Mullingar actor Niamh Algar to star in new ITV medical drama Malpractice

Malpractice, written by former NHS doctor Grace Ofori-Attah, is set to be directed by Boiling Point's Philip Barantini and produced by World Productions - producers of Line of Duty and Save Me.

The casting of Algar follows the recent cancellation of Raised by Wolves, a HBO sci-fi series where she played protagonist Sue for two seasons.

"I’m thrilled to be a part of this project," Algar posted on Instagram. "I was blown away by Grace Ofori-Attah's script and the team attached in creating Malpractice. I’m a huge fan of Phil Barantini’s work, his movie Boiling Point is an astonishing piece of work and I’m so excited to see how he approaches Malpractice. I’m absolutely over the moon that we are working together on this special series."

Filming for the five-part medical drama series will take place in and around Leeds.

Director Barantini added: “Can’t wait to get cracking with Niamh and the wonderful cast that we’ve assembled. It's going to be one heck of a ride and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be able to bring Grace’s words to life!” .

“Malpractice explores the inevitable pressure-cooker created when doctors under investigation are forced to second-guess their clinical decisions, justify their every action but carry on with the day job as normal," Ofori-Attah said.

The show opens on Dr. Lucinda Edward's nightmare shift that ends in the death of an opioid overdose victim, Edith Owusu.

Despite the support of her medical supervisor, Dr Leo Harris, played by James Purefoy (Sex Education), Edith’s grieving father Sir Anthony Owusu, played by Brian Bovell (Crime, Strike), demands an enquiry into Lucinda’s actions.

Leading the medical investigation are Dr Norma Callahan played by fellow Irish actress Helen Behan (Holding, The Virtues) and Lucinda’s former colleague, Dr George Adjei, played by Jordan Kouamé (Megalomania).

Other actors set to be featured in the series include Hannah Walters (Boiling Point, Time) in the role of Matron Beth Relph, Priyanka Patel (Britney, Another Me) as Dr Rayma Morgan, Scott Chambers (Chicken, Innocent S2) as Dr Oscar Beattie, Tristan Sturrock (Poldark, Doc Martin) as Dr Mike Willet and Georgina Rich (Heartstopper, War of the Worlds) playing Dr Eva Thornbury.

Check out our 2021 interview with Niamh Algar here.