Born and Bred

In the 1950s at the fictional Lancashire village of Ormston, a father and son, both doctors, navigate the challenges of running a cottage hospital under the newly established National Health Service.

Drama

Seasons

1. The Best Man

Air Date: 2002-04-21

The Gilder family head to Ormston for Linda's wedding to Len. After a wild stag do, Len wakes nude in the village. Arthur, local doctor, prepares for his nurse's big day. As the guests' train breaks down, Linda has second thoughts.

2. Nothing Like the Son

Air Date: 2002-04-28

Tom and Arthur clash over the hospital's unconventional management. Meanwhile, Deborah encounters Eddie, who asserts himself as the doctor's cleaner despite any objections. Eddie appears to be harbouring a secret.

3. The Inspector Calls

Air Date: 2002-05-05

Tom and Arthur prepare to meet Cornelius Sibbald, the official responsible for approving the new cottage hospital. Meanwhile, the villagers unite in a fundraising effort to support the building work.

4. Buried Treasure

Air Date: 2002-05-12

Tom puzzles over local carpenter Bert Cartwright's determination to keep him away, despite Bert's wife's illness. Meanwhile, Michael discovers something exciting, prompting the entire village to hunt for buried treasure.

5. Brothers in Arms

Air Date: 2002-05-19

Tom's patience is tested when his father appears to lose focus in their battle to run the village surgery, but unbeknownst to Tom, Arthur is busy brewing his own beer for the christening. Tension develops between Frank and Len.

6. Judgement Day

Air Date: 2002-05-26

The people of Ormston face an anxious wait as the cottage hospital's future is decided upon by NHS inspector Neville Manly.

1. Lost Souls

Air Date: 2003-04-20

An abandoned child proves a mystery for Tom, while a haunted parishioner, and a trainload of stuffed animals cause troubles for Arthur and Brewer.

2. Home to Roost

Air Date: 2003-04-27

Deborah's mother arrives in Ormston with surprising news. Meanwhile, Tom has some unusual advice for shopkeeper Mr Boynton.

3. Blood Relations

Air Date: 2003-05-04

Fred Mills is reluctant to start medical treatment and instead concentrates on fulfilling his wishlist of activities. A mysterious rash spreads through the village.

4. Fertility Rites

Air Date: 2003-05-11

Some villagers are found swigging brandy instead of water when the local supply is cut-off. Meanwhile, Eddie refuses to allow her daughter Joanne to go to hospital.

5. His Brother's Keeper

Air Date: 2003-05-18

A German war veteran has news of Wilf's missing brother; Arthur throws his back out and must miss a fishing trip.

6. Old Flames

Air Date: 2003-05-25

Wedding bells are ringing in Ormston, but the groom may not be all he claims. Meanwhile, Wilf and Arthur may have met their match in a parrot.

7. The Miracle of Ormston

Air Date: 2003-06-08

There's a buzz of excitement around Ormston as a fortune teller arrives. Phyllis receives shocking news. Tom has been so busy he has been neglecting his family, and Deborah has something she needs to tell him.

8. The Magnificent Colin

Air Date: 2003-06-15

An elderly recluse agrees to go to hospital only if Arthur and the Rev. Brewer attend one last party; Jean and Eddie must pose as the Gilders.

9. The Last Hurrah, Part One

Air Date: 2003-06-22

Tom is angry that Arthur deceived Eugenia; Brewer finalizes the arrangements for Archie's funeral.

10. The Last Hurrah, Part Two

Air Date: 2003-06-29

Eugenia decides to turn the hospital into a platform for Tory propaganda, so Phyllis calls on Labour MP Reg Samuel to give her a run for her money. Helen plays Cupid for Jean and Eddie. Deborah collapses with an ectopic pregnancy.

1. A Little Touch of Harry

Air Date: 2004-02-29

Phyllis' husband Harry returns to Ormston and she agrees to give him another chance. The pub is still in Harry's name, and he bets it in a poker game with Arthur. Deborah's cousin comes to town to give birth to a child that she wants to give up.

2. No Regrets

Air Date: 2004-03-07

Helen becomes a trainee nurse just as the hospital welcomes its most demanding patient, Elizabeth Grimshaw. Tensions run high when a famous radio show arrives in Ormston, and Phyllis is upset as she heard that Harry has sold the pub to the brewery.

