Prepare to unleash your inner child, as the creators of The Repair Shop open the doors on a heart-warming new six-parter, The Toy Hospital.
At the helm of this uplifting Channel 5 series — narrated by Sue Johnston — is former NHS worker and winner of The Great British Bake Off 2014, ‘Matron’ Nancy Birtwhistle.
As Ward Manager, Nancy receives an array of toy patients and hands them over to a team of skilled experts, who aim to nurse these treasured toys back to full health before reuniting them with their loving owners.
What To Watch made an appointment with Nancy to learn more about the behind-the-seams toy stories from this unique clinic…
The Toy Hospital release date
The Toy Hospital lands on Channel 5 on Friday, November 24 at 8 pm and airs weekly, making it perfect viewing in the run-up to Christmas. An international release is also expected at some stage.
Is there a trailer for The Toy Hospital?
Yes, and it’s utterly delightful!
What toys will be admitted for treatment?
Everything from teddies to toy trains are due to be restored and put back on track.
“We have Rosebud dollies, a Subbuteo 1990 World Cup limited edition, BMX and Chopper bikes, and a Cabbage Patch smeared in makeup,” reveals Nancy.
“We had toys that I would never ever have thought you could do anything with. One doll just came in a plastic bag, smashed to bits. Another had completely melted on a wood burning stove. You see some fantastic skills from the toy experts.”
Nancy’s role in the The Toy Hospital
Nancy has her hands full running the The Toy Hospital!
“As the Ward Manager I have to keep all the toys in order when they’re being naughty!” laughs Nancy. “We wanted to inject some fun into this, so we give them personalities. They escape and get out of bed and things like that. It wasn't scripted, we just played around. I also make quite a few clothes for the dolls.”
The Toy Hospital — filming location
The Toy Hospital looks like the real deal and there’s a very good reason for that…
“We filmed in Clitheroe at an actual disused hospital!” shares Nancy. “We did the pilot in March when it was freezing, so I was wearing lots of thermals and umpteen pairs of socks. When we came back to film more in May and June it was scorching but, for continuity, I still had to wear my polo necks and long sleeves!”
The Toy Hospital experts
Who are the The Toy Hospital medics? Nancy tells us more…
“Charlotte is a doll and mechanical expert and repairs the TARDIS in the first episode. Jackie and Jax both do teddy bear repairs, Lincoln does bikes and Chris sorts out an old train set. Elliot brings electronic toys back to life, including Game Boys and a motorised shoe shining bear. Shuan repairs the Pelham Puppet brought in by Tim, who wants to pass it onto his granddaughter, Lizzie,” says Nancy.
She adds: “You see a lot of that continuation through families. I think it might inspire people to think ‘You know, I've still got such-and-such in the garage or in the loft. We should try and do it up, rather than buy a new toy.’
“In Toy Hospital you see restored dolls bringing their owners back to when they were children. Just as Bake Off inspired a whole generation to give baking a go, I think this will encourage people to hold onto their toys and make them family treasures.”
Could there be a second series of Channel 5’s The Toy Hospital?
While nothing has been confirmed one way or another, Nancy told What To Watch that she’d love to see a second series…
“This is gorgeous family TV. It’s heartwarming, comfy viewing for these dark nights, especially in the run-up to Christmas, and will leave you with a smile at the end.
“If there were to be a second series, a Christmas special would be amazing. I could see a fantastic opportunity to decorate that hospital, giving the toy patients presents and Father Christmas visiting. You could go to town on it!”
The Toy Hospital — episode guide
Episode one (Friday 24 November 2023)
Checking in this week are Giant, a poorly Pelham Puppet who requires urgent string replacements, a Doctor Who TARDIS in need of something stronger than a sonic screwdriver, and a panda called Teddy, 42, with a very moving history…
Admitted by Norma, Teddy was the constant companion of her only son Alan, until his death aged just 16.
Cuddly toy expert Doctor Jax is appointed to Teddy’s case and undertakes a delicate restoration of the beloved panda. Puppet specialist Dr Shuan untangles some stringy issues with Giant, while Dr Charlotte is tasked with updating the battered TARDIS.
Can the plaything physicians save these much-loved possessions?
You better believe it!
“It’s wonderful how this show wakes up something in the memory,” says Nancy. “I think that's what it will do with the viewer. So many people will say, ‘I wish I'd kept my so and so’, because we will all relate to at least one toy in the series.”
Episode two (Friday 01 December 2023)
Cuddly toy specialist Dr Jackie is called to the rescue of a very precious Teddy, who has suffered horrific injuries as the result of an unfortunate encounter with a washing machine. A very well-travelled bear, Teddy has accompanied owner Andrea and her late husband Paddy on trips around world, including on their honeymoon. Recently widowed, Andrea is desperate to see Teddy restored to full health in time for another globetrotting adventure with her two sons.
Bike specialist Dr Lincoln is thrilled to get his hands on a 1970s icon — a bright red Mark 1 Raleigh Chopper, proud life-long possession of Nick from Bolton. Now in his sixties, Nick has kept the bike for 50 years, and is already making plans for his first ride back on his beloved bike!
And doll specialist Dr Charlotte comes to the rescue of Susannah, a vintage 1950s doll with a clever walking mechanism, whose once beautiful features have been ravaged by rodents, and whose owner Margaret is desperate to see brought back to her best.
Episode three (Friday 08 December 2023)
Bike expert Dr Lincoln comes riding to the rescue of a battered BMX bike, once a vibrant and colourful thing of beauty, now sadly unrecognisable from its 1980s heyday. The bike was owner Gez’s constant companion through years of childhood japes and scrapes, and now he wants to pass it on to daughter Matilda so she can have some adventures of her own.
Soft toy consultant Dr Jackie faces the delicate task of breathing new life back into Jester, a 1970s Chad Valley clown from Woolworths, given to owner James when he was a new-born baby. Jester has been James’s close companion quite literally from birth, and this mass-produced, cheaply made toy has sadly been loved almost to death. Can Dr Jackie bring about a cure for such a very poorly patient?
And doll specialist Dr Charlotte takes on a massive challenge in the shape of Rosebud, a 1950s Pedigree Doll of great significance to her owner Mandy. Admitted to Toy Hospital with a broken foot, decaying hair and multiple fractures, Rosebud reminds Mandy of precious time shared with her late sister Diane. Now Mandy would love to see Rosebud restored back to full health, to enjoy tea parties with her granddaughter Marlie, who has herself recently become inseparable from the much loved doll.
Episode four (Friday 15 December 2023)
Cuddly toy specialist Dr Jackie comes to the rescue of a true 1970s icon — Humpty Dumpty, loved by a generation of 1970s schoolchildren from his time on the BBC’s Play School.
Sadly, this particular Humpty suffered the traumatic indignity of being kidnapped from a student party and was separated from his devastated owner Sophie for several months. By the time Sophie finally tracked him down and secured his release, Humpty had suffered multiple injuries, both internal and external.
Can Dr Jackie to put Humpty back together again?
Plastics practitioner Dr Charlotte demonstrates extraordinary skills when faced with a 1990s Subbuteo game that has long been unplayable. Broken goals, tangled nets and a bobbly pitch are bad enough, but with several players damaged, headless or in some cases missing altogether, Dr Charlotte must painstakingly recreate them from plastic — complete with a magical miniature paint job — to restore each team to a full complement of eleven players.
Meanwhile, Dr Jax performs cosmetic surgery on a 1980s Cabbage Patch Doll who has suffered terrible facial injuries in an unfortunate encounter with some ink colouring pens...
Episode five (Tuesday 19 December 2023 at 7pm)
*Please note change to the schedules for the penultimate episode of The Toy Hospital*
In this visit doll specialist Dr Charlotte is faced with the most serious burns victim of her long career in the shape of April, a 1970s ‘April Showers’ doll who has been owner Jackie’s treasured and dearly loved friend since the age of five. Just a few weeks ago, April’s happy life took an tragic turn when Jackie’s husband Kevin decided to fire up the wood burner, but didn’t notice April sitting on top. By the time a distraught Jackie came running to the rescue, alerted by the acrid smell of rotting plastic flesh, it was sadly too late. April’s head, hair and legs were horribly melted, and parts of her body had fused together. It’s an enormous challenge for Dr Charlotte, and bringing April back to life will call on all of her considerable skills...
Electronics expert Dr Elliot and soft toy consultant Dr Jackie join forces to breathe new life into a charming mechanical shoe-shining Panda. The Panda was built in Japan in the 1940s and Dr Elliot is astonished to uncover some unexpected evidence of its origins lurking inside.
Meanwhile, model train expert Dr Chris faces the tricky task of getting an iconic Hornby diesel engine back up and running for its owner Alan, who was given it by his late father as a young lad, and is desperate to see it working again.
Episode six (Friday 12 January 2024 at 7pm)
Dr Jax, a former detective turned soft toy specialist, is star struck when she meets her latest patient — a global superstar by the name of Mickey Mouse. According to family legend, this Mickey was presented to current owner Sue’s grandfather by none other than Walt Disney himself, during a promotional visit to the UK in the 1920s. Admitted to Toy Hospital with a badly dislocated shoulder, perforated hand, ripped foot and facial features that have faded away to nothing, this A-list rodent will test all of Dr Jax’s surgical skills.
Plastics consultant Dr Charlotte meets Allen, who tells her the story of two precious Action Men, belonging to him and his late brother Ian, given as Christmas presents in 1967, and played with endlessly over the next few years. These two plucky action figures were inseparable, going on multiple adventures together, and they now bear the scars of countless combat missions. Most seriously, each of these brothers in arms now needs a knee replacement, meaning Dr Charlotte will have to create new knee joints from scratch — a delicate and complex task.
Meanwhile electronics expert Dr Elliot takes on the delicate case of a vintage 1980s Gameboy, an object of huge emotional significance to Laura, for whom it holds fond memories of her late grandfather, the original owner.
The Toy Hospital has now closed its doors. If it's renewed for a second series, we will update this page.
