Ben Whishaw Talks About Portraying an Overworked Doctor in ‘This Is Going to Hurt’

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We can’t get enough of Ben Whishaw and the wait is not long for his next project.

Whishaw is set to star in the forthcoming medical dramedy This Is Going to Hurt, premiering February 8 on the BBC. You can also look for the seven-part series over at AMC, with a date yet to be confirmed.

Based on Adam Kay’s 2017 memoir, Whishaw is set to portray Kay, a junior doctor working on behalf of the U.K.’s NHS.

According to BBC Media Centre, Kay is “junior enough to suffer the crippling hours, but senior enough to face the constant barrage of terrifying responsibilities.”

The description further explains the toll his work life is having on him, reading: “Adam is 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.”

When talking to the RadioTimes, Whishaw said, “The thing that the show has done for me in terms of opening my eyes is just the sheer levels of exhaustion.”

He goes on to say, that he was aware of the demands health care professionals face, but the project reinforced what he was already mindful of, saying, “It shouldn’t be shocking because it’s so obvious if you think about what these people are actually doing and dealing with every day. But I don’t think we’re encouraged to reflect on that. I think we take it for granted, actually.”

In case you missed it, here’s a peek at the trailer for the series:
 

Is this going on your watch list?