Dr. Willoughby. Image shows left to right: Ralph Whatman (Brian Protheroe), Donna Sinclair (Joanna Lumley), Emma Goodliffe (Isobel Middleton)
Dr. Willoughby

Dr. Willoughby

  • TV sitcom
  • ITV1
  • 1999
  • 6 episodes (1 series)

Sitcom set behind-the-scenes on a third-rate daytime medical soap opera with a neurotic, insecure and egotistical star. Stars Joanna Lumley, Brian Protheroe, Isobel Middleton, Paula Bacon, Ian Puleston-Davies and more.

Dr. Willoughby. Image shows left to right: Donna Sinclair (Joanna Lumley), Ralph Whatman (Brian Protheroe)

Key details

Genre
Sitcom
Broadcast
1999
Channel
ITV1
Episodes
6 (1 series)
Creator
Laurie Rowley
Stars
Joanna Lumley, Brian Protheroe, Isobel Middleton, Paula Bacon, Ian Puleston-Davies, Gillian Barge, Tanya Moodie, Ursula Holden Gill and more
Writer
Laurie Rowley
Director
David Skynner
Producer
Tony Charles
Company

Behind the scenes at third-rate ITV daytime soap Dr. Willoughby, things run even less smoothly than they do on screen.

After five years on air the actors are wont to confuse reality and fiction. Donna Sinclair, star of the show, is a deeply insecure egomaniac with few people skills; her male lead, Ralph Watson, is equally insecure and troubled, but wimpish and ever the butt of the catering team's practical jokes, rather than overbearing.

Producer/director Emma is stuck in the middle, with lecherous executive producer Steve issuing dictats from above, Donna and Ralph becoming hysterical below, and her script-writers offering little help.

Which cast members will be axed by the producers - or by Donna? Who do the studio execs want to bring in - and why? And will Emma ever get off the show? Between them all, it's a wonder a single episode ever gets made...

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Additional details

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

First broadcast
Sunday 14th November 1999 at 10pm on ITV1

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