The Big Hospital Experiment; Raiders of the Lost Past with Janina Ramirez

“There are plenty of reality shows that use the ‘feckless young people’ cliche to devious ends, by making the supposedly workshy do hard work, and there are plenty of documentaries about hospitals. By landing somewhere in the middle, this could have been a disaster. Instead, the result captures the particular intimacy of care work in an unusually frank way, and with a couple of exceptions, it paints warm portraits of the participants, who are eager to do good.”
Rebecca Nicholson, The Guardian

“The volunteer initiative seemed an idea worth pursuing. Less pressurised than their harried colleagues, the youngsters were able to spend more time on pastoral care and boosting morale. In return, volunteers got rewarding hands-on work experience and a whole new outlook. Sure, we hardly need yet another hospital documentary series but this one at least had an original set-up.”
Michael Hogan, The Telegraph

“This was a cracking documentary; variously funny, astonishing and very, very moving. As the young people, a few of them quite spoilt it seemed, got over their squeamishness and started seeing patients as people rather than bedpan fillers, we saw them grow in maturity, empathy and confidence before our very eyes.”
Carol Midgley, The Times

“All the young people rise to the challenge in their own way, moved by a genuine desire to help the patients in their care, however haphazardly. An army of unpaid, unqualified young people may not be the solution the health service needs, but their enthusiasm and willingness to learn offers hope nonetheless.”
Barbara Speed, The i

“Dr Janina Ramirez’s delve into the Anglo-Saxon treasure trove at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk delivered a continuous stream of entertaining characters and astonishing details. All of this was utterly fascinating, the sort of documentary you’ll rave about to your friends for weeks to come.”
Christopher Stevens, Daily Mail

“No matter how excited you were by the BBC’s pretty damn fascinating Raiders of the Lost Past, you were not, I’ll warrant, as excited as the presenter, Janina Ramirez. Her arms alone deserved their own Equity card.”
Carol Midgley, The Times