Bloods (TV series)

Bloods
Opening title card
GenreComedy[1]
Created by
Written by
  • Nathan Bryon
  • Paul Doolan
  • Samson Kayo
Starring
Opening theme"Final Form" by Sampa the Great
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes16
Production
Producers
  • Seb Barwell (series 1)
  • Debs Pisani (series 2)
Production companyRoughcut Television
Original release
NetworkSky Comedy
Release5 May 2021 (2021-05-05) –
29 September 2022 (2022-09-29)

Bloods is a British television sitcom created by Samson Kayo and Nathan Bryon[2] that premiered on 5 May 2021 on Sky Comedy.[1][3] The series stars Kayo and Jane Horrocks as South London paramedics, based at the fictional South Hill ambulance station, as they deal with emergency medical calls.

Cast

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Production

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Samson Kayo initially created a comedy short for Sky titled New Bloods in 2018. Following its success, the six-episode first series of Bloods was commissioned, with it premiering on 5 May 2021.[5] The five-episode first half of the second series premiered on 16 March 2022[4] and the five-episode second half premiered on 1 September 2022.[6]In October 2022, a third series was announced[7] but the decision was ultimately reversed less than a week later.[8]

Bloods was filmed on location across South London, primarily in Lewisham.[9]Research for the series involved meeting with medical professionals including two of Kayo’s friends who are paramedics to try and set the right tone, to reflect the detached ‘gallows humour’ but also the unusual personal lives of responders.[10]

Episodes

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Series 1 (2021)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal release date
11"Partners"5 May 2021 (2021-05-05)[a]
Maleek is not impressed by new partner Wendy. Meanwhile, team leader Jo tries to flirt with grieving widower Lawrence, but is caught out by a major pile-up.
22"Air Ambulance"12 May 2021 (2021-05-12)
Maleek reveals his dream of a job in the helicopter service after meeting a new paramedic. Elsewhere, Wendy makes an unwanted connection.
33"Daycare"19 May 2021 (2021-05-19)
When Maleek bumps into old flame and single mum Nicole, Wendy sees the chance to get them together, by looking after her son.
44"Bike Patrol"26 May 2021 (2021-05-26)
After their mishaps, the pair are split up as Maleek is punished with pushbike duty, while Wendy must work under Jo's observation.
55"Siren Song"2 June 2021 (2021-06-02)
After discovering Maleek is a talented but reluctant singer, Wendy tries to encourage him. Kareshma resorts to desperate measures to get rid of Gary.
66"Childbirth"9 June 2021 (2021-06-09)
With their partnership in tatters, Maleek and Wendy are forced to deliver a baby together on the underground.

Series 2 (2022)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal release date
71"Episode 1"16 March 2022 (2022-03-16)[b]
Jo is dismayed that her bosses have sent a counsellor, George, to South Hill to help improve the mental wellbeing of the paramedic team.
82"Episode 2"23 March 2022 (2022-03-23)
George struggles to make a difference at South Hill, much to Jo's delight. Spencer gets a job at the depot and Darrell faces deportation back to Australia.
93"Episode 3"30 March 2022 (2022-03-30)
Maleek and Wendy are sent out to a school to teach a knife crime awareness workshop - things do not go according to plan. Jo flirts with Lawrence and stonewalls George. Gary and Kareshma are reunited with Tasha.
104"Episode 4"6 April 2022 (2022-04-06)
Wendy realises she has to address Spencer's poor behaviour when he spends the day on the road with her and Maleek. Jo makes an allegation against George.
115"Episode 5"13 April 2022 (2022-04-13)
Jo hopes for a New Year's Eve kiss from Lawrence. Wendy and Maleek misdiagnose a reluctant patient and Darrell and Darryl decide to emigrate.
126"Episode 6"1 September 2022 (2022-09-01)[c]
Wendy and Maleek work a shift at a football match to take their minds off the upcoming Serious Incident Investigation.
137"Episode 7"8 September 2022 (2022-09-08)
Wendy and Maleek face the Serious Incident Investigation panel - will their friendship survive intact? Kareshma finally admits she's struggling to deal with her concern for Tasha.
148"Episode 8"15 September 2022 (2022-09-15)
Maleek struggles in the aftermath of the Serious Incident Investigation. While Jo debates whether to attend the HART training course, there's devastating news for Kareshma and Gary.
159"Episode 9"22 September 2022 (2022-09-22)
With Jo away at HART training, Gary finds himself in charge or the depot. Lawrence decides it's time to make his feelings know. Wendy helps Maleek get his confidence back.
1610"Episode 10"29 September 2022 (2022-09-29)
Darryl and Darrell decide to host a leaving party - despite the fact that Darrell has now been granted Right to Remain in the UK. The South Hill Gang are anxious for a chance to let their hair down, but will the evening end in tears?

Notes

  1. ^ All Series 1 episodes were available on demand 5 May 2021 (2021-05-05).
  2. ^ Series 2 episodes 1-5 were available on demand 16 March 2022 (2022-03-16).
  3. ^ Series 2 episodes 6-10 were available on demand 1 September 2022 (2022-09-01).

Reception

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Sean O'Grady of The Independent gave the show five stars, calling it "a magnificent paramedic comedy full of gallows humour".[11] The series received a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 7 reviews.[12]

Lucy Mangan for The Guardian gave the series three out of five stars, arguing that "the charm of Kayo and Horrocks make the otherwise laugh-free show worth watching"[13]

Bloods was nominated for two Royal Television Society scripted comedy awards, and three BAFTA awards.[14][15][16][17][8] Series 2 was nominated for the Rose d'Or award in 2022.[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ a b "TV tonight: Rachel Parris is in the hot seat on Late Night Mash". the Guardian. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022. Bloods, 10pm, Sky Comedy: The return of the talent-stuffed paramedic comedy that is keen to leave you in stitches.
  2. ^ "'All she talks about is bees' – Samson Kayo and Jane Horrocks on their new sitcom Bloods | TV comedy | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Bloods". www.sky.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Fear, Helen (16 March 2022). "Bloods series 2 on Sky Comedy: Katherine Kelly joins cast of medical comedy drama!". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  5. ^ "Bloods Series 1 episode guide". British Comedy Guide.
  6. ^ "BLOODS RETURNS TO SKY". Roughcut TV. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  7. ^ "Bloods set to return for Series 3 on Sky". British Comedy Guide. 28 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Bloods - IMDb". IMDb.
  9. ^ "New Sky original comedy Bloods begins filming in London Starring Samson Kayo and Jane Horrocks". Sky. Retrieved 20 January 2025.
  10. ^ Whittock, Jesse (25 February 2021). "Bloods: Mining a fresh vein of comedy". Broadcast. Retrieved 22 January 2025.
  11. ^ "Bloods is a magnificent paramedic comedy full of gallows humour – review". Independent.co.uk. 5 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Bloods - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes.
  13. ^ Mangan, Lucy (5 May 2021). "Bloods review – patchy paramedic comedy unlikely to split your sides". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  14. ^ Gilbert, Gerard (16 March 2022). "On TV tonight, Samson Kayo and Jane Horrocks return in paramedic sitcom Bloods". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Nominations announced for the RTS Programme Awards 2022". Royal Television Society. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  16. ^ Yossman, K. J. (3 March 2022). "'It's a Sin,' 'The Serpent' Nominated for Royal Television Society Program Awards 2022". Variety. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  17. ^ Yossman, K. J. (29 March 2022). "RTS Program Awards 2022 Start With a Slap Before Honoring Winners Including Jack Thorne, Russell T. Davies". Variety. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  18. ^ "Bloods, Ellie & Natasia, Question Team & Toast up for Rose d'Or awards". British Comedy Guide. 12 October 2022.
  19. ^ "Bloods and Toast of Tinseltown up for Rose d'Or Award". British Comedy Guide. 5 November 2022.
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