Controversial US hit snapped up

BBC Two is set to court controversy after snapping up an American comedy about a drug-addicted nurse.

The title character in Nurse Jackie, played by Edie Falco, is a brash, earthy ER worker with a complicated personal life who takes drugs to ‘take the edge of the day’.

In the States, self-appointed watchdog L. Brent Bozell, of the Parents’ Television Council called Jackie ‘a filthy degenerate’, while the New York State Nurses Association has decried her unethical behaviour.

However most professional critics praised the dark comedy, which has been described as a funnier version of Hugh Laurie’s House.

And BBC Two controller Janice Hadlow hailed the half-hour show as ‘witty and intelligent’.

Speaking at the launch of her channel’s new schedules, Hadlow said: ‘I can't speak highly enough of Nurse Jackie. I am thrilled to have it especially as the show boasts a great role for a woman.’

The show, which aired on the prestigious Showtime network in the US and has already been sold to ten other countries, is likely to be screened in Britain early next year. Here is a trailer:

Published: 12 Nov 2009