The Clinic (TV series)

infobox Television
show_name = The Clinic
format = Drama
picture_format = 16:9 widescreen
audio_format = Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1
runtime = 60 minutes (approx. 52 min)
country = Ireland
network = RTÉ One
first_aired = 12 October, 2003
last_aired = present
website= http://www.rte.ie/tv/theclinic

"The Clinic" is an award-winning Irish primetime television medical drama series produced by Parallel Film Productions for RTÉ. It debuted on RTÉ One in 2003 to positive reviews and has proved to be one of the network's most popular shows.

The drama centres on the staff of the Clarence Street Clinic in the affluent Dublin 4 area of Dublin.Clarence Street Clinic is a multi-disciplinary health centre which allows for an equally diverse cast.

Season 5 began on RTÉ One on September 30th, 2007.A sixth series first aired on RTÉ One from September, Sunday 28th 2008.

Re-runs

During each summer RTÉ One screens re-runs from the previous series on Wednesday nights. While during its season run the episode that airs on Sunday is repeated at midnight on Thursday nights.

Cast and characters

Former Castmembers include Aisling O'Sullivan (Dr. Cathy Costello), David Wilmot, Sam Corry , Chris O'Dowd , Geraldine Plunkett and Norma Sheahan

eason 1 and Seasons 2

In a Clinic where the healers often need healing more than the patients themselves. resident owners Cathy and Ed Costello try to patch up their troubled marriage while working side by side. Dan Woodhouse, the slick plastic surgeon with a shadowy past, struggles with his addictions to women and drugs. Physiotherapist Keelin Geraghty is tormented by her one-night stand with a married man. Long serving receptionist Fiona develops an obsession with her boss that seems to be leading her to ruination. Resident counsellor, Patrick, is struggling to stay off the booze as his interests in Cathy extend beyond the professional.

As tensions run high, can Cathy and Ed’s marriage survive the pressures of running the Clinic? And will the professional and personal frailties of their staff endanger their happiness and their success?

eaons 3

Tensions between Cathy and Ed culminated at the end of series 2 when Cathy discovered Ed’s infidelity with Physiotherapist Keelin. When Ed found out that Cathy was thinking of doing business with Plastic Surgeon, Dan Woodhouse behind his back, he decided their marriage was over and left.

Dan is delighted that Ed is now gone and the way is clear for him to move in on the Clinic. Cathy is heart broken but picks herself back up starting a burgeoning relationship with Dan. It takes a personal tragedy and a discovery that Dan is back to his old ways to make Cathy wake up and fight for control of the Clinic. Brendan decides to pursue his dreams of travelling leaving Clodagh who is shocked to discover her life is a lie. Richard the new GP finds it difficult to cope with his tragic personal life as Daisy’s partying finally catches up with her. To top it all off the Clinic is put in peril when they discover that Alex isn’t really who he said he was.

Cathy and Dan are at a stand off at the end of the series with Cathy hoping to push Dan out of the Clinic. Will Dan resort to anything to keep hold of his addiction, the Clinic, even if it means blackmailing Cathy?

eason 4

Cathy and Dan are still at loggerheads at the start of series 4 waiting for Cathy’s father, Paul O’Callaghan’s will to be read. Cathy is convinced that her father’s share of the Clinic will be left to her and with majority power she will finally be able to oust Dan. However, the late Paul O’Callaghan had other ideas and leaves his remaining share to his long-term lover, Julia Brady. Cathy and Julia are immediately pitted against each another as Cathy tries to come to terms with the legacy her father left behind. Julia’s arrival also gives Dan a second lease of life – who was close to leaving the Clinic for good. With equal power however, Dan decides he’s not going anywhere.

The Clinic also follows the lives and loves of a recently qualified GP and Acupuncturist, Clodagh Delaney, who is about to take up the new GP role, a Physiotherapist, Keelin Geraghty and a Counsellor, Patrick Murray. Our new Practice Nurse, Liam Smith, is introduced in episode 3. Other staff include Practice Manager, Aine Flanagan, as well as two receptionists Daisy O’Callaghan (Cathy’s cousin) and the new addition to the front desk, Cara Madigan.

eason 5

With another year full of surprises and challenges for the practitioners in Dublin’s Clarence Street Clinic. When we last saw Dan he was being wheeled into the operating theatre for a harrowing operation while an emotional Cathy watched on helplessly. Now Dan is back with a second chance but his life is thrown into turmoil when he discovers Cathy is pregnant.

It’s a tumultuous start for the couple but they finally come together as one and looking forward to their future in the Clinic. However, their happiness is marred by the arrival of an old friend of Cathy and Ed’s who has bought half of the building from under them.

Dr. Lorcan O’Brien shakes up the Clinic by introducing a night Methodone program that brings him into conflict with the other partners, especially Dan. But despite appearances, Lorcan is hiding a devastating secret of his own that threatens to bring him undone.

Keelin returns from New York as a married woman but struggles with finding a balance between her work and personal life while Cara causes tension at the front desk with her ambitious drive that threatens her relationship with Aine who is trying to juggle the demands of being a working mother.

Julia and Cathy are now monitoring Clodagh’s every step after her potentially life-threatening diagnosis and this causes tension for Clodagh. However, the experience forces Clodagh to evaluate her priorities as a Doctor.

Blackmail, betrayal and confessions lead to a sensational finale that will promise dramatic new changes to the Clinic.

eason 6

Daisy returns from her trip abroad with Conor to be by her stricken cousin’s side and to provide some comfort to Dan, who has been keeping a constant vigil by Cathy’s bedside since the accident, willing her to live. New receptionist Ruairi is introduced to us as he balances working in the Clinic with his other life as a DJ in a trendy Dublin nightclub, while Practice Manager Cara bumps up her status by overseeing the building of her new office.

Liam’s son Ian is in trouble yet again. This time he’s caught joyriding in his friend’s car and is asked to leave his school after too many warnings of bad behaviour. Liam is beside himself and now must somehow find the money to send Ian to a private school, putting a severe financial strain on the family.

Lorcan and Clodagh continue to enjoy their growing closeness as they work together to keep the Clinic afloat in the absence of two of their doctors. Everyone is under immense pressure as a result of this staff shortage, and Julia eventually agrees with Lorcan and Cara to bring in a locum to help relieve the workload.

"The Clinic" is shown in other countries

The show also airs on a number of television channels in other countries:

* Iceland
* Denmark
* The Netherlands
* Belgium
* Finland
* Portugal

DVD

* Season 1 and 2 were released in November 2004.

Awards

Winners -

* IFTA Awards 2007 - Best Drama Series
* IFTA Awards 2007 - Best Actor in a Supporting Role in TV - Gary Lydon
* IFTA Awards 2008 - Best Actress - Aisling O'Sullivan

Nominations -

* IFTA Awards 2008 - Actress in a Supporting Role Television - Amy Huberman - Nomination
* IFTA Awards 2008 - Actor in a Supporting Role Television - Gary Lydon - Nomination

External links

* [http://www.parallelfilms.com Parallel Films website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/tv/theclinic Series info at RTE]
* [http://www.rte.ie RTE website]