| Creator: | Sue Masters |
| Theme Music Composer: | Simon Walker |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Num Seasons: | 8 |
| Num Episodes: | 318 |
| List Episodes: |
|
| Network: | ABC |
G.P. is an Australian television series produced by Roadshow, Coote & Carroll for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the series was broadcast for 8 seasons between 1989 and 1996.[1]
The series, screened on the ABC, is set around a fictional general medical practice, in the vein of the Seven Network serial A Country Practice. Whereas A Country Practice, hence the title was set in a rural setting, G.P. was set at a clinic in an inner-Sydney suburb, and explored both the personal and professional lives of the general practitioners working together, and the other doctors and staff who worked there, as well as patients who attend the surgery.
The series began on-air in March 1989, and while it initially failed to attract a major audience it went on to win numerous television awards (including the first Logie Award for an ABC-TV Drama in 15 years) and became the highest rating drama series on ABC-TV. G.P. ran for 8 seasons and a book about the series was written by producer Harvey Shore.
| Actor | Role | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. William Sharp | Seasons 1–7 | ||
| Dr. Robert Sharp | Seasons 1–4 | ||
| Michael O'Neill | Dr. Steve Harrison | Seasons 1–5 | |
| Dr. Cathy Mitchell | Seasons 1–2 | ||
| Julie Winters | Seasons 1–7 | ||
| Michael Winters | Seasons 1–3 (main), Season 4 (recurring), Seasons 5 & 7 (guest) | ||
| Judy McIntosh | Dr. Nicola Tanner | Seasons 2–4 | |
| Dr. Tessa Korkidas | Seasons 4–6 | ||
| Dr. Ian Browning | Seasons 4–6 (main), Season 7 (guest) | ||
| Dr. Martin Dempsey | Seasons 6–7 | ||
| Dr. Sonia Kapek | Seasons 7–8 | ||
| Dr. Henry King | Seasons 7–8 | ||
| Dr. Maureen Riordan | Season 8 | ||
| Dr. Yasmin Richards | Season 8 |
| Actor | Role | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Chris Wright | Season 1 | ||
| Theresa Wong | Su-Lin Chenn | Seasons 2–5 | |
| Dominic Elmaloglou | Peter Browning | Seasons 4–6 | |
| Janelle Owen | Zoe Browning | Seasons 4–6 | |
| Tracie Sammut | Donna Browning | Seasons 4–6 | |
| Sue Walker | Eva Fowler | Seasons 6–7 | |
| Vesna Kapek | Seasons 7–8 | ||
| Jack Moran | |||
| Beth Paige | 1991 – 8 episodes | ||
| Anna Carrelli | 1989 – 10 episodes | ||
| Mrs Jessica Sculthorpe | 1991–92 – 6 episodes | ||
| Robert |
| Actor | Role | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sean Bartells / Jim Mayhew | 3 episodes | ||
| Tom Murray | 1 episode | ||
| Mr Bottro | 2 episodes | ||
| Rick Cameron | 1 episode | ||
| Luke Papadopoulos | 1 episode | ||
| Mischa | 1 episode | ||
| Linda Floyd | 1 episode | ||
| Malcolm Henderson | 1 episode | ||
| Geraldo Butler / Peter Curtis | 2 episodes | ||
| Caroline / Jan White | 2 episodes | ||
| Grace | |||
| Jenny King | 3 episodes | ||
| Alex Milanakos | 1 episode | ||
| Raffaella Graziano | 1 episode | ||
| Geoff Evatt | 1 episode | ||
| Phillip Barton / Max Fisher / Ben Mason | 4 episodes | ||
| Kerry Watson | 1 episode | ||
| Adam Storey | 1 episode | ||
| Beth Champion | Jenny Budd | 1 episode | |
| Elwyn Matthews / Miss Shepherd | 2 episodes | ||
| Danny Turner | 5 episodes | ||
| Dr Amanda Selwyn | 1 episode | ||
| Sasha | 1 episode | ||
| Doug | 1 episode | ||
| Dr Chris Carroll | 1 episode | ||
| Pat Kennedy | 1 episode | ||
| Maggie West | 1 episode | ||
| Heather Ryan | 1 episode | ||
| Mrs Saleh | 1 episode | ||
| Fran Harwood | 1 episode | ||
| Jack Molineaux | 1 episode | ||
| Joanna | 1 episode | ||
| Libby Walsh | 1 episode | ||
| Jamie | 1 episode | ||
| Murray Phipps | 4 episodes | ||
| Barry West | 1 episode | ||
| Helen Cartwright | 1 episode | ||
| Becky Rooker | 1 episode | ||
| Iris Grimshaw | 1 episode | ||
| Renata | 1 episode | ||
| Leon Winters | 3 episodes | ||
| Taufi | 1 episode | ||
| Carmen Gailey | 1 episode | ||
| Eddie | 1 episode | ||
| Samantha | 1 episode | ||
| Melanie Sanders | 1 episode | ||
| Macey Haywood / second guest role | 2 episodes | ||
| Kath | 1 episode | ||
| Eve Walenska | 1 episode | ||
| Dr Peter Swift | 1 episode | ||
| Evan Lucas | 1 episode | ||
| Grant Galea | Detective Sergeant Morrelli | 4 episodes | |
