Q&A: Screenwriter Jed Mercurio on 30 Years of Thrilling Audiences
The creator of smash hits ‘LINE OF DUTY’ and ‘BODYGUARD’ reflects on what he’s learned from his many triumphs — and failures — in British television
There are few screenwriter’s names as big as Jed Mercurio’s in British television. For thirty years, he’s been turning out series that grab you by the scruff of the neck, lead you into worlds you thought you knew, and then shout, “There, you see the truth now — don’t look away!”
Jed’s journey as a screenwriter began, almost by accident, when he created “CARDIAC ARREST” for the BBC in 1994. The series was inspired by his own career in medicine and revealed a darker side to the life of hospital doctors in the National Health Service (NHS), dispelling decades of popular myths perpetuated by gentler dramas and sitcoms. It was an instant success. Jed followed it up with other series less topical — and certainly less controversial — but it wasn’t until he adapted his debut novel, “BODIES”, that he scored his next serious hit. Again, he took on the ugly underbelly of the medical profession. Next time around, he set his sights on corruption in the Metropolitan Police with “LINE OF DUTY”, and six seasons later, audiences are still clamoring for more of Anti-Corruption Unit…
