room for Ravers

  A routine visit turns into a nightmare for Jill when she is taken hostage by a psychologically damaged ex-prisoner of war, who has barricaded himself into his house and booby-trapped the surrounding land with mines. Meanwhile, Harper is spotted paying frequent visits to a woman in town and Alun is suspended from duty when his noisy band practice causes a woman to slip and break her hip. Medical drama, starring Robert Daws, Amy Robbins, Wendy Craig, Ian Carmichael, Michael Starke, John Axon and Andy Wear

• Season 4 Episode 2: Beggars and Choosers

  Nigel Harper prepares for the arrival of an important patient, who proves useful when an injured teenager is brought in. Lizzie comes to terms with her husband's recent behaviour. Medical drama following the staff and patients at a hospital in Sixties Yorkshire, starring John Axon, Linda Armstrong and Michelle Hardwick

• Season 4 Episode 1: For Better, For Worse

  Jill and Gordon's wedding day finally arrives, but a huge explosion at a nearby care home disrupts proceedings in spectacular fashion. As the Royal staff help pull the elderly residents out of the rubble, the horrifying truth behind the cause of the accident is discovered. Starring Amy Robbins, Robert Daws and Paul Fox

The Royal: Season 3 (2003 - 2004)

• Season 3 Episode 14: Home to Roost

  Ormerod faces a testing time when his father-in-law arrives demanding to know whether he was seeing Dr Weatherill while his late daughter was still alive. Following a heated exchange, it emerges that the disgruntled patriarch has hired a private detective to investigate the couple - but the situation only serves to bring them closer together, culminating in a marriage proposal. At the Royal, a painfully thin girl causes concern for Goodwin - whose green-eyed monster emerges when student nurse Samantha Beaumont agrees to a date with a younger man - and the hospital is evacuated after a suicide victim's corpse is brought in emitting toxic fumes. Last in the medical drama series, starring Robert Daws, Amy Robbins, Paul Fox and Anna Madeley

• Season 3 Episode 13: Doing Time

  Ormerod faces a taxing time when a prison van overturns on the moors. The driver is killed, a guard is seriously injured and one of the convicts escapes, while the others are rounded up and taken for treatment at the hospital, where Ken Hopkirk recognises an old friend. Goodwin fails to diagnose a serious case of post-natal depression - an error which almost ends in tragedy when the mother is found standing perilously close to a cliff edge - and student nurse Samantha Beaumont discovers she has an unexpected love rival. Penultimate episode in the rural medical drama series, starring Robert Daws and Paul Fox

• Season 3 Episode 12: Reckoning

  Dr Ormerod is furious to discover the police have launched an investigation into his wife's death, and reveals in a heated outburst that she was planning to leave him at the time of the accident. Bad news strikes a family when it emerges a couple's son is showing signs of a hereditary heart disorder, a mother-to-be suffers kidney failure during childbirth and hospital porter Ken Hopkirk needs an operation after injuring himself while lifting a piano. Romance blossoms for Dr Goodwin and student nurse Samantha Beaumont, and Lizzie Kennoway's driving lesson ends in disaster when she slams into the back of Mr Harper's parked car. Rural medical drama, starring Robert Daws, Simon Molloy, Amy Robbins and Paul Fox

• Season 3 Episode 11: For Those in Peril

  The hospital staff have an intriguing case on their hands when local tramp Sebastian Fox is found dead. Ken Hopkirk rummages through his belongings and is surprised to find war medals, leading to the discovery that he was a decorated Navy hero. When a relative is traced but refuses to help with funeral arrangements, the Royal team decide to give him a fitting send-off by scattering his ashes at sea. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Goodwin is shocked to discover a farmer's cattle herd have contracted a disease which has passed into cheese that's available in the area, and Jill Weatherill, Matron and Sister Brigid encounter a runaway girl. Rural medical drama, starring Michael Starke and Wendy Craig

• Season 3 Episode 10: Holding On Tight

  A group of drunken mods arrive at the hospital in a shocking state, and Ken Hopkirk soon makes the grim discovery that they have been drinking industrial alcohol supplied by their friend, theatre technician Alun Morris. Meanwhile, a fourth member of the boozing group is brought in and has his stomach pumped immediately : but it soon emerges that the illicit hooch has blinded him. Elsewhere, Mr Rose and his surgical team treat a widow with a gangrenous toe at her farmhouse, and student nurse Samantha Beaumont receives a telling-off for laying out operating instruments in an incorrect order. Andy Wear, Michael Starke and Robert Daws star, with a guest appearance by Thelma Barlow

• Season 3 Episode 9: All the Fun of the Fair

  The residents are pleased when a fair comes to Elsinby, but Jeffrey and Samantha have their work cut out when the waltzer operator becomes trapped in the ride's mechanism. He's rushed to the hospital, where Mr Rose operates, and reveals his father has been suffering dizzy spells recently. A concerned Jeffrey heads back to the fairground, but he's too late to prevent disaster. Meanwhile, Ken hatches a dubious money-making scheme and Jill is forced to confront a patient's wife. Paul Fox, Anna Madeley and Amy Robbins star

