BBC medical comedy pilot filmed at Hartlepool hospital

Actors and film crews spent a week shooting the show called Hospital People in an unused area of the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

The programme was made by London-based production company Roughcut TV, which makes the Sky1 supermarket comedy Trollied, and is written by stand up comedian Tom Binns.

Hospital managers said the filming did not impact on patients or services and the income made will be put into protecting frontline services.

Production executive Emma Lawson, of Roughcut TV, said: “I’m originally from Durham and spent the first five years of my career filming in the North East before working in London.

“When we were recce-ing I recommended the North East as it has great crew and I wanted the opportunity to film there again.

“The filming went really smoothly, I don’t think I’ve ever had so many positive responses from cast and crew. We would love to come back again.”

The show sees writer Tom play a variety of hospital characters from a porter to DJ and manager.

It is produced by Ash Atalla, who was also responsible for producing The IT Crowd and The Office.

Temporary signage for the fictional Kilmington General Hospital went up.

Filming ended on Saturday and as yet the programme does not have a broadcast date.

The production company is waiting to see if the BBC commissions it to make a full series.

A spokesman at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust said: “The trust was approached to offer its vacant area for filming TV productions. The trust also did this in 2014 successfully. Please be assured that this has no impact on existing services and patient care that is currently provided.

“We are keen to protect frontline jobs and services, so where we have significant financial savings to make, we are looking at ways to generate money which will enable us to do this.”