Top actor comes to Wythenshawe to prepare for TV role (From Messenger Newspapers)

Actor Neil Pearson researches for a TV role at Wythenshawe Hospital

10:00am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in News

WHEN actor Neil Pearson landed a leading role in the popular TV medical drama Monroe, he told the show’s producers he wanted to learn from the experts.

A couple of phone calls later and he was on a train to Wythenshawe Hospital to shadow top surgeon Professor Mo Baguneid to see for himself the work of a busy medic in a leading teaching hospital.

Neil spent the day with Professor Baguneid, who is a consultant vascular surgeon and also the hospital’s deputy medical director, during his clinical sessions with patients.

He watched him and his team in theatre, to gain a better understanding of what its like for a senior doctor to balance a busy and complex workload.

Before he left for his train back to London he heaped praise on the team and the hospital. He told staff; “This has been a great eye-opener for me. I have learned so much and it has given me a great insight into what you do. Mo is not only a great surgeon he is a great teacher. I plan to incorporate what I have seen into my performance. I hope I don’t let you down.”

Afterwards Professor Baguneid said: "I was delighted to be asked to show Neil what I do for a living and he was very receptive to learn as much as he could in preparation for his new role. He was kind and friendly to the staff and patients who recognised him from the TV, and he signed autographs and chatted with everyone. And as you will see from the photo he looks a natural in theatre 'scrubs' so I'm looking forward to see how he interprets his day with us into his performance."

The series returns to the screens next week, on October 1 at 9pm, ITV1.