• Season 3 Episode 8: Cliffhanger

  Goodwin comes to the aid of a man brought in with a leg injury which his friend claims was sustained in an agricultural accident, but it soon emerges he's actually suffering a gunshot wound : prompting his panic-stricken acquaintance to pull a revolver on the hospital staff. Meanwhile, Ormerod helps fossil collectors hurt in a landslide, Matron tries to convince Sister Brigid to return to work and student nurse Samantha Beaumont is less than impressed at the offer of a date with Alun Morris. Medical drama, starring Paul Fox, Tony Pitts, Denis Lill, Robert Daws and Wendy Craig

• Season 3 Episode 7: Skin Deep

  Brigid arrives at a decision and Lucy Klein is disturbed by the unscheduled reappearance of a figure from the past. Mr Harper rests on his laurels, certain the future is assured, while Ormerod and Weatherill reveal they are about to end their relationship : only to find the news is already common knowledge. Drama, starring Linda Armstrong, Polly Maberly and Robert Daws

• Season 3 Episode 6: Famous for a Day

  The staff are excited by the arrival of a TV film crew at the hospital, especially Mr Harper, who is desperate to be caught on camera - and it looks like his dreams of stardom may be about to come true when Mr Middleditch gives him an important job for the broadcast. Elsewhere, the atmosphere is much more tense, as Dr Ormerod and nurse Meryl Taylor are called out to help a boy who has been trapped below the surface of an icy lake for 20 minutes - and to make matters worse, the ambulance carrying the unconscious lad back to hospital gets caught in a snowdrift. On a lighter note, Ray Piper is brought in with a huge bump on his head - and there's much hilarity when it turns out his wife has hit him with a frozen turkey. But before the day is out, he's not the only member of his family to be admitted. Festive special of the hospital drama, guest starring DJ Simon Bates as TV presenter Lennie Lamarr, with Robert Daws, Wendy Craig and Anna Madeley

• Season 3 Episode 5: Poison

  Goodwin's medical skills are brought into question when he wrongly accuses a cafe of making a local jazz band ill and a dinner party turns murderous for Ormerod and Weatherill when their host reveals his wife is trying to kill him. The Health Authority announce plans to reorganise management at the Royal, leaving Mr Harper less than keen to reapply for his job, so Ken and Alun hit upon a plan to convince him otherwise

• Season 3 Episode 4: Consequences

  Caroline's father Henry suggests turning off her life-support machine, presenting Dr Ormerod with a dilemma. Goodwin puts his career on the line by allowing a holistic therapist to treat a back injury and student nurse Samantha Beaumont is less than impressed by a date with theatre technician Alun Morris. Medical drama, starring Robert Daws, Michael Jayston and Amy Robbins

• Season 3 Episode 3: Doing the Rounds

  New GP and anaesthetist Dr Jeffrey Goodwin has a bad start to the day when he witnesses a car crash, gets attacked by one of the drivers involved and has his vehicle and possessions stolen on his way to the Royal. Back at the hospital, Cheriton's mother Annette arrives to collect her dead son's things, surprising staff nurse Meryl Taylor by revealing a photo of his fiancee. Rural medical drama, starring Paul Fox

• Season 3 Episode 2: If Not For You

  Tragedy strikes at the Royal v Ashfordly General rugby match, as Cheriton dives to score a try, only to be pounced on by opponents. It soon emerges that his injuries are serious, and Ormerod rushes to help his colleague : but his efforts prove futile and Cheriton dies at the scene. Meanwhile, Alun is involved in a road accident caused by a man who recently suffered a stroke, and student nurse Samantha Beaumont fails to impress Matron and Sister Brigid by putting pink sheets on the ward's beds. Medical drama, starring Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Andy Wear, Stuart Wade, Anna Madeley, Wendy Craig and Linda Armstrong

• Season 3 Episode 1: The Unbreakable Chain

  A student nurse causes quite a stir when she arrives in the middle of the night, while Ken and Alun contend with a farming family suffering a crisis. Brigid and Jill deliver a Down's syndrome baby whose parents don't want anything to do with it, and Lizzie's crash diet has alarming consequences. Starring Wendy Craig, Robert Daws and Amy Robbins

The Royal: Season 2 (2003)

• Season 2 Episode 6: The Last Waltz

  Dr Ormerod finally accepts that wife Caroline isn't going to emerge from her coma and decides to move on. A married couple face the truth about their future, and Dr Weatherill is forced to break a distressing diagnosis to a patient, while Ken's organisational skills ensure the charity ball goes with a bang. Starring Michael Starke, Amy Robbins and Robert Daws, and featuring a guest appearance by Tricia Penrose in her Heartbeat guise of Gina Ward

