Maternal star reveals her rage over show axing as she retweets furious posts blasting ‘stupid’ ITV

Maternal star Parminder Nagra has revealed her rage after the ITV show was axed.

The actress, 47, who played Dr. Maryam Afridi in the medical drama, retweeted a string of furious posts from fans, who blasted the ‘stupid’ channel for their decision.

It follows reports the broadcaster cancelled the medical drama after just one series as it failed to get high enough ratings.

The heartfelt show followed the women as they juggled raising their children alongside a demanding job. 

It was well-received by critics, who praised the acting, dialogue and topicality of the drama, so it came as a surprise to viewers when the programme was scrapped.

‘Big mistake!’ Maternal actress Parminder Nagra has revealed her rage over the show’s axing as she retweeted a string of furious posts blasting ‘stupid’ ITV 

Cancelled: It follows reports the broadcaster cancelled the medical drama after just one series as it failed to get high enough ratings

Cancelled: It follows reports the broadcaster cancelled the medical drama after just one series as it failed to get high enough ratings

Parminder re-shared social media posts from fans who claimed they ‘loved’ Maternal and are ‘disappointed’ it won’t be returning.

They wrote: ‘@ITV why have you axed #Maternal ? it’s a such a great show, I loved it and was hoping series 2 would have more episodes. Big mistake, lets hope another channel will pick it up & make it bigger & even better!’

‘Was a very stupid decision from ITV. BBC always dominate Jan and Feb with their dramas like you said. Maternal never stood a chance against DIP, Call the midwife, Happy Valley and Silent Witness.’

‘Sad to hear this. I thought how well #Maternal was written to depict the realities of Drs & nurses lives. Juggling life and work. The main 3 characters were endearing & compelling to watch. Maybe it was too realistic. Hope @ITV will reconsider.’

‘Disappointed that @ITV are not renewing drama #Maternal for a second series! I really loved the first!’

‘Why does @ITV axe every decent program I loved maternal!!’

Lucy Mangan of The Guardian had awarded the first episode four stars out of five, praising the depth of the three lead characters, and remarked that it had ‘grit in the storytelling oyster that produces something rather wonderful’.

While The Telegraph’s Anita Singh also gave it four stars out of five, proclaiming it as superior to fellow recent medical drama, This Is Going To Hurt.

Angry: Parminder re-shared social media posts from fans who claimed they 'loved' Maternal and are 'disappointed' it won't be returning

Angry: Parminder re-shared social media posts from fans who claimed they ‘loved’ Maternal and are ‘disappointed’ it won’t be returning

However, viewers at home did not feel the same, and did not continue to watch the drama.

The series ran from January to February of this year, and began with an audience of 2.4million, which fell to 1.9million by the final episode on February 20. 

Speaking about working on the series in January, Parminder explained that her experience on US series E.R. had helped her prepare for the role.

She said: ‘I did feel like medicine was a little bit still in there, even down to technically how to camouflage things for the camera.

‘Like when you’re intubating a patient (inserting a tube through a person’s mouth or nose and into the windpipe), you hold your hand in a certain way to mask the fact you’re not really doing it.

‘The funniest part was that some of the terminology that I got used to saying on ER, I was told, “That’s not how you say it here.” It’s pronounced differently in Britain.’

Parminder also revealed that she landed the part of paediatrician Dr Maryam Afridi through her real life best pal Lara.

She explained: ‘Lara Pulver and I are best mates and neighbours in LA.

‘During the pandemic we’ve been doing a lot of our audition tapes together. So when she taped her audition to play Catherine in Maternal, I read the opposite parts.

‘The following day, I got an email asking me to audition as Maryam. So we took our whole kit and caboodle to Liverpool for filming like a little family.

‘To get a chance to work alongside Lara, who I love and respect, is just fantastic.’

Plot: Maternal starred Parminder, Lara Pulver and Lisa McGrillis as three female doctors returning to the ward after maternity leave

Plot: Maternal starred Parminder, Lara Pulver and Lisa McGrillis as three female doctors returning to the ward after maternity leave

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