“Can’t stop watching”: ITV’s top-rated cat and mouse thriller, Malpractice, returns with a “nightmare" story

It's official, ITV’s top-rated cat and mouse thriller, Malpractice, is back for series two with a brand new “nightmare" story, and we just know viewers won't be able to stop watching. The first series of Malpractice in 2023 received critical acclaim, being watched by 6.7 millions people and sold to more than 70 countries.

Following on from the success of the first series, the ITV show returns for a second which airs this bank holiday weekend and stars Tom Hughes as the new protagonist under investigation, Dr James Ford. Tom said the script, "stopped me in my tracks when I read it," adding that he hoped "the audience, when they see it, are equally as gripped and engaged."

Here's everything you need to know about the new show, including what to expect from series 2...

What is Malpractice about?

Malpractice is a gripping thriller full of impossible decisions which will keep you guessing until the very end. Each series of the anthology drama sees a medical scandal being investigated, with new cases and characters each season. Only the investigators from the Medical Investigation Unit (MIU) - Dr. Norma Callahan (Helen Behan) and Dr. George Adjei (Jordan Kouamé) - remain the same throughout, as they are tasked with getting to the bottom of their latest complex case. And if the show feels unnervingly realistic, that's because it was created by real NHS doctor and TV writer Grace Ofori-Attah, who also wrote the gripping drama Playing Nice.

In the first series we met Dr Lucinda Edwards, whose patient died during her shift, leaving her enmeshed in court cases and conspiracies, and under investigation from the MIU. It was every doctor's worst nightmare. In series two, there's a whole new case to play with, as the series shifts to a new hospital.

Dr James Ford comes under investigation in the second series of Malpractice.

What happens in Malpractice series 2?

In series 2, the MIU team have been sent to investigate on-call psychiatric registrar Dr James Ford (Tom Hughes) in a different hospital to series 1. In this case, the doctor "finds himself caught between an anxious new mother’s postnatal check-up and the sectioning of a psychotic patient, no one could predict the tragic outcome," reads the official ITV synopsis.

Stills from the the new series reveal hints towards some dramatic scenes, including action shots of a child being sheltered while a police officer yells at a mystery figure in the foreground, and an emergency scene with an ambulance surrounded by more police.

Of course, no case in Malpractice is ever straight forward, and things become increasingly complicated as investigations into Dr Ford deepen. He's found to be arrogant with a messy personal life, however he seems to be highly committed to his vulnerable patients. "Is Dr Ford a doctor with a God complex, or a victim himself?" the synopsis asks. Can he save his career? What's the truth behind what really went on? We'll have to watch to find out...

Who's new to the Malpractice series 2 cast?

Helen Behan, who plays Dr. Norma Callahan, and Jordan Kouamé, who plays Dr. George Adjei, return from series 1. Once again, they are tasked with investigating doctors accused of malpractice as part of the Medical Investigation Unit (MIU), and their attentions turn to the case of Dr James Ford.

Tom Hughes (Victoria, The English) leads as Dr Ford, while a slew of other names join him in the new cast line up including:

• Selin Hizli (Am I Being Unreasonable, Mum)
• Zoë Telford (Sherlock, The Lazarus Project)
• Hannah McClean (Blue Lights, Josh)
• Seraphina Beh (Polite Society, Top Boy)
• Rick Warden (The Jetty, Happy Valley)
• Ace Bhatti (Line of Duty, Bohemian Rhapsody)

How can I watch Malpractice series 2?

Malpractice will air on ITV1 at 9pm on Sunday 4 May, as well as being available to stream on ITV Player.