3. A Small Flourish

Air Date: 2004-03-14

When Dennis Tyldesley arrives, Hubert Gough thinks that his much younger wife will run off with the mysterious man. However, Dennis reveals that he is in charge of building a new road that will run through the middle of the village.

4. Thick As Thieves

Air Date: 2004-03-21

Len and Linda's first foster child arrives and doesn't meet their expectations. Rita, a new barmaid, arrives with ideas to expand the pub, which the locals dislike. She leaves when Tom diagnoses her with a rare heart condition.

5. The Doctor Now Departing

Air Date: 2004-03-28

Tom discovers that Arthur plans to move to New Zealand and send old friend Donald Newman as his replacement. Eddie has a suspicious lump examined, and the villagers receive their eviction notices in advance of the new road building.

6. And Is There Honey Still for Tea?

Air Date: 2004-04-04

Donald Newman, Gilder's replacement, arrives and saves the life of a beautiful young woman. Deborah and Phyllis discover that the man behind the evictions and road scheme is London civil servant Mr. Ffotherington.

7. More Than You Know

Air Date: 2004-04-11

Mr. Ffotherington comes to Ormston, and Brewer and Mr. Boynton are suspicious of him. Wilf robs Jean's wedding dress fund to buy alcohol to drown his sorrows after Ivy's departure.

8. A House Divided

Air Date: 2004-04-18

Ormston is united in its determination to win the annual inter-village Pub Olympics against Thursvale so they can use the hefty cash prize to buy Phyllis' pub back from the brewery.

9. Something Old

Air Date: 2004-04-25

Jean and Eddie finally get married. Wilf's ex-wife Violet turns up and he insists that he will not attend the wedding if she is present. Whilst Donald looks out for young orphan Niamh, Tom decides to visit his father.

1. The Great Leap Forward

Air Date: 2005-06-01

Ormston welcomes a new face and bids farewell to an old friend. Donald and Deborah set up a mobile blood bank before Tom returns from New Zealand, and find a match for teenage haemophiliac Abel Marl.

2. Flying Home

Air Date: 2005-06-08

Helen returns to join the villagers in paying their last respects to Tom. Logan's patience is tested by hypochondriac Albie Thwaites while Henry Williamson suggests that Deborah and Donald sell the cottage hospital to the NHS.

3. Community Spirits

Air Date: 2005-06-15

Deborah continues to run the hospital alongside Newman and becomes involved with Janette Locke, who appears to be abusing her son. Jean and Eddie become temporary landlords at the pub whilst Phyllis recuperates from an injury.

4. Never Seek to Tell

Air Date: 2005-06-22

The Cosgroves prepare for their latest foster child. Logan shelters Albert Tooley, a young army deserter, and Mary Pilling fears that he has run away to be with her, unaware of her recent marriage to Cyril.

5. Apple Day

Air Date: 2005-06-29

Ormston prepares for the traditional Apple Day Festival, while Len's cousin Nathan visits.

6. The Milk of Human Kindness

Air Date: 2005-07-06

Both Emma Rowe and Laura contract a fever after they are admitted to hospital, but it could be more than just a simply a coincidence.

7. Love Is Where It Falls

Air Date: 2005-07-13

Nancy and Wilf swap jobs with predictable results. Nancy woos Nick, but Deborah spends the night during a storm. Charlie Polson pursues his assistant, Hettie, but lands in the hospital, trying to impress her.

8. The Element of Surprise

Air Date: 2005-07-20

Jean invites Ruby to the Antiques Fair where Ruby gets shot. As Deborah and Logan grow closer, Henry offers Logan a job as the Rattenbury General. Nancy has a fling with Jack, a builder working in the hospital.

9. A Wrathful God

Air Date: 2005-07-27

When the local home for disadvantaged people is forced to close, Deborah takes in Eileen Fisher, one of the residents, but doesn't expect Eileen's admirer, Jimmy, to follow suit.

10. Someone to Watch Over Me

Air Date: 2005-08-03

Phyllis finds herself at the centre of an love triangle. Jean and Eddie get exciting news as they celebrate their first wedding anniversary. Logan leaves Ormston for Rattenbury and Deborah gives pursuit.

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Rating

8.5/10

Release Date

2002-04-21

Episodes

35 (4 seasons)

Status

Ended

Cast

Videos

Production Companies

BBC TV