New Barts series: all you need to know
A brand‑new TV series opens the doors to over 900 years of medical history, innovation and human stories at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
The first episode of Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time airs on Wednesday 18 February at 8pm on Channel 5, with six episodes across six weeks. Episodes will also be available to stream online.
What’s it about?
Across this six‑part series, Professor Alice Roberts explores St Bartholomew’s Hospital, where care has been provided to Londoners continuously since 1123.
Rather than a straightforward history programme, the series moves between centuries, from medieval manuscripts and early medical practices to modern surgery and everyday hospital life. As Roberts explains, the series allowed her "to cover the contemporary hospital, modern treatments… and explore a lot of history that is Barts’ history."
It’s also a chance to celebrate the people working behind the scenes today: the clinicians, technicians and support staff who keep our Trust running every day.
What’s in the first episode?
Episode one begins inside Barts’ remarkable archive, where Roberts views a rare 1137 manuscript signed by founder Rahere. The programme then moves to the King George V building to follow cardiologists responding to a real-time emergency in one of the hospital’s ten cath labs.
The episode also looks at the early risks of x‑ray development, modern radiotherapy for army veteran Terry, and the £9.5 million restoration of the hospital’s historic North Wing.
What does our presenter say?
Roberts says the interplay of past and present is what sets the series apart: "I have not seen a series like Barts before. I’m very proud of this series… and I hope we might go back because there are more stories to tell."
What do the critics say?
Both Heat and TV Times have given the series four stars, and it has been selected as Victoria Segal’s Critic’s Choice in The Times.
TV Times writes: "The contrast between Barts’ groundbreaking cardiac centre and tales of more rustic past treatments makes it feel like we’re getting two shows for the price of one."
Where can I watch the trailer?
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