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.
Episode 1 of Alice Roberts: Our Hospital Through Time aired on 18 February, with new episodes every week across six weeks.
All episodes will also be available to stream online, so viewers can catch up on Episode 1 and 2 now at their convenience.
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 been the response to episode 1?
Episode 1 received a great response, with positive feedback from viewers including Barts staff, patients and supporters. A strong PR and social media campaign helped drive interest in the series, and one Instagram post about the history of beds - the “origins of sleep tight” - has now been viewed over 1 million times, making it the most‑viewed social post in Barts Health history.
What was in episode 2?
Episode 2 follows patient Chris as he undergoes advanced robotic lung surgery performed by leading thoracic surgeon Henrietta Wilson, whose minimally invasive approach offers quicker recovery and less pain. On the oncology ward, nurse Sabeela Shahid provides expert clinical care and vital emotional support to patients including Kevin O’Hara, who is living with terminal renal cancer. The episode also explores the history of surgery with urologist Jonathan Goddard, who demonstrates the harsh 17th‑century bladder‑stone operation.
What's in episode 3?
Episode 3 premieres on 4 March and follows 69‑year‑old Edith Pue’s journey from Belfast to Barts for life‑saving surgery on a dangerous tear in her aorta, carried out by leading specialist Professor Aung Yee Oo and a skilled theatre team. The episode also explores how centuries of medical discovery, from William Harvey’s work on blood circulation to historic bloodletting, continue to shape modern care.
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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