Harley Street - Meet the characters
Starring Paul Nicholls, Suranne Jones and Shaun Parkes, Harley Street is a glossy, post-watershed 6-part medical drama series for ITV, set in London’s famous medical district, in a new stylish Harley Street practice. Find out who's who on the show!
DR ROBERT FIELDING (Paul Nicholls)
Robert is an adrenaline junkie in perpetual motion. He’s universally acknowledged as one of the finest diagnosticians in the medical profession and divides his time between the practice and the white knuckle thrills of an inner London A&E, where he works locum shifts for his old friend, Consultant Dr Ross Jarvis. Robert is highly regarded in the medical industry for his energetic commitment, intuitive diagnostic skills and passion as he continues to attempt to bridge the gap between NHS and Private health care. He and Martha dated whilst at medical school but when she left suddenly during their last year they lost touch. He later found out that she’d fallen pregnant after a one night stand and she didn’t return to medical school. Robert hadn’t seen or heard from her until last year when she got back in contact to offer him a job at her thriving Harley Street practice. Does he have deeper motives for taking the job at Martha’s practice?
DR MARTHA ELLIOT (Suranne Jones)
Martha is the founding member of the practice. After completing her interrupted medical studies and qualifying as a GP, Martha took over the room her father had rented as a GP. She sensed the growing demand for private health care and set about expanding and re-branding the practice, transforming it into a chic and stylish one-stop shop providing wraparound medical care for a new generation of patients. Despite Martha’s success, she very nearly threw it all away when she developed an addiction to the wild side of life at medical school and fell pregnant. Deciding to get her life back on track, she kept the baby and returned to medical school. She knew it was something of a risk inviting Robert to join the practice but as far as she’s concerned he was simply the perfect man for the job and she’s not looking to revive their relationship - or is she?
DR EKKOW OBIANG (Shaun Parkes)
Ekkow is arguably the most unashamedly ambitious of the three doctors at 195 Harley Street. He readily admits to being motivated by a desire to have the finest things in life but this is countered by his unusually sensitive and completely professional approach to his work. He’s only recently qualified as an Aesthetic and Reconstructive surgeon but already he’s on a fast track to the top. Ekkow offers the perfect combination of a dedicated GP with the lucrative talents of one of the finest cosmetic surgeons on the street. Martha and Ekkow met when he performed reconstructive surgery on one of her patients and she immediately recognised he was not only a brilliant plastic surgeon but also had one of the finest bed side manners she had ever seen. When she found out he was also a qualified GP it was a matter of hours before she offered him a partnership at 195 Harley Street.
DR FELIX QUINN (Oliver Dimsdale)
Felix Quinn is from medical aristocracy. He went to a top public school and then on to medical school where he first encountered Martha and Robert. He was immediately attracted to Martha and annoyed by Robert who clearly had the upper hand in terms of Martha’s attentions. He knew the fling wouldn’t last and that one day he would have his chance. Today he is a sophisticated, urbane, charming and successful private GP with his own practice rooms on Harley Street. Some might call Quinn a little bit old fashioned, but he’d counter that in a rapidly changing world sometimes traditional values are worth holding on to. Martha’s always had a soft spot for him, he’s part of the furniture of her life and she can see that under the showy exterior he is a good man. However, Quinn’s ancient resentment of Robert still festers beneath his sleek surface and their competition goes way beyond the professional.
PRACTICE MANAGER & NURSE, ANNIE HARKER (Kim Medcalf)
Although Martha heads up the practice, it’s Annie who really runs the show and is the pragmatic heart of 195 Harley Street. She’s a straight talker and a superb listener and though Robert and Ekkow sometimes baulk at her less than deferential manner, Martha couldn’t live without her. Not only does Annie manage the day to day running of the practice, she is also a superb Nurse Practitioner. Annie’s a healthy antidote to the alpha male testosterone that frequently soaks the atmosphere. Though poles apart in terms of background and opportunity Martha and Annie are firm friends. Despite her irreverent attitude and forthright manner, Annie loves every part of her job and all her colleagues at 195 Harley Street.
RECEPTIONIST, HANNAH FELLOWS (Cush Jumbo)
Hannah is the Receptionist at 195 Harley Street. She is pretty, perky and bright as a button. Her CV isn’t exactly brimming with qualifications, but she’s one of those streetwise, confident girls who can light up a room with her infectious enthusiasm. She’s as surprised as anyone to have found herself on Harley Street. It’s quite an achievement for her, but you would be foolish to underestimate her, the cheeky optimism that made her answer Martha’s ad in the first place, should see her through to great things in the future. She doesn’t want to be a medical receptionist all her life. In fact she’s got big plans - maybe she’ll even train to be a doctor herself one day soon. She’s certainly got great potential and although she’s a hugely popular figure with staff and patients at 195, Hannah’s still got some growing up to do and much to learn.
