Peak Practice

I've been watching 'Peak Practice' for quite a while now and make it a point to never miss it. What I like most about this serial is its realistic and sensitive probing into the psyche of the doctors and the patients..It portrays life in all its ups and downs, sometimes exhilarating, sometimes cruel..The performances are first rate..Adrian Lukis is absolutely charming and Saskia Wickham is excellent as Errika Matthews, you can't help identifying with her character -she evokes a lot of empathy. What I like most about the serial is the balance the director has achieved in portraying life from both the doctor's and patient's perspective. The plight of the patients in each of the episodes is conveyed realistically. Though a tearjerker, 'Peak Practice' is one of the most touching serials I've seen..With it's beautiful country setting(the serial is set in Derbyshire) it makes a statement for the bitter-sweet life in a very English coutryside...but with stories that are universal and emotions common to all humanity... Check it out

Peak Practice was a good series but they never recaptured the Beth / Jack magic of the early seasons, which was essential to balance the tragedies / darker topics. I like that the show doesn't shy away from death but it was too much doom and gloom as the years went by. Like Midsomer Murders, having a deeply bonded and some warm/romantic humour made the sad storylines bearable. I watched this show as a teen and it is weird but good to watch it again now that I am older than the doctors - 30 years on, the storylines are still so relevant, esp the work/community struggle as I've had that in my own career.

Ironically the next episode on my Morse playlist is S2.3 which stars Kevin (regular) and Amanda (guest) before they filmed Peak Practice.

I have been watching Peak Practice for several years now and is one of the better dramas of recent years. I was shocked and annoyed when the makers of this show, Carlton, decided to axe it after 9 years, despite it attracting 7 million viewers.

This series, which is made in the same county as I live, is being axed as Carlton says they have ran out of storylines. A lot of different medical issues have been covered during its duration.

The cast has changed several times over the years and the last series included Simon Sheperd, one of the original stars who had only just returned to the series after a few years' absence. This programme also made a star of Karl Davies who played landlord's son Nick Pullen. He now plays Robert Sugden in Emmerdale. Guest stars to have appeared include Keith Barren (The Land That Time Forgot, Duty Free), John Rhys Davies (The Living Daylights, Raiders of the Lost Ark) and Linda Baron (Open All Hours).

I enjoyed watching this series and it will be greatly missed.

Rating: 4 and a half stars out of 5.

I loved the first 10 seasons, but after Dr Andrew Attwood's character left, it became a soap opera of sorts. The actors until then were really solid actors and cast very well. Bringing Will's character back was a desperate attempt to save the show, however, it flopped afterwards. Will & Alex always had a smirk on their faces. Is the Botox overdone or are these people masquerading as actors. The crazy Claire army type is the only reason I kept watching. She's good. I really wanted to smack her! What a badass! Maybe if the initial characters hadn't had such a grueling filming schedule, they all wouldn't have left. It's really a shame. Just like Ballykissangel, Peak Practice was a feel good show, but as the seasons progressed, it just didn't work.

Not a bad series, though the fact that no one EVER found happiness, no wedding EVER went well, no marriage EVER worked out, no family in town seemed happy together.

The series finale was shocking, but also a lazy way out for the writers. Incredibly disappointing.