About

The award-winning "REAL RESCUES" is the only observational documentary to feature all of Britain's emergency services - fire, police, ambulance, air ambulance, emergency doctors, lifeboats, coastguard as well as RAF helicopters and animal rescue units. We know of no other series anywhere which covers all these services.

This unique access, both to the inner workings of the emergency services and to such widespread material, means that featured stories are always full of action, emotion and drama. "REAL RESCUES" gives viewers the feel of being at the hub of an operation which protects and saves lives everywhere, every minute of every day.

The first three series (60x45') were presented by Nick Knowles and from series 4 (20x45') onwards the programme is presented as live by Nick Knowles and Louise Minchin from major police, ambulance and coastguard control rooms where 999 emergency calls are handled, by the thousand, daily - everything from a cat stuck high on a city centre roof to the international rescue of passengers from a cruise ship in Antarctica, a rescue co-ordinated by the British Coastguard.

In series 4 and future series, "REAL RESCUES" captures dramatic stories on tape and has pioneered the use of actual 999 calls told in a dramatic and compelling way, both from the viewpoint of the victim and the call-taker. Stories such as a seven year old boy getting urgent advice over the phone that saved his father's life and the man who called in desperation after a chainsaw cut off his arm - he and the arm were saved.

REAL RESCUES has been shown in both daytime and peak. It is one of the BBC's most popular factual programmes in both slots. The daytime version gained record viewing figures, it is now in production for a fifth series.

A Topical Television Production for BBC ONE
Episodes available: 100 x 45 minutes