RPA (TV series)
| Company type | Television documentary series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television programs |
RPA is an Australian television documentary that captures the everyday activities at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. The series debuted in 1995 and draws inspiration from the British program Jimmy's, which was originally produced at St James's University Hospital in Leeds.
Format
Throughout much of its thirteen-year duration, episodes were typically 30 minutes in length. However, in 2007, the series transitioned to hour-long episodes, a format that was maintained for the remainder of that year. The show includes explicit surgical scenes accompanied by expert commentary from medical professionals.
A related series titled RPA: Where Are They Now premiered in 2007, featuring 30-minute segments that revisited former patients' progress. Both shows were narrated by Max Cullen.
In October 2008, a new installment aired on the Nine Network, again with narration by Max Cullen, followed by an additional season in February 2009.
The series made a comeback on Nine in 2012, airing Wednesdays at 9:30 pm and narrated by Max Cullen; this marked the final season of the franchise, concluding on 18 July.
Following an eleven-year break, RPA returned on 27 March 2023 with narration provided by Australian actor Rodger Corser.
Season 20 began broadcasting on 3 October 2024, consisting of eight episodes.
Awards
Between 2000 and 2007, RPA received annual nominations at the TV Week Logie Awards, including eight consecutive years of recognition. From 2000 to 2006, it contended in the Most Popular Reality Program category and was nominated for Most Outstanding Factual Series in 2007. The show earned silver Logie awards in both 2000 and 2003.
Legacy
In 2019, TV Week placed RPA at number 100 on its list of the 101 greatest Australian television programs, commending its compassionate depiction of emotional moments and celebrating achievements of patients alongside medical staff.
Other stories
The series places strong emphasis on patient narratives, such as that of Kenyan burn survivor Safari, who was featured throughout the 2001 season and revisited in RPA: Where Are They Now.
Head and neck surgeon Chris O'Brien appeared regularly from the inception of the show until his retirement following a brain tumour diagnosis in 2006. His treatment journey was later documented on 60 Minutes. In June 2009, after his health deteriorated, he was admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and passed away on 4 June. The subsequent episode of RPA honored his significant impact on both the hospital and the program.
See also
References
- Articles with short description
- Australian factual television series
- Nine Network original programming
- 1995 Australian television series debuts
- 2000s Australian television series
- 2012 Australian television series endings
- Australian English-language television shows
- Television shows set in Sydney
- Television shows set in Leeds
- Australian medical television series