''Call Red'' is a British television

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drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...

series created by

J. C. Wilsher John Charles Wilsher (credited as J.C. Wilsher) is an English television screenwriter and playwright, best known for dramas relating to the police and law enforcement such as long-running procedural ''The Bill''. His highest profile work was as crea ...

that premiered on 8 January 1996 on ITV. The series follows the adventures of an

Air Ambulance Air medical services are the use of aircraft, including both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to provide various kinds of urgent medical care, especially prehospital, emergency and critical care to patients during aeromedical evacuation an ...

squad, captained by Phillip Tulloch ( Michael Carter). The series draws upon a documentary-style feel, including hand-held camera work for helicopter-based scenes, and detailed outlines of the procedures carried out by the medics themselves. Just a single series of seven episodes was produced. The complete series has been earmarked for release on DVD by Network Distributing, although no set date has been given for the release. Early reception of the series was critical. Thomas Sutcliffe of ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

'' said that the series is composed of "wooden acting" and "cardboard dialogue", and that "the wiser viewer will realise it shows no vital signs at all". Jim White of ''The Independent'' stated that "all the characters were ludicrously gung-ho, self-important and convinced they were the only people capable of administering medical assistance; typical doctors then, but not much fun to spend sixty minutes with".

Synopsis

The show follows the story of a team of undercover police officers who are tasked with infiltrating and bringing down criminal organizations in the UK. Led by Detective Inspector Frank Paterson, the team includes Detective Sergeant Tony Clark and Detective Constable Zoe Haratounian. Throughout the series, the team takes on a variety of high-stakes assignments, ranging from infiltrating a drug trafficking ring to uncovering a conspiracy involving a wealthy businessman. The show explores themes of crime, justice, and morality, as the team grapples with the difficult decisions they must make in order to bring down the criminals they are targeting.

Cast

* Michael Carter – Phillip Tulloch * Seamus Gubbins – Sean Brooks *

Allie Byrne Allie Esiri (born 26 January 1967), formerly Allie Byrne, is a British writer, poetry curator and producer who is a former stage, film, and television actress. She is the daughter of British actor, Michael Byrne. Esiri curates and produces poe ...

– Alyson Butler * Adam Levy – Sam Kline *

Claire Benedict Claire Benedict (born 28 July 1951) is a British actress known for her work in classical productions on the British stage, but best known for portraying the principal character Mma Ramotswe in the continuing radio adaptations of '' The No 1 La ...

– Jude Patton * Maria McAteer – Kelly Wallace * Ken Drury – Ross Murray *

Vincent Regan Vincent Regan (born 16 May 1965) is a Welsh film and television actor. Early life Regan born 16 May 1965 in Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales. He attended Nicholas Breakspear School, St.Albans, Hertfordshire, then St Joseph's College, Ipswich, before ...

– Ray Sidley * Kelle Spry – Clare Waddington * Morgan Jones – Gary Moulton * Charlie Caine – Terry Dukes

Episodes

Criticism

The series came under fire when aircraft equipment used in the filming of an episode which saw the team helping victims of a plane crash was returned to the owners severely damaged. It was claimed that the damage amounted to more than £48,000, and was caused when the production company,

Thames Television Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broa ...

, chose to light fires around fuselage and landing gear, which resulted in burning and corrosion of said equipment, and further damage was caused when the producers tried to extinguish the fires. The case was brought to court on 10 January 1996, just two days after the first episode premiered on ITV.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, id=0249282, title=Call Red 1996 British television series debuts 1996 British television series endings 1990s British drama television series ITV television dramas 1990s British television miniseries Television series by Fremantle (company) Television shows produced by Thames Television British English-language television shows Television shows set in London