• Season 2 Episode 5: One of Those Days

  Ormerod rushes to help following a boating accident but realises he's been sent to the wrong location, and when he finally arrives at the disaster scene his efforts to save a man's life prove futile. Meanwhile, PC Ventress brings two men found fighting over a girl to the Royal, where one promptly collapses due to a brain haemorrhage. Weatherill faces a testing time when she helps deliver a baby and nurse Meryl reveals she may be pregnant. Medical drama series, starring Robert Daws, Michelle Hardwick and Julian Ovenden

• Season 2 Episode 4: Wishing and Hoping

  A frantic mother and father bring their daughter to the Royal for whooping cough treatment, and Cheriton is shocked to hear the girl hasn't been vaccinated. When the girl dies the worried staff have to cope with an influx of children in need of immunisation. Mr Rose reveals he intends to operate on himself, and Ormerod pays a home visit to Mrs Lyons. Medical drama, guest starring Honor Blackman

• Season 2 Episode 3: Thicker than Water

  A family hunting expedition ends in a youngster's tragic death, and Ken clashes with Harper over the hospital laundry. Meanwhile, staff at the Royal persuade a devout Catholic mother to be sterilised - much to the disgust of her priest. Drama, starring Robert Daws, Linda Armstrong and Michael Starke

• Season 2 Episode 2: Snakes and Ladders

  A teenage boy is brought into the Royal having fallen from a cliff, but it soon emerges that the incident was a suicide attempt as evidence of extreme depression comes to the surface. Cheriton contacts the youngster's psychiatrist, but is taken aback when electroshock therapy is suggested as a form of treatment, so ventures to the family home to recommend an alternative - only for tragedy to strike. Meanwhile, a hypochondriac causes chaos at the hospital when she insists her dog be treated following a snake bite, and a heart-to-heart between Weatherill and Ormerod leads to a passionate kiss. Honor Blackman guest stars

• Season 2 Episode 1: All at Sea

  Dr Cheriton and Staff Nurse Taylor attempt to resolve a family dispute on board a fishing trawler. Dr Ormerod struggles to cope with the truth about his wife, and turns for comfort to colleague Jill, who tries to persuade him to take time off work. Meanwhile, Greengrass is shocked to discover he has a long-lost daughter. Drama, starring Robert Daws, Amy Robbins, Wendy Craig and Bill Maynard

The Royal: Season 1 (2003)

• Season 1 Episode 7: Crash

  Doctors Ormerod and Weatherill arrive at the scene of a serious coach crash to find the passengers and driver trapped inside the wreckage : and for Ormerod it proves an especially testing time when he discovers his unconscious wife is among the injured. Meanwhile, new assistant administrator Bernard Hussey proves to be quite a handful, local rogue Greengrass is readmitted and Cheriton drops a bombshell on Nurse Taylor. Starring Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Wendy Craig and Amy Robbins

• Season 1 Episode 6: Kiss and Tell

  Mr Middleditch is left devastated by news that the hospital is facing closure, and Ormerod finds romance in an unexpected place. A patient who claims to be suffering from amnesia sparks suspicions and Dr Cheriton's housewarming party leads to an unexpected display of passion. Medical drama, starring Julian Ovenden, Ian Carmichael, Wendy Craig and Amy Robbins.

• Season 1 Episode 5: Immediate Care

  Dr Cheriton has the unenviable task of informing a patient she has little time to live, and the situation soon prompts the wedding of the year. Arriving at the scene of an accident at the railway station, Dr Ormerod is forced to make a drastic decision, but an oncoming train signals disaster. Medical drama, starring Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Wendy Craig, Bill Maynard and Amy Robbins

• Season 1 Episode 4: Sister of Mercy

  The medics discover a newborn baby abandoned in the grounds, and soon suspect the child may be linked to a missing teenager. Dr Weatherill goes to great lengths to help an elderly couple and a Russian sailor is admitted with acute appendicitis, which presents Greengrass with what appears to be a great moneymaking scheme. Medical drama, starring Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Wendy Craig and Bill Maynard

• Season 1 Episode 3: Coffin Fit

  Dr Cheriton confounds his critics, and Dr Weatherill learns an important lesson about the folly of jumping to conclusions. Meanwhile, Alan and Tony agree to pick up a package for Greengrass, only to discover it's actually a coffin allegedly containing the body of his sister. Medical drama, starring Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Wendy Craig and Amy Robbins

• Season 1 Episode 2: Second Time Around

  A romantic escapade goes horribly wrong for a couple involved in a motorbike accident, and the tragic events of the night leave the staff of St Aiden's struggling to heal more than just a broken heart. Matron investigates when one of Dr Ormerod's patients is uneasy about returning home, while Ken and Alun tackle a plague of rodents threatening to close down the hospital - helped by local rogue Claude Greengrass

• Season 1 Episode 1: First Impressions

  Dr David Cheriton arrives at St Aidan's Royal Free Hospital in Elsinby, newly qualified and keen to impress at his job interview : only to discover they aren't even expecting him. Meanwhile, Dr Jill Weatherill's professional competence is called into question during a home visit, and hospital porter Ken Hopkirk's efforts to put up a television aerial end in disaster. Julian Ovenden, Michael Starke, Ian Carmichael, Wendy Craig and Bill Maynard star