Surgical teams return to the nation’s television screens
Published on 02/11/2026
A ground-breaking television series filmed at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) returns to our screens on Channel 5 this Wednesday, 4 November, sharing the extraordinary stories behind life-saving surgery taking place in our city.
The fourth series of Surgeons: A Matter of Life or Death, shines a spotlight on Good Hope Hospital, Heartlands Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham’s highly skilled theatre teams as they carry out some of the most complex and awe-inspiring procedures in modern medicine.
Each immersive episode follows both patients and clinical teams’ minute by minute, capturing the intense pressure, split-second decision-making and remarkable expertise required to tackle highly complex cases.
In the first episode, viewers meet 20-year-old Emma, a student born with Apert syndrome, who is about to undergo groundbreaking surgery by surgeon Jaime Grant to reshape her face in a potentially life-changing transformation.
The episode also follows Sue, whose spinal tumours have returned almost 20 years after her original surgery. With both tumours now malignant and aggressive, surgeon Mel Grainger faces the challenge of removing them to prolong Sue’s life and give her the best chance of living without pain.
Jonathan Brotherton, Chief Executive, said: “This programme is a powerful reflection of the exceptional skill, compassion and dedication our colleagues bring to their work every day. Behind every operation is a team working together to provide the best possible care, often in incredibly complex and challenging circumstances.
“The series showcases the expertise of our surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses, operating department practitioners and wider theatre colleagues, while sharing the personal stories of the patients who are at the heart of everything we do. We are incredibly proud to see their work recognised and our patients’ courage and experiences shared with the nation.”
The programme offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the cutting-edge techniques and teamwork delivered by UHB’s surgical teams, and the profound impact this has on patients’ lives.
The eight-part series begins Wednesday 4 November on Channel 5 at 9pm. Viewers can also catch up on My5, with new episodes airing weekly on Wednesdays.
