The Crimson Field is a British period drama television series that was broadcast beginning on BBC One on 6 April 2014. The series shows the lives of medics and the patients at a fictional field hospital in France during the First World War.[1][2]

The Crimson Field
GenreDrama
Written bySarah Phelps
Directed by
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Anne Pivcevic
  • Sarah Phelps
ProducerAnnie Tricklebank
CinematographyMatt Gray BSC
Running time60 minutes
Production companyBBC Drama Production
Original release
Network
Release6 April (2014-04-06) –
11 May 2014 (2014-05-11)

Cast

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Cast of The Crimson Field

Production

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Originally called The Ark, the series was commissioned by Ben Stephenson and Danny Cohen[3][4] as part of the BBC World War I centenary season. Sarah Phelps, the creator of The Crimson Field said: "I am bouncing off the walls with excitement at having such an extraordinary talented cast, bouncing off the walls."[3]

Filming began in August 2013. The Historic Dockyard Chatham and HMS Gannet featured in the first episode of the series doubling as the Port of Boulogne, France.[5] Dyrham Park appeared in scenes as a French hotel.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateUK viewers
(millions) [6][specify]
1"Episode 1"David EvansSarah Phelps6 April 2014 (2014-04-06)7.83
2"Episode 2"David EvansSarah Phelps13 April 2014 (2014-04-13)6.89
3"Episode 3"Richard ClarkSarah Phelps20 April 2014 (2014-04-20)6.31
4"Episode 4"Richard ClarkSarah Phelps27 April 2014 (2014-04-27)6.25
5"Episode 5"Thaddeus O'SullivanSarah Phelps4 May 2014 (2014-05-04)6.01
6"Episode 6"Thaddeus O'SullivanSarah Phelps11 May 2014 (2014-05-11)6.33

Cancellation

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The show was cancelled after one series, due to a lacklustre critical and audience response, as well as budgetary considerations towards other BBC series.[7] Phelps revealed she had planned four more series.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "BBC reveals 2,500-hour World War I season". BBC News. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  2. ^ Vincent, Alice (7 August 2013). "Hermione Norris, Oona Chaplin and Suranne Jones in cast of field hospital drama, The Ark". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Cast announced for Sarah Phelps' new First World War drama series, The Crimson Field". BBC. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  4. ^ "Casting announced for WWI drama The Ark". BBC. 7 August 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. ^ Kent Film Office. "Kent Film Office The Crimson Field Film Focus".
  6. ^ "BARB Top 30s".
  7. ^ Dowell, Ben (10 June 2014). "BBC1 axes First World War drama The Crimson Field". Radio Times. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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