| Bruce | 1 episode | ||
| Bianca Restighini / Julia | 3 episodes | ||
| Janine | 1 episode | ||
| Morris Stevens | 1 episode | ||
| Terry Duncan | 1 episode | ||
| Greg Davis / David Rooker | 2 episodes | ||
| Jack Lockwood | 1 episode | ||
| Barry Parker | 2 episodes | ||
| Dr Oliver Lloyd | 1 episode | ||
| John Schueller | 1 episode | ||
| Brendan / Nick | 2 episodes | ||
| Hugh Daly | 1 episode | ||
| Carmel Piant / Sergeant Sue ‘Dusty’ Miller | 2 episodes | ||
| Joan | 1 episode | ||
| Constance Colin ‘Clutch’ Carmody | 1 episode | ||
| Tim Jenkins / Peter Milanakos | 2 episodes | ||
| Yvonne Freith | 1 episode | ||
| Kelly Dingwall | 1 episode | ||
| Elizabeth Preston / Tina Miller | 2 episodes | ||
| Liza Jackson / Narelle Olson | 2 episodes | ||
| Lauren | 1 episode | ||
| Dr Jessica Gillman | 1 episode | ||
| Liz Browning | 2 episodes | ||
| Geoff Hardy | 2 episodes | ||
| Shelley | 1 episode | ||
| Sally Ricketson / Leonie Milton | 2 episodes | ||
| Lily Cartwright | 3 episodes | ||
| Anna Gordon | 1 episode | ||
| Pat Stoppard | 1 episode | ||
| Lizzie Dunstan / Michelle Evans | 6 episodes | ||
| Tony Thompson | 2 episodes | ||
| Judith Marr | 1 episode | ||
| Julian Faye | 1 episode | ||
| Sean Bracey | 2 episodes | ||
| David Barber | |||
| Mark McCann | Bernie / Buzz / George / Patrick Byrnes / Tom’s father | 5 episodes | |
| Stan Brodie | 2 episodes | ||
| Sophie | 1 episode | ||
| Clarie | 1 episode | ||
| Basil Meagher / Eric Mackie | 2 episodes | ||
| Rachel Weller | 1 episode | ||
| Jean Taylor / Sister Bernice Eagan | 2 episodes | ||
| Geoff | 1 episode | ||
| Sarah / Dorothy Taylor / Rachel | 6 episodes | ||
| Anna | 1 episode | ||
| Jason | 1 episode | ||
| Dennis Harper / Emile | 2 episodes | ||
| Stephanie Jamieson | 1 episode | ||
| Vicki Dugan | 2 episodes | ||
| Emily Hodges | 1 episode | ||
| Dr Martin Lloyd | 1 episode | ||
| Luke Chisholm | 2, episodes | ||
| Nick Rawson / Peter Mayhew | 3 episodes | ||
| Anna | 1 episode | ||
| Sid Graham | 1 episode | ||
| Neil Hatton | 2 episodes | ||
| Pete Stoppard / Sam Millar | 2 episodes | ||
| Sam Hill | 1 episode | ||
| James/Jane Kennedy | 1 episode[2] | ||
| Lucy Carmichael | 4 episodes | ||
| Rex Mitchell | 2 episodes | ||
| Ruth Taylor | 2 episodes | ||
| Jenna Clarke | 1 episode | ||
| Leanne | 1 episode | ||
| Jenny Mitcham | 1 episode | ||
| Reverend Tom Braithwaite | 1 episode | ||
| Arthur Connolly / Commander | 3 episodes | ||
| Barry Lasker | |||
| Rob Steele | Sergeant Bob Reece | 2 episodes | |
| John | 1 episode | ||
| Peter Fowler / Gerald Ferguson / Toby Carmichael | 4 episodes | ||
| Volmer / Lloyd Freith | 2 episodes | ||
| Bob Otranto | 1 episode | ||
| Scott Browning | 2 episodes | ||
| Dino Pascalini | 1 episode | ||
| Leah White | 2 episodes | ||
| David Robinson | 1 episode | ||
| Bert Lang | |||
| Renee Jackson | 1 episode | ||
| Simon Bossell | Alex Ben | 2 episodes | |
| Mickey Davis | 1 episode | ||
| Judy Walsh | 1 episode | ||
| Beth Butler | 2 episodes | ||
| Vic Graziano | 1 episode | ||
| Russ | 1 episode | ||
| Linda Swanson | 1 episode | ||
| Joanna Lalor | 1 episode | ||
| Darcy Watts | 1 episode | ||
| Frank Miller | 1 episode | ||
| Gabrielle | 1 episode | ||
| Adele Mayer / Caroline Lalor | 2 episodes | ||
| Nick | 1 episode | ||
| Brian Morris | 1 episode | ||
| Garry Preston | 1 episode | ||
| Bernadette Wentworth | 1 episode | ||
| Nicole Learmont / Tanya Woods | 2 episodes | ||
| Pam Preston | 1 episode | ||
| Barbara | 1 episode | ||
| Dr Thomas Radley | 3 episodes |
G.P. features 2 major characters, who run the clinic:
Mr. William Sharp (Michael Craig) In the beginning of the series Mr. Sharp is a part-time general surgeon with consulting rooms at the Ross St. Surgery owned by his nephew, Dr. Robert Sharp. As the series progressed he bought into the surgery with and started operating again at local public hospitals. William is characterised as a part of the 'old school' style of medicine. He can be quite forthcoming and stubborn in his opinions and is often at odds with his colleagues at the surgery. William served in World War II as a doctor and was a prisoner at the infamous Changi Prison. William drives a Jaguar and is very cultured with a great interest in and knowledge of music, poetry, food and wine.
