British Comedy Guide
Quacks. Image shows from L to R: Dr. Hendrick (Rupert Everett), Robert (Rory Kinnear), Caroline (Lydia Leonard), William (Mathew Baynton), John (Tom Basden). Copyright: Lucky Giant
Quacks

Quacks

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC Two
  • 2017
  • 6 episodes (1 series)

Sitcom about Victorian medical pioneers, created by Rev writer James Wood. Also features Rory Kinnear, Mathew Baynton, Tom Basden, Lydia Leonard, Rupert Everett and more.

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 3 - Third. The Madman's Trial

Quacks. Image shows from L to R: Caroline (Lydia Leonard), Dr George Combe (Miles Jupp). Copyright: Lucky Giant
William concocts a daring plan to stage a mock trial to cure a deluded patient. John's debts leave him in desperate need to make money - by fair means or quackery. And Robert looks to advance his reputation by securing the backing of a wealthy female patron, Lady Campbell. But it turns out she is interested in more than just the contents of Robert's kit bag.

Preview clips

Further details

William has a patient, Harold, with extreme monomania - he seems sane other than his fervent belief that he will be seized by spies at any moment and put on trial for being a French noble. With John, Robert and Caroline's help, William concocts a daring plan to cure Harold of his delusion by staging the trial and 'acquitting' him.

Meanwhile, Caroline is determined to advance her medical knowledge, even if it means sneaking into a male-only lecture, and John's debts leave him in desperate need to make money - by fair means or quackery.

Robert looks to advance his reputation by securing the backing of a wealthy female patron, Lady Campbell. But it turns out Lady Campbell is interested in more than just the contents of Robert's kit bag, and his 'special relationship' with Campbell is threatened when Caroline catches Robert in a compromising situation.

Broadcast details

Date
Tuesday 29th August 2017
Time
10pm
Channel
BBC Two
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Rory Kinnear Robert
Mathew Baynton William
Tom Basden John
Lydia Leonard Caroline
Geoffrey McGivern Landlord
Ed Gaughan Peters
Guest cast
Osi Okerafor Butterworth
Fenella Woolgar Lady Campbell
Jamie Demetriou Harold
Steve Brody Membership Officer
John Ramm Mr Burton
Logan Wong Mr Siu
Simon Farnaby Dr Flowers
Timothy Bentinck (as Tim Bentinck) Dr King
Miles Jupp Dr George Combe
Edmund Digby-Jones Dr Edward Hopkins
Writing team
Mathew Baynton Writer
Production team
Andy de Emmony Director
Imogen Cooper Producer
Justin Davies Executive Producer
James Wood Executive Producer
Rachel Hillman Executive Producer
Ben Worsfield Co-producer
Robin Peters Editor
Lucy Spink Production Designer
Rachel Freck Casting Director
Richard Cooke Costume Designer
Ed Rutherford Director of Photography
Niamh Morrison Make-up Designer
Ian Arber Composer
Matthew Scrivener 1st Assistant Director

Video

The fake trial

William attempts to cure his patient Harold, of his monomania, by staging a fake trial.

Featuring: Rory Kinnear (Robert), Mathew Baynton (William), Tom Basden (John), Lydia Leonard (Caroline), Ed Gaughan (Peters) & Jamie Demetriou (Harold).

Press

The Victorian medical sitcom continues, with down-at-heel dentist John's largest creditor coming a-knocking. Elsewhere, Robert's attempts to climb the buttery social ladder founder without patronage from some loftier social strata, but moneyed misanthrope Lady Campbell might just offer a path to social betterment. And a put-upon Caroline aims to outsmart the patriarchal poltroons who pull the strings at the society of apothecaries.

Mark Gibbings-Jones, The Guardian, 29th August 2017

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