A few years ago in America, there were a series of commercials featuring Cavemen advertising GEICO car insurance. A TV exec 
saw the ads and thought “this would make a great TV show” (It didn’t).
After watching Frankie, it’s clear that an exec at the BBC saw the Boots “here come the girls” commercials and had the same thought.
Luckily, Frankie is a good show. It’s written by Lucy Gannon (Soldier Soldier) and stars Eve Myles (Doctor Who/Torchwood) and Dean Lennox Kelly (Doctor Who/Shameless).
Frankie (played by Myles) is a nurse with a heart of gold, often putting the care of her patients ahead of her own. Her long-term partner Ian (Kelly), a police officer is starting to feel the strain of her being so caring.
The episode starts off a few days before Frankie’s 36th birthday. Ian is planning a surprise party for her, she knows. He does it every year.
Frankie is so caring, that she misses her own birthday in order to care for one of her patients. Which, is the straw the broke the camels back for Ian.
Eve Myles puts in another great performance, it’s as if the part was written for her. She injects humour and emotion and gives us a fully formed character, that we often don’t see in a series opener.
The supporting cast is also great, Kelly puts in an endearing performance as Ian, in the hands of a lesser actor, he could have come across as unlikeable, but you genuinely feel his pain when Frankie lets him down.
Be prepared to fall in love with Eve Myles all over again.
Frankie starts on the 14th of May at 9 pm, BBC1.
Have a listen to the chat the Pharos project and I had with Eve Myles last year.