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Children's Ward is a British children's television drama series produced by Granada Television and broadcast on the ITV network as part of its Children's ITV strand on weekday afternoons. The programme was set – as the title suggests – in Ward B1, the children's ward of the fictitious South Park Hospital, and told the stories of the young patients and the staff present there. Aimed at older children and teenagers, Children's Ward was a long-lived series for a children's drama, starting life in 1988 as a contribution to the Dramarama anthology strand, "Blackbird Singing In The Dead of Night", then first broadcast as a series 1989 and running from then until 2000. The series was conceived by Granada staff writers Paul Abbott and Kay Mellor, both of whom went on to enjoy successful careers as award-winning writers of adult television drama. At the time, they were both working on the soap opera Coronation Street, and had recently collaborated on a script for Dramarama. Abbott, who had been through a troubled childhood himself, had initially wanted to set the series in a children's care home rather than a hospital, but this was vetoed by Granada executives. During the course of its run, however, Children's Ward won many plaudits for covering difficult issues such as cancer, alcoholism, drug addiction and child abuse in a sensitive manner. The programme won many awards, including in 1996 a BAFTA Children's Award for Best Drama, won by an episode in which a serial killer lures children to him via the internet and is – highly unusually for children's television – not eventually caught.
Themes
Episodes
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- E1 Episode 1Next upMar 15, 1989
Synopsis
Fiona is knocked down by a car whilst running away to a concert. But her mum nearly causes another accident when she slaps a hot cup of tea from Mags's hand. Dave is stressed the new doctor hasn't arrived, and makes sure everybody knows it.
- E2 Episode 2Mar 22, 1989
Synopsis
An over-keen new boy nurse causes a series of mishaps, Keely has her eye on a gorgeous stud who's been visiting Billy, and a nasty nasty man combines a sweet treats trolley with a lemon sour manner.
- E3 Episode 3Mar 29, 1989
Synopsis
Fiona's still in a coma, but the other kids disown her. Gary is more interested in awkwardly chatting up Diane than making amends for his mishaps. Alex is at risk of not seeing half of these silly antics.
- E4 Episode 4Apr 5, 1989
Synopsis
Mrs. Brett starts to behave like an acceptable human being after her stern talking to by Dave, but his school-masterly manner does not work as well on Billy. A gypsy dumps her boy in the children's ward without so much as a sprig of heather.
- E5 Episode 5Apr 12, 1989
Synopsis
Billy continues with his coke habit - the liquid kind. The kids take their revenge on the terrible trolley tyrant. Something is afoot with Darren. The staff worry about gypsy George fitting in, but it's another kind of fit that's the problem.
- E6 Episode 6Apr 19, 1989
Synopsis
Billy is a bully. Dave jealously guards his jealousy over Charlotte's engagement.
Guest stars: Mike Kelly (Shopkeeper)
- E7 Episode 7Apr 26, 1989
Synopsis
After downing vodka in a way that even a seasoned alcoholic would struggle with, Billy loses his bottle. Mags keeps riding her bike, but she's on the road to nowhere. McKeown says och aye to Alex's operation.
- E8 Episode 8May 3, 1989
Synopsis
Priorities are all over the place when Tiffany puts meeting a radio disc jockey over a holiday in Spain, and Billy's parents would rather squabble than help their son.
Guest stars: Danny Dyer (Tony)
- E9 Episode 9May 10, 1989
Synopsis
Ben's inability to lose weight is a cause for concern. Meanwhile, Keely's weight loss causes concern.
- E10 Episode 10May 17, 1989
Synopsis
The staff get to the nitty gritty of the head lice problem. Suzanna is happy with her nose, and knows what makes her happy. The problem child finally shows some vulnera-Billy-ty. Sleeping Beauty's eyes are opened. Dean's been mean.
- E11 Episode 11May 24, 1989
Synopsis
A game of musical romances begins, both on the staff and the patient side. The wanderer returns, in the form of George's father. Fiona's dreams are driving her silly.
- E12 Episode 12May 31, 1989
Synopsis
McKeown takes the high road by retiring early. Billy gets less silly by mentioning the meal he saw flushed by Keely.
- E13 Episode 13Jun 7, 1989
Synopsis
The old forgotten birthday cover for surprise party is wheeled out for Alex's 12th. But there is a far less predictable twist in the tail of this first series.
Cast & crew
Created by Paul Abbott, Kay Mellor
Nikki Sanderson
Alan Rothwell
Tina O'Brien
Victoria Finney
Nina Baden-Semper