Dr. Robert Sharp (John McTernan) Originally the owner of Ross Street Surgery, Robert lives in the upstairs level of the house. The surgery was his father's and Robert took it over and raised his own family there. Robert is a widower and has a son Andrew, who makes numerous appearances in the first few series of the show. Uncle William lives with Robert and has his consulting rooms in the surgery. Like his Uncle William, Robert is very cultured but is often the more rational, liberal and socially minded of the pairing. Midway through the series, Robert develops a brain tumor. He is operated on to remove the tumor and survives, only to suffer a heart attack and die in recovery.
| No. | Title | Director | Writer | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
| No. | Title | Original air date |
|---|
G.P. has been shown in Canada on CBC Country Canada, a digital television station; and in New Zealand (on TV One and TV3), Jordan (on Channel 2), South Africa (Bop TV), Hong Kong (ATV World) and Ireland (on RTE1). In 2008 and 2009, ABC1 re-broadcast Series 3 onwards at 4:30am on weekdays.
In the UK, Central Independent Television, Thames Television and Border Television were the only contractors among the 14 members of the ITV Network to screen the programme for a short period. Thames started the show on Thursdays 1 October 1992 Thursdays and Fridays for half-hour episodes at 3.20pm until the end of the year. Central axed the show on Thursday 25 March 1993 and replaced it with Shortland Street. The programme was shown in a daily 3.20pm slot Tuesdays to Fridays and had the hour-long episodes split into two to accommodate the half-hour slot. This was a popular format for screening acquired Australian material as had been used with A Country Practice, E Street, Blue Heelers and HeadLand by UK broadcasters.
In 1994, the UK version of The Family Channel aired the series as half-hour editions during the week at 20:30–21:00 on Wednesday and Friday with the episode repeated as an hour long episode on Saturdays at 19:30.
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Bruce Best (for "Exposed") | Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | [3] | |
| Peter Phelps (for "Exposed") | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| Denise Roberts (for "Alone") | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| 1994 | Peter Andrikidis (for "Double Bind") | Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | [4] | |
| Peter Kowitz (for "Innocent Bystander") | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| Sigrid Thornton (for "Double Bind") | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| Kristen Dunphy (for "Double Bind") | Best Screenplay in a Television Drama | |||
| 1996 | Peter Andrikidis (for "Ceremony of Innocence") | Complete Post Award for Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | [5] | |
| Peter Andrikidis (for "Sing Me a Lullaby") | Complete Post Award for Best Episode in a Television Drama Series | |||
| Peter Andrikidis (for "Sing Me a Lullaby") | First Australian Completion Bond Award for Best Achievement in Direction in a Television Drama | |||
| Marton Csokas (for "Ceremony of Innocence") | Village Roadshow Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| Claudia Karvan (for "Sing Me a Lullaby") | Beyond Television Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Television Drama | |||
| Katherine Thomson (for "Ceremony of Innocence") | Crowley Management Award for Best Screenplay in a Television Drama |
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Keith Thompson for "A General Malaise" | Major AWGIE Award | [6] | |
| Keith Thompson for "A General Malaise" | TV series | |||
| 1993 | Katherine Thomson for "Shaking Hands with Time" | TV series | ||
| 1994 | Michael Miller for "Exposed" | TV series | ||
| 1996 | Tim Pye for "Where The Heart Is" | TV series |
| Year | Nominee | Award | Result | Ref | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Michael Craig | Most Outstanding Actor | |||
| 1992 | John McTernan | Most Outstanding Actor | |||
| G.P. | Most Outstanding Series | ||||
| 1993 | Tracie Sammut | Special Recognition Award | [8] |