The Pitt's Noah Wyle on why A&E is the 'catch-all of society's bad choices'

The former ER star is back playing a physician with PTSD in a new US medical drama.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesHomeNewsUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessWorld of BusinessTechnology of BusinessNYSE Opening BellTechnologyWatch DocumentariesArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindHealthWatch DocumentariesCultureWatch DocumentariesFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsWatch DocumentariesArts in MotionTravelWatch DocumentariesDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthWatch DocumentariesScienceNatural WondersClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoWatch DocumentariesBBC MaestroDiscover the WorldLiveLive NewsLive SportDocumentariesHomeNewsSportBusinessTechnologyHealthCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveDocumentariesWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveNoah Wyle is back in A&E with new drama The Pitt: 'I hope people watch with empathy'2 days agoShareSaveEmma SaundersCulture reporterShareSaveHBO MaxNoah Wyle plays Dr Robby, a traumatised, hard-nosed yet deeply empathetic lead physicianA packed waiting room, doctors under pressure, mental health crises. It could be any day in a UK A&E department. But this is the US. More specifically, it's smash-hit medical drama The Pitt, which is American slang for the emergency room (spelt "pit"). And it's just landed on our shores.

A gripping fast-paced drama full of tension, emotion, a bit of gore - and some much-needed dark humour - it's easy to see why the show has already won so many awards in the US, including numerous Emmys and Golden Globes.

Many of the health and social issues The Pitt shines a light on will be familiar on both sides of the pond. But there is a fundamental difference - we have a publicly-funded universal healthcare system and the US doesn't. So how will the HBO Max show translate for UK audiences?

In one episode, construction worker Orlando Diaz (William Guirola) suffers serious diabetes complications after rationing his insulin due to the cost (he already has a $100,000 medical debt). Seeing the stark reality of Diaz's plight on screen is quite an eye-opener.