Playing Adam Kay in TV adaptation of his NHS diaries

Ben Whishaw – who plays Q in the James Bond movies – is to play Adam Kay in the screen version of the comedian’s bestselling NHS diaries.

The BBC today announced that that the Very English Scandal star will take the lead in the series This Is Going To Hurt.

Kay has adapted his own diaries, written when he was an obstetrician and gynaecologist in London,  for BBC Two and AMC in America.

Whishaw said he was ‘proud’ to be starring in the series, adding: ‘It’s an honest, hilarious, heartbreaking look at the great institution and the army of unsung heroes who work there under the most stressful conditions. 

‘The Covid-19 crisis has now shed even more light on their great work and underlines the necessity to support the NHS and its workers.

Kay added: ‘Ben is quite simply one of the finest actors our country has ever produced and a bona fide national treasure. There’s simply no one who could do a better job of playing (a much more handsome version of) me. 

‘Best still, I now have an answer to the standard dinner party question: "Who would play you in the story of your life?"’

Dan McDermott of AMC Studios said This Is Going To Hurt was ‘a topical, darkly comedic and breathtakingly poignant series.’

The show is being made by Chernobyl producers Sister and Kay’s own company Terrible Productions, which he owns with his husband James Farrell,  former head of comedy at BBC Studios,

Created, written and executive produced by: Adam Kay
Made by: Sister with Terrible Productions.
Executive producers: Naomi de Pear, Jane Featherstone, James Farrell for Terrible Productions; Mona Qureshi for BBC Two;  Kristin Jones and Dan McDermott for AMC
Commissioned by: Piers Wenger, controller of BBC Drama
Producers: Holly Pullinger
Director: Lucy Forbes (the first four episodes)

Published: 15 Jun 2020