All Saints: articles


Heavenly end to All Saints

Long-running medical drama All Saints has left television in style, with more than 1.5 million Australians watching the final episode.

An average national audience of 1.512 million watched the 70-minute finale on the Seven Network on Tuesday night - the show's last episode after more than a decade on TV.

It smashed its timeslot competitors, but an episode of newer Australian drama Packed To The Rafters was the top rating program of the night, with 1.958 million viewers.

The Seven Network announced it was ceasing production on All Saints earlier in the year, citing increased costs and an audience shift.

Some have suggested that the success of Packed To The Rafters meant there was no room for All Saints.

The first episode of All Saints went to air in February 1998, based around Ward 17's nursing unit manager, nun Terri Sullivan, played by Georgie Parker.

Over the years, the show was a hit with audiences and pulling in more than 1.5 million viewers.

It was revamped in 2004, when the focus shifted to the emergency ward, and the introduction of the tough talking, grumpy emergency head Dr Frank Campion.

Earlier this year, the show changed to an action packed focus based around a helicopter service and renamed All Saints: Medical Response Unit.

All Saints has won nine Logie Awards, including two Gold Logies (courtesy of Parker) and two AFI Awards.

Virginia Gay, who played nurse Gabrielle Jaeger, told AAP the cast were feeling "sentimental" and "nostalgic" as the final went to air.

The show has seen some of the country's most respected acting talent including, Tammy MacIntosh, Erik Thomson, John Waters, Kip Gamblin, Libby Tanner, Wil Traval, Jolene Anderson, and the late Belinda Emmett and Mark Priestley. They appeared in a heart-warming clip of memorable moments to cap off the finale.

October 28, 2009
AAP