Period drama fans are being urged to watch a "wonderful" series that ran for three seasons and was inspired by a true story. Originally made for the BBC, the comedy-drama follows an Indian doctor who moves with his wife to the small Welsh mining village of Trefelin.
The period drama series was inspired by a real culture clash that took place during the 1960s, with Dr Prem Subberwal at the centre. Previously, speaking to the BBC, the real doctor behind the series said one of his major difficulties was understanding the Welsh accent and being understood himself.
Cast and inspiration
Sanjeev Bhaskar plays NHS doctor Prem Sharma, the character based on Subberwal, with Ayesha Dharker starring as his wife, Kamini. The Indian Doctor is the series in question, and it is available to stream on Prime Video.
When the series first aired on the BBC, it was followed by a documentary called The Real Indian Doctors, which explored the experiences of doctors working on the front line of the Welsh health service during one of the most turbulent periods in its history.
"These doctors not only changed the face of the NHS but also the culture of the communities they came to serve," the BBC said. "The programme reveals how these doctors came to Wales and, through their years of service, helped to change attitudes towards racism and immigration across Wales."
Research and fan reactions
The broadcaster explained how, by the time of the cutbacks in the 1970s, Asian doctors were an established part of the health service, particularly in the more deprived areas of the country. However, they were not always welcome.
In 2010, actor Bhaskar wrote a blog for the BBC, explaining the research he did ahead of the role, sharing: "I spoke with a retired Indian doctor who arrived in the 1960s and practised in a Welsh village (where he still lives), which was invaluable. The biggest problem, he told me, was understanding the accent (ironically!) and the colloquialisms the locals used."
"Most Indians had learned very traditional English and had only heard the Queen's English at that. Though the story does involve race, I don't think it's about racism. It's more about curiosity and preconceptions. I experienced a degree of racism, particularly when I was at school in west London, but I got it from both sides - the Asians and the white kids. There was a lot of racial tension at the time."
Viewers took to IMDb reviews to share their thoughts on the series, with one hailing it "spellbinding", saying: "What a great show! Spellbinding and time flies. The storylines are wonderful and I cannot say enough about the actors. Thanks for such a wonderful time."
Another added: "This is a wonderful, easy-to-watch series. No blood, no gore, just a variety of personalities coming together and making life work. Good to see happy endings. And the doctor is so good!"
Commenting on the Welsh setting, another fan said: "I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful cast, stunning scenery, accurate and thoughtful storytelling, and gorgeous HD picture quality. The cast were wonderful, very likeable, and the 1963 setting - complete with a musical soundtrack of the day - was pure heaven."
A final fan hailed it "a gem", sharing: "The Indian Doctor is very entertaining and enjoyable. The acting, the story lines, the scenery, the script - very well done. The characters were entertaining and well played. Bravo! Bring us more of this type of entertainment, please."
The Indian Doctor is streaming on Prime Video.
