Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Arts & Culture

THE CRIMSON FIELD

(c/w from back left) Sister Joan Livesey (Suranne Jones), Sister Margaret Quayle (Kerry Fox), Matron Grace Carter (Hermione Norris), Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Kitty Trevelyan (Oona Chaplin), Captain Thomas Gillan (Richard Rankin), Captain Miles Hesketh-Thorne (Alex Wyndham), Corporal Peter Foley (Jack Gordon), Flora Marshall (Alice St Clair), Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham).
Courtesy of BBC/Todd Anthony
(c/w from back left) Sister Joan Livesey (Suranne Jones), Sister Margaret Quayle (Kerry Fox), Matron Grace Carter (Hermione Norris), Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Kitty Trevelyan (Oona Chaplin), Captain Thomas Gillan (Richard Rankin), Captain Miles Hesketh-Thorne (Alex Wyndham), Corporal Peter Foley (Jack Gordon), Flora Marshall (Alice St Clair), Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham).

Airs Sundays, Dec. 8 and 16, 2019 from 8 p.m. - 11 p.m. on KPBS TV

Sarah Phelps’ Epic Drama Follows the Lives of a Team of WWI Doctors, Nurses and Volunteers and Their Experiences in the Trenches

THE CRIMSON FIELD is a drama about WWI’s frontline medics — their hopes, fears, triumphs and tragedies. In a tented field hospital on the coast of France, a team of doctors, nurses and women volunteers works together to heal the bodies and souls of men wounded in the trenches.

The series follows the lives of volunteer nurses Kitty Trevelyan, played by Oona Chaplin (GAME OF THRONES, THE HOUR), and Sister Joan Livesey, played by Suranne Jones (SCOTT & BAILEY, A TOUCH OF CLOTH), as a tented field hospital on the coast of France becomes a frontier between the battlefield and the home front.

Advertisement

The hospital evolves into asocial battleground as well — the old rules, hierarchies and class distinctions against a new way of thinking.

The series also features Hermione Norris (COLD FEET, MI-5) as Matron Grace Carter, Richard Rankin ("The House of Him," BURNISTOUN) as Captain Thomas Gillan, Kevin Doyle (DOWNTON ABBEY, "The Libertine") as Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett, Kerry Fox (GLUE, "Shallow Grave") as Sister Margaret Quayle and Marianne Oldham ("Titus," WPC 56) as Rosalie Berwick.

EPISODE GUIDE:

Episode 1: repeats Sunday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. - Follow Kitty, Flora and Rosalie, volunteer nurses who work in a tented field hospital. As they settle into their first day, it soon becomes clear that no training could ever have prepared them for the reality of working near the front line.

(L-R) Flora Marshall (Alice St Clair), Kitty Trevelyan (Oona Chaplin), Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham).
Courtesy of BBC/Todd Antony
(L-R) Flora Marshall (Alice St Clair), Kitty Trevelyan (Oona Chaplin), Rosalie Berwick (Marianne Oldham).

Episode 2: repeats Sunday, Dec. 8 at 9 p.m. - The hospital readies for a convoy of new patients. With resources stretched, Sister Joan sees a chance for the volunteers’ skills to be put to good use, but Sister Margaret doesn’t think they’re ready to take on new responsibilities.

Advertisement
Sister Joan Livesey (Suranne Jones)
Courtesy of BBC/Todd Antony
Sister Joan Livesey (Suranne Jones)

Episode 3: repeats Sunday, Dec. 8 at 10 p.m. - Thomas wrestles with a growing attraction to Kitty, a terrified patient faces court martial and Sister Joan reveals a dark secret to one of her patients.

(L-R) Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Matron Grace Carter (Hermione Norris).
Courtesy of BBC/Nick Wall
(L-R) Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Matron Grace Carter (Hermione Norris).

Episode 4: repeats Sunday, Dec. 15 at 8 p.m. - The arrival of soldiers from her home town lifts Joan’s spirits, but she finds herself in trouble. Thomas seizes his opportunity to pursue Kitty. Meanwhile, the return of an old patient causes ripples, calling everyone’s loyalties into question.

(L-R) Captain Miles Hesketh-Thorne (Alex Wyndham), Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Captain Thomas Gillan (Richard Rankin).
Courtesy of BBC/Todd Antony
(L-R) Captain Miles Hesketh-Thorne (Alex Wyndham), Lieutenant-Colonel Roland Brett (Kevin Doyle), Captain Thomas Gillan (Richard Rankin).

Episode 5: repeats Sunday, Dec. 15 at 9 p.m. - Grace is threatened by an aggressively rude and war-scarred commander, while Joan waits anxiously for news from her fiancé. A series of events draws Joan into danger, risking her profession and possibly her life.

(L-R) Private Raymond ‘Peacock’ Deeley (David Walmsley), Private Wilfred ‘Dad’ Tyrell (Lee Ingleby).
Courtesy of BBC/Nick Briggs
(L-R) Private Raymond ‘Peacock’ Deeley (David Walmsley), Private Wilfred ‘Dad’ Tyrell (Lee Ingleby).

Episode 6: repeats Sunday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. - As Joan faces a possible lifetime in prison, Kitty’s wracked with guilt that she knew about Joan but didn’t stop her. Kitty is desperate for someone to trust, but will she turn to Thomas or Miles? As the war machine grinds on, faith, hope and love are put to the test.

Kitty Trevelyan (OONA CHAPLIN)
Courtesy of BBC/Todd Antony
Kitty Trevelyan (OONA CHAPLIN)

WATCH EPISODES ON YOUR SCHEDULE:

This series originally aired in 2015. All six episodes of THE CRIMSON FIELD are available for streaming on demand with KPBS Passport, video streaming for members supporting KPBS at $60 or more yearly, using your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, AppleTV, Amazon Fire or Chromecast. Learn how to activate your benefit now.

CREDITS:

Created, written and executive produced by Sarah Phelps (GREAT EXPECTATIONS, EASTENDERS) and directed by David Evans (DOWNTON ABBEY, ONE NIGHT), Richard Clark (DOCTOR WHO, LIFE ON MARS) and Thaddeus O’Sullivan (SILENT WITNESS, SINGLE-HANDED),

Produced by Endemol Worldwide and BBC.