Ben Whishaw has signed up to star in This Is Going to Hurt, a new AMC/BBC drama series adapted from Adam Kay's bestselling memoir of the same name.

Published in 2017, This is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor is a witty and revealing collection of diary entries written by Kay during his medical training with the U.K.'s National Health Service.

Whishaw will star as a fictionalized version of Kay in a series which will follow him "clinging to his personal life as he is increasingly overwhelmed by stresses at work: the 97-hour weeks, the life and death decisions and all the while knowing the hospital parking meter is earning more than him."

Kay will serve as creator, writer, and executive producer on the series, while Lucy Forbes (The End of the F***ing World) will serve as lead director. Global content company Sister (Giri/Haji, Chernobyl, Gangs Of London) will produce alongside Kay's Terrible Productions.

"I am proud to join this exciting adaptation of Adam Kay’s terrific book This is Going to Hurt based on his experiences working in the NHS," Whishaw said in a statement. "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."

Lucy Forbes added: "This hilarious and heartbreaking view of the NHS, that we have so long taken for granted, feels more relevant than ever, and what better person to play Adam than the wonderful Whishaw! So looking forward to working with Ben, and the Sister team to bring Adam Kay’s painfully funny book to life.”

Dan McDermott, president of original programming for AMC and co-president of AMC Studios, says: “As we continue to search for unique voices and uncover authentic and rarely seen worlds, we’re proud to once again partner with the remarkable creative team at Sister on this timely series focusing a lens on the societal and cultural issues surrounding the healthcare system.

He added: "Adam has provided insightful source material with This is Going to Hurt, laying a foundation for a topical, darkly comedic and breathtakingly poignant series, and we’re thrilled to welcome established talent both in front of and behind the camera with Ben Whishaw and Lucy Forbes on board.”

Are you looking forward to seeing Ben Whishaw in This Is Going to Hurt?