Angels

Before 'casualty' there was "Angels". Ironically the title today would be regarded as sexist with an obvious reference to Florence Nightingale. However, soon the series got into the swing of women's lib because as the years progressed male nurses were brought into series just to square things up. Originally the series was a one-hour show per week and focused on six new SRN nurse trainees. The stories mostly centered on the difficulties of adjusting to the nursing profession, relationships with the opposite sex, tensions and character clashes between the various members of the staff as well as the stress of working shifts in the National Health Service. Some of the trainee nurses adapted and got promoted however some did not stay on in the profession.

By comparison to 'Casualty and NBC's 'ER' Angels was neither as gruesome or as fast paced as the more mundane tasks of nursing were focused on. Angels never intended to be as heavy on the political aspects of the national health with cuts and strikes as the later 'Casualty' but it was certainly held greater emphasis especially as the series progressed. As in any series cast members moved on and new ones were brought in and by about 1980 it was cut to a half-hour show but came on about 7.00pm at least two nights per week but it could have been three.

The series finally wound up in 1983 but many of the former cast members from Angels found themselves passing through Albert square when Eastenders started it's run in 1985!