Friday Flashback: All Saints finale
It's been 15 years since a much-loved drama departed our screens, and 1.5m Australians tuned in to bid farewell.
- Published by David Knox
- on
Sunday marks 15 years since All Saints left our screens….
The drama created by Bevan Lee ran for 12 seasons on Seven from 1998 – 2009 under the watch of drama boss John Holmes, and producers Jo Porter, MaryAnne Carroll and Di Drew.
Ward 17 was known as the “garbage ward” taking the overflow from the other wards of the fictional All Saints Western General Hospital.
The late Judith McGrath, who played Sister ‘Von’ Ryan, was the only actor to span the entire series, but there were many much loved faces including Georgie Parker, Erik Thomson, Libby Tanner, Tammy Macintosh, Wil Traval, John Waters, Virginia Gay, Jolene Anderson, the late Mark Priestley and the inescapable John Howard.
The finale Titled “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” ran for 70 minutes and centered around Von’s departure from the hospital with a toast.
“I spent a lot of time at All Saints and I’d just like to thank you all for your loyalty, your support and love. Oh bugger this, here’s to us,” she said.
A huge 1.51m viewers tuned in to bid farewell. At 9:30pm.
- Tagged with All Saints
17 Responses
This was a show that passed me by, due to my stage of life at the time. It’s a show I would probably watch now if it was on.
Around 2005 Holmes chose this over his beloved Blue Heelers (albeit Southern Star later Endemol and now owned by Banijay – has done very well on 7Plus and Prime Video), as well as the then expensive record AFL rights via Tim Worner and David Leckie as well, if John Wood’s tell-all a few years back to News’ Andrew Bucklow is to be believed. And his revelations about the former late CEO and his comments towards Caroline Craig (Sgt Tess Gallagher) who later shone on Nine’s Underbelly was wild!
I remember watching this as a kid along with Blue Heelers but I feel like an All saints return could do well.
The Terri/Mitch/Rose triangle was captivating must see TV!
I miss All Saints.
Seven. Once home to great weekly dramas. And to read that the finale rated 1.51m – at the 9.30pm slot – is amazing. Long gone are those days.
Loved this show, the change to MRU ruined it a bit, a spin off would’ve been better.
I also blame Daryl Somers, he wouldn’t stop talking on dancing with the stars and often caused all saints to start late, and on occasion not air at all.
They need to do a reboot,
Great show! The trio (Georgie, Judith and Erik) made this show. Really miss seeing Judith on our screens, what a powerhouse she was.
I do miss this show. Not so much the latter ED/MRU years (I think the Medical Response Unit kind of destroyed things).
I still think a reboot revolving around Lucy Stevens coming to work at All Saints Western General could work. Give an excuse for Terri to pop in occasionally; I know Georgie has expressed interest in the past about seeing where Terri would be today.
Unfortunately, I think times have changed too much to allow for a return to All Saints, sadly.
It’s a medica drama. Constant factory for endless stories and characters working in a hospital or needing treatment. Just needs to be done well with right characters and actors and it’ll work in any era.
Would be great to have an Aussie drama on tv once a week again. Where are our Law and Order, Chicago or FBI type shows.
We need more of our own stories on TV each week
ABC
When did the ABC last have a weekly local drama? GP finished in 1996.
Von was my favourite! I haven’t viewed those YouTube videos but I think Heather Mitchell was in the final?
Correct.
Gosh this show was good.
Loved it every Tuesday night
The last long running Australian medical drama to grace our screens.
My mum loved the show, though I think she stopped watching it after Georgie Parker left (like a lot of the viewers did)