Who were Nye Bevan and Jennie Lee? What was life really like before the NHS? And why did Prime Minister Clement Attlee make the most unlikely appointment to his new cabinet?

To celebrate 75 years of the NHS, all is explained in the first episode of this documentary series of how a ‘no-good boyo’ from the Welsh Valleys came to create one of Britain’s greatest institutions. 

Narrated by Sian Harries

An Idea Hat Production. Written by Ian Haig, Kenton Hall, Mark Hayhurst and Dr Carole Reeves

Based on the research that was carried out for the audio drama 'Getting Better' an Audible Original

Featuring excerpts from the original Aneurin Bevan 1959 Election Speech

With readings and interviews from Rhod Gilbert, Kathryn Drysdale, Mike Wozniak, Neve McKintosh, Annette Badland, Mark Gatiss and Sir Marcus Setchell

Drama Clips included in the documentary from ‘Getting Better, The Fight for the NHS’, An Audible Original 

Starring: 

• Annette Badland as Mrs Tetlow
• Kathryn Drysdale as Dr Eva Callaway
• Barnaby Eaton-Jones as George Godber
• Mark Gatiss as Mr Cain
• Rhod Gilbert as Nye Bevan
• Rob James-Collier as Dr Reggie Hughes
• Clive Mantle as Sir Wilson Jameson
• Neve McIntosh as Jennie Lee
• Philip Pope as Chuter Ede
• Wink Taylor as Winston Churchill
• Mike Wozniak as Clement Attlee

View full credits for Getting Better at https://www.ideahat.co.uk/getting-better/

Production Credits:

• Produced by Ian Haig
• Edited by Antoine Kaiserman
• Mixed by Martyn Harries
• Original Music by Alexander White
• Original songs by Andrew Farrington and Andy Rushton
• Additional Music by Audio Network
• Production Co-ordinator – Bex Reichwald Pizzata 
• Cover Design by Adam Peters
• Illustration by Kathryn Chorley

Thank you to Robert Norris, Barry O’Donovan, Emma Torrens, Barnaby Eaton-Jones, Lydia Shamah, Katie Arlett, Mariele Runacre-Temple, The British Library, The Aneurin Bevan Society, Jaselle Williams, Adam Freudenheim.

And finally, a limitless thank you to everyone who does or has worked and volunteered for the NHS. You are all incredible.

Remember, “The NHS will last as long as there are folk with faith left to fight for it.”

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