Playing Angels

Stars Eve Myles and Meera Syal on their pride in celebrating 70 years of the NHS with an epic one off drama

 

- Caren Clark

The NHS has touched the lives of almost everyone living in Britain today.

So it’s no surprise that some of our finest actors are helping to mark the medical service’s 70th anniversary by starring in new BBC2 drama To Provide All People.

The powerful one-off, which takes the form of a poem written by Owen Sheers, is based on interviews with employees or patients from Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, which also doubled as a filming location. It follows the triumphs and tragedies of birth, life and death in a hospital over 24 hours through the eyes of doctors, nurses, support staff and patients.

‘To tell the story of the NHS was a wonderful opportunity. I wanted to help celebrate this important public service, its hard-working staff and the fact that it’s there for people in their hour of need,’ says TV and film star Michael Sheen, 49, who plays a porter (none of the characters are named).

Here, Meera Syal, 57, who plays a district nurse, and Eve Myles, 39, who co-narrates the drama with Michael and also plays a domestic worker, tell TV Times why they are so proud to be involved….

What appealed to you most about To Provide All People?

Meera: It’s a celebration of 70 years of the NHS through the stories of those who dedicate themselves to this life-affirming institution. Like everyone in Britain, the lives of my family have been saved and supported by the NHS, so I was honoured to be part of celebrating its achievements.