Breathtaking: cast, plot, first look and everything you need to know

Breathtaking on ITV1 is based on doctor/writer Rachel Clarke and unflinching memoir of the greatest public health crisis in living memory. The drama stars Joanne Froggatt as a frontline hospital consultant.

Downton Abbey star Joanne plays Abbey Henderson, a doctor and mother of two small children, who is known for her calm approach. But even Abbey struggles to cope as the virus takes hold and the NHS is totally overwhelmed. The new series has been adapted by Rachel herself, alongside former hospital doctors, Jed Mercurio (the man behind Line of Duty and Bodyguard) and Prasanna Puwanarajah.

“I feel truly honored to be playing Dr Abbey Henderson in Breathtaking, based on Dr Rachel Clarke’s beautifully written, poignant and shocking book of the same name,” says Joanne Froggatt.

“When I first read the incredible scripts they moved me to tears on many occasions. I felt so passionately that I had to be a part of telling this story, the real story, of what was really happening behind the closed doors of the hospitals during the pandemic. Our NHS staff are nothing less than absolute heroes in my eyes, and I hope telling this story goes a little way towards us understanding their truth, their lived experience and honouring their unbelievable commitment and sacrifice on behalf of us all.”

Here’s everything you need to know about Breathtaking on ITV1 and ITVX…

Breathtaking release date

Breathtaking is a three-part drama that will be shown on ITV1 and ITVX in early 2024. There’s no official release date yet. so we’ll keep you updated on this page when it's announced.

Breathtaking plot

Breathtaking shows the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of acute medicine consultant Dr Abbey Henderson. She works in a big inner-city hospital and the drama shows how she and her colleagues fought desperately to save the lives of coronavirus patients while dealing with an incredible amount of fear and frustration themselves. As well as following Abbey, the drama weaves in the lives of her fellow doctors, nurses, patients and the paramedics whose ambulances were queued outside hospitals as the NHS struggling to cope under the unprecedented demand.

“There is so much misinformation and rewriting of history around what really happened inside our hospitals during the pandemic,” says writer Rachel Clark. “The truth is, NHS staff gave everything they had in impossible conditions that sometimes cost them their lives. It is an honour to try and depict the courage and decency of my NHS colleagues on screen, and I’m so grateful to ITV and HTM Television for giving me the chance to show the public the truth.”

Breathtaking cast — Joanne Froggatt as Dr Abbey Henderson

Joanne Froggatt plays an overworked doctor during the start of the COVID pandemic. She is best known for playing Anna Bates in ITV period drama Downton Abbey and starred in the ITV1 thriller series Liar, playing Laura Nielson. She's also starred in North Shore, Last Light, Sherwood, The Harrowing, The Commons and Robin Hood. Joanne started her career playing Zoe Tattersall in Coronation Street and voices Wendy in the children’s series Bob The Builder.

Who else is starring in Breathtaking?

No other cast has yet been announced for Breathtaking but as soon as they are we'll post them here.

Is there a trailer?

No, but if and when ITV release one, we’ll post it on here for you to enjoy.

Behind the scenes, locations and more on Breathtaking

Filming on Breathtaking took place in Belfast and finished in May 2023. It's written by Rachel Clarke, Jed Mercurio and Prasanna Puwanarajah, and produced by Jed Mercurio's HTM Television (Trigger Point, DI Ray, Bloodlands and Stephen). The drama has been directed by Craig Viveiros (Angela Black, The Watch, The War of the Worlds).

Jed Mercurio says: “Everyone at HTM Television has felt privileged to dramatise Rachel Clarke’s hauntingly illuminating memoir of health workers struggling to cope with the extraordinary challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. I’m honoured to have collaborated with Rachel and Prasanna on this important drama, and thrilled to be working with a cast led by Joanne Froggatt and crew led by director Craig Viveiros.”

Director Craig Viveiros says: “I’m honoured to be working with Jed, Rachel and Prasanna on this timely, important project. After reading the first few pages of the script, I knew this was a project I wanted to be involved with. Its unique, bold and unflinching take on life on the front line during the pandemic was immediately captivating. I’m delighted to once again be working with Joanne Froggatt, her ability to effortlessly bring the humanity and empathy to any character she portrays meant she was the perfect performer to bring Abbey to life.”