Hilltop Hospital (French: Hôpital Hilltop) is a claymation television series made in 1999, directed by Pascal Le Nôtre. It is adapted from a series of books by Nicholas Allan of the same name.

The theme tune and incidental music for the English version of the series was composed by Ben Heneghan and Ian Lawson who also composed the music for the original and mid-2000s Fireman Sam series and Joshua Jones.

List of characters

The hospital is staffed by adult animals with mainly young animals as patients. Regular characters include:

• Dr. Matthews, a dog, who seeks the romantic attention of surgeon Sally.
• Nurse Kitty, a cat, who seeks the romantic attention of Dr. Matthews, who for the most part appears not to notice.
• Surgeon Sally, a hippo, a workaholic surgeon who has no time for Dr Matthews' attention.
• Clare and Arthur, two rats, who provide technical and laboratory services.
• Dr Atticus, a tortoise, the anesthetist who often is sleeping.
• The two Teds, two identical twin bears, who drive the hospital ambulance and work as orderlies.

The English-language version featured the voices of Kevin Whately (Dr. Matthews), Sally Ann Marsh (nurse Kitty), Celia Imrie (surgeon Sally), Paul Shane (the two Teds), Brian Murphy (Dr. Atticus), Julie Higginson (Clare the lab rat) and Jonathan Kydd (Arthur the lab rat). Guest voices included Dame Thora Hird as Gracey Greyshell in Gracey Greyshell's last day.

Episodes

Season 1 (1999)

1. Heart Trouble (30 September 1999)
2. Easter Bunnies (1 October 1999)
3. Blood Bank (2 October 1999)
4. The Big Event (4 October 1999)
5. Rag Week at Hilltop (5 October 1999)
6. The Big Match (6 October 1999)
7. Gracey Greyshell's Last Day (7 October 1999)
8. Fire Alert (8 October 1999)
9. Happy Birthday, Dr. Matthews! (11 October 1999)
10. The Mystery Illness (12 October 1999)
11. Radio Hilltop (13 October 1999)
12. Nurse Kitty's a Star (14 October 1999)
13. The Ghost of Hilltop

Series 2 (2000)

1. Blind as a Bat
2. Accidents Will Happen
3. Lift-off at Hilltop
4. A Perfect Wedding
5. Flower-Power
6. Dogs Dinner
7. Weasel Kneasal
8. Mouth-to-Mouth
9. All Creatures Great and Small
10. Butterflies in My Tummy
11. The Bear Who Wouldn't Share
12. Press-ups and Bunny Hops
13. Pamela's Secret

Season 3 (2001)

1. Secret Beds (3 September 2001)
2. Saving Your Bacon
3. Teething Trouble
4. The Hyper Hedgehog
5. Lazy Eye
6. Laughter is the Best Medecine
7. Bully For You
8. Hot and Bothered
9. Nits
10. Nightmare at Hilltop
11. A Good Sketch
12. Fond Memory
13. C-C-Caspar

Series 4 (2002)

1. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
2. Safety First
3. Wee Trouble
4. Testing Time
5. Earache at Hilltop
6. Larger Than Life (10 October 2002)
7. Smile (13 October 2002)
8. New Talent (15 October 2002)
9. Skin Deep
10. An Extra Pair of Hands
11. Siamese Twins
12. Cold Feet (21 October 2002)
13. The Blues (23 October 2002)

Development

The series is co-produced by British company Siriol Productions and French companies Folimage and EVA Entertainment (season 1) for France 3, Canal J, ITV, and German network ZDF, with Buena Vista Home Entertainment handling all European video rights. The first season was pre-sold to Canal J for an air date in 1999, while France 3 would air the series in the Spring of 2000.^[1]

References

External links

• Hilltop Hospital at itv.com/citv
• Hilltop Hospital at IMDb
• Episode list
• Hilltop Hospital