Niamh Algar (back, second from right) at the launch of the Virgin Media's spring schedule. Also in the photo, back, from left, Muireann O'Connell, Dylan McGrath and Tommy Bowe. Front, Greg O'Shea, Katja Mia and Deric Hartigan.

Westmeath actor's new drama a highlight of Virgin Media's spring schedule

A medical thriller series starring a Westmeath actor is one of the highlights of Virgin Media's spring schedule, which was launched this week.

Mullingar native Niamh Algar has the leading role in Malpractice, a five part drama from Boiling Point director Philip Barantini. She plays Lucinda Edwards, a doctor who is faced with an enquiry into the death of one of her patients.

Malpractice was written by former NHS doctor Grace Ofori-Attah and produced by World Productions - producers of Line of Duty.

The five part series opens with Algar's lead character on a nightmare shift that ends in the death of an opioid overdose victim, Edith Owusu.

Despite the support of her medical supervisor, Dr Leo Harris, played by James Purefoy (A Discovery of Witches, Pennyworth, Sex Education), Edith’s grieving father Sir Anthony Owusu, played by Brian Bovell (Crime, Strike), demands an enquiry into Lucinda’s actions on the fateful night.

Through the cat and mouse thriller of the medical investigation, Malpractice tells the story of a damaged doctor caught up in a dangerous conspiracy.

Other highlights from Virgin Media's spring schedule include Irish productions such as How To Buy A Home, which follows the emotional ups and downs of people trying to buy a home in Ireland; Stories From The Street, which follows the lives of homeless people in Dublin; and Inside the Hospice, which deals with death and grief in Ireland through unprecedented access to terminally ill patients on their journey from diagnosis to their final days.

Virgin Media is home to a host of popular internationally produced shows, which return to our screens in the coming months, including Love Island; I’m A Celebrity All Stars; and Dancing On Ice.

When it comes to sport Virgin Media has more free-to-air sport than ever before with the Guinness Six Nations, the highly anticipated return of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League, along with top class horseracing from Cheltenham to Aintree.

Managing director, Paul Farrell said that there will be a huge variety of choice across Virgin Media's four channels this spring.

“Viewers are in for an exciting season of content including the Guinness Six Nations kicking off in February and Ireland’s favourite reality dating show, ‘Love Island’ returning for its winter edition next week after a staggering 15 million streams in 2022 on the Virgin Media Player.

“Our live daily studio shows, from Ireland AM, The Six O’Clock Show, The Tonight Show and Virgin Media News will also provide viewers with over 38 hours of live and local content each week so viewers are sure to be informed, engaged and entertained no matter what they decide to watch this spring.”