The Royal backdrop
The Royal poster
Drama

The Best Episodes of The Royal

Every episode of The Royal ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of The Royal!

The Best Episodes of The Royal

Follows the staff and patients of a Yorkshire cottage hospital in the 60s, embroiled in tangled love lives and bitter power struggles.

Seasons8

  1. Background image for For Better for Worse
    9.1/10(31 votes)

    #1 - For Better for Worse

    S4:E1

    Jill and Gordon's wedding day finally arrives, but a huge explosion at a nearby care home disrupts proceedings in spectacular fashion. As the Royal staff help pull the elderly residents out of the rubble, the horrifying truth behind the cause of the accident is discovered.

    0 Comments
    View all
  2. Background image for For Those in Peril
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - For Those in Peril

    S3:E11

    The hospital staff have an intriguing case on their hands when local tramp Sebastian Fox is found dead. Ken Hopkirk rummages through his belongings and is surprised to find war medals, leading to the discovery that he was a decorated Navy hero. When a relative is traced but refuses to help with funeral arrangements, the Royal team decide to give him a fitting send-off by scattering his ashes at sea. Meanwhile, Jeffrey Goodwin is shocked to discover a farmer's cattle herd have contracted a disease which has passed into cheese that's available in the area, and Jill Weatherill, Matron and Sister Brigid encounter a runaway girl.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
  3. Background image for From This Day Forward
    8.9/10(25 votes)

    #3 - From This Day Forward

    S5:E12

    A fishing trawler causes havoc at a wedding reception and Adam has to make a difficult choice.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
  4. Background image for Sinking Feeling
    8.8/10(24 votes)

    #4 - Sinking Feeling

    S4:E11

    A dangerous situation arises on board a sinking trawler and Matron hands in her resignation.

    0 Comments
    View all
  5. Background image for Duty Bound
    8.7/10(21 votes)

    #5 - Duty Bound

    S4:E6

    Samantha struggles to cope with the reality of her recent discovery and takes desperate action which leaves her life hanging in the balance. Frankie and Gordon attempt a daring rescue to help a teenager in danger on the weir, while Ken has something to hide from Harper. Jeff's casual encounter with a friend of Lizzie's suddenly turns serious when he realises his career could be at risk.

    0 Comments
    View all
  6. Background image for Sins of the Father
    8.7/10(22 votes)

    #6 - Sins of the Father

    S4:E7

    Nurse Stella Davenport arrives at the Royal with a less than favourable reputation, and soon causes a stir among the staff and patients as rumours about her circulate the hospital. Matron and Harper discover a new approach to interviewing when they try to fill a ward domestic vacancy, while Dr. Ormerod is left to deal with the dramatic aftermath of a domestic dispute, and Lizzie realises her new scooter might have been an ill-advised purchase.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 WORST Episodes of The Royal

    READ
  8. Background image for Loved and Lost
    8.7/10(25 votes)

    #7 - Loved and Lost

    S5:E1

    Dr. Ormerod returns to work after his accident, but when his brusque treatment of a hypochondriac schoolgirl ends in tragedy, it's clear he still needs time to recover. New nurse Catherine Deane starts her rounds on the wards, and Mr. Middleditch has a surprise announcement to make.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
  9. Background image for Beggars and Choosers
    8.6/10(26 votes)

    #8 - Beggars and Choosers

    S4:E2

    Mr. Harper prepares for the arrival of an important private patient, who proves useful when a badly injured teenager is brought in after an industrial accident after Dr. Goodwin puts his career on the line to fight for justice for the accident victim. Sister Brigid helps a terminally ill alcoholic called Rory, and Lizzie comes to terms with her husband's recent behaviour and looks ahead to the future.

    0 Comments
    View all
  10. Background image for The Way We Were
    8.5/10(20 votes)

    #9 - The Way We Were

    S4:E10

    Dr. Goodwin faces the pressure as rumours about him frantically circulate the hospital and when Dr. Weatherill passes on some important news, he wastes no time in using it to set the record straight. Nurse Taylor's happiness about her future with Frankie is sensationally shattered as the extent of his dishonesty is revealed, while Matron is shocked to see a familiar face on the ward.

    0 Comments
    View all
  11. Background image for Fever
    8.5/10(22 votes)

    #10 - Fever

    S5:E5

    The hospital has its hands full when a typhoid epidemic breaks out in the community. Things get worse as the disease's source is traced back to the wards and staff struggle to locate it. Dr. Weatherill is forced to reprimand Dr. Ormerod after catching him sleeping on the job - but also has a startling piece of news to give him.

    0 Comments
    View all
  12. Background image for Winners and Losers
    8.5/10(22 votes)

    #11 - Winners and Losers

    S5:E9

    The arrival of a new locum ruffles some feathers. A day at the races seems a perfect location for Carnegie and Catherine to enjoy they first date - but only if they can keep out of everyone's way.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Alan Wareing
  13. Background image for Keep On Running
    8.5/10(20 votes)

    #12 - Keep On Running

    S5:E11

    A patient who set fire to his own shop attempts to avoid police questioning by leaping into an ambulance and driving off towards the pier - unaware that Alun and a sick man are in the back of the vehicle.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
  14. Background image for Home From The Hill
    8.5/10(22 votes)

    #13 - Home From The Hill

    S7:E7

    As the hospital staff come to terms with the loss of Stella and Frankie, everyone’s surprised when an attractive surfer, who crashes into Dr Burnett’s car, turns out to be the new ambulance driver, Bobby. Alun is getting ready for a gig in town with his new band and deafens everyone while he practices in the porter’s office. Marian reasons that they should all go and watch the gig as Stella loved a good night out and wouldn’t want to see her friends sitting in every night. However, when Dr Burnett explains he can’t go as he’s on call, Marian is soon charmed by Bobby, who agrees to be her date to the gig. Will Marian turn to Bobby for a good time?

