Fans of the hit period drama Call the Midwife are urging others to watch a lesser-known ITV series, The Royal, which they describe as an ideal alternative. The show, which originally aired from 2003 to 2011, is now streaming free on ITVX and has garnered a loyal following.
What Is 'The Royal'?
The Royal is a British medical period drama set in the 1960s, following the lives of staff and patients at the fictional St Aidan's Royal Free Hospital in the seaside town of Elsinby. It originally launched as a spin-off of Heartbeat, another popular ITV medical drama, but by its fourth season, it dropped all crossover elements and focused on its own storylines. The series ran for eight seasons with 87 episodes.
Cast and Filming Locations
The show features a large ensemble cast including Ian Carmichael, Wendy Craig, Julian Ovenden, Robert Daws, Zoie Kennedy, Amy Robbins, and Linda Armstrong. Outdoor scenes were filmed in North Yorkshire, particularly in Scarborough and Whitby, while interior hospital scenes were shot at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford and The Leeds Studios.
Fan Reactions
Viewers have praised the series for its authentic 1960s music, gripping acting, and period realism. One IMDB user said: "Recreation of medical past, this show is amazingly good. The songs from the 60's are tastefully interwoven throughout. The acting is natural and gripping." Another fan wrote: "This show exemplifies the quality of British television. The writing, dialogue and character development is on point." A third described it as "outstanding," adding: "The action was outstanding each minute of each episode, the blood looked real, loved the coastal scenery, and the acting top notch."
Comparison to Call the Midwife
One IMDB user directly compared it to Call the Midwife: "Watched this on BritBox through Amazon and was hooked immediately. I was really into Call the Midwife, but haven't watched the episodes that I recorded from earlier this year. This show was very quaint and had a real air of enjoying itself."
Spin-off and Legacy
The show's popularity led ITV to commission a daytime spin-off in 2007 called The Royal Today, set in the present day with a new cast. It ran for one season before being cancelled in 2008. The Royal itself was cancelled in 2011, but it remains a beloved series for fans of medical period dramas.
The Royal is streaming now on ITVX.