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Ian Barber
  15. Background image for Immediate Care
    8.4/10(31 votes)

    #14 - Immediate Care

    S1:E5

    Dr. Cheriton has the unenviable task of informing a patient she has little time to live, and the situation soon prompts the wedding of the year. Arriving at the scene of an accident at the railway station, Dr. Ormerod is forced to make a drastic decision, but an oncoming train signals disaster. Gambling fever grips the hospital when a champion jockey is admitted and, as always, Greengrass is in the thick of the furore.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Keith Boak
  16. Background image for While the Cat's Away
    8.4/10(24 votes)

    #15 - While the Cat's Away

    S4:E12

    Matron is forced to change her plans after a tragic turn of events and decides to withdraw her resignation. Nurse Taylor grows closer to Jeff as they tackle an unusual medical emergency, but later finds herself confronted by an angry Frankie. Harper's money-saving schemes backfire in spectacular fashion, while an argument over a patient's health sparks off a chain of events which leaves Gordon's life hanging in the balance.

    0 Comments
    View all
  17. Background image for Blood's Thicker Than Water
    8.4/10(19 votes)

    #16 - Blood's Thicker Than Water

    S7:E3

    An accident at the harbor leaves a fisherman concerned for the future of his family when Burnett is forced to amputate his hand. Weatherill treats a woman admitted with pneumonia who is deeply concerned about her father's presence around her daughter. Ken bids a final farewell to The Royal, but Lizzie's resolve flounders at the last minute.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Writer:Marc Pye
  18. Background image for Pastures New
    8.4/10(18 votes)

    #17 - Pastures New

    S7:E8

    Dr Burnett is called out to a run down farm house where 15-year-old Simon, who has speech and learning difficulties, is running a high fever. The farm is in a bad state and the family seem to be struggling to cope. They’re horrified when Burnett reveals he needs to get Simon to hospital ASAP in order to rule out meningitis. Will they get to the bottom of Simon’s illness?

    0 Comments
    View all
  19. Background image for First Impressions
    8.3/10(62 votes)

    #18 - First Impressions

    S1:E1

    Dr. David Cheriton arrives at St. Aidan's Royal Free Hospital in Elsinby, newly qualified and keen to impress at his job interview - only to discover they aren't even expecting him. Meanwhile, Dr. Jill Weatherill's professional competence is called into question during a home visit, and hospital porter Ken Hopkirk's efforts to put up a television aerial end in disaster.

    0 Comments
    View all
  20. Background image for Kiss and Tell
    8.3/10(29 votes)

    #19 - Kiss and Tell

    S1:E6

    The cause of a schoolboy's illness is found too close to home, while a bit of teamwork brings Ormerod and Weatherill closer than they expect. Cheriton's flatwarming party goes with a bang, and Ventress spots an impostor on the ward.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Neil McKay
  21. Background image for Everybody Needs Somebody
    8.3/10(19 votes)

    #20 - Everybody Needs Somebody

    S4:E8

    Matron is injured by a thief and Jeff fears he is gaining a bad reputation. Meanwhile, an outbreak of tubercolosis keeps the staff busy.

    0 Comments
    View all
  22. Background image for Safe As Houses
    8.3/10(23 votes)

    #21 - Safe As Houses

    S8:E1

    Dr. Ormerod and Dr. Weatherill accompany Brigid back to Ireland for Moira's funeral, and uncover shocking family secrets in the process. Meanwhile, a new locum is thrown in at the deep end at the Royal.

    0 Comments
    View all
  23. Background image for Second Time Around
    8.2/10(36 votes)

    #22 - Second Time Around

    S1:E2

    A romantic escapade goes horribly wrong when a young couple are involved in a motorbike accident, and the tragic events of the night leave the staff of St Aiden's struggling to heal more than just a broken heart. Dr. Ormerod grows suspicious when one of his patients is uneasy about returning home, but an investigation by Matron soon reveals the reasons for his reluctance. Meanwhile, Ken and Alun face trouble when a plague of rodents looks set to close down the hospital - but is local rogue Claude Greengrass really the best person to ask for advice?

    0 Comments
    View all
  24. Background image for Thinking Too Hard
    8.2/10(20 votes)

    #23 - Thinking Too Hard

    S5:E3

    No description available

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
  25. Background image for Letting Go
    8.2/10(25 votes)

    #24 - Letting Go

    S5:E6

    Frankie faces trouble when someone tries to steal his motorbike

    0 Comments
    View all
  26. Background image for Price of Progress
    8.2/10(23 votes)

    #25 - Price of Progress

    S5:E10

    Dr Makri takes a crash course in dealing with Yorkshire folk. Stella deals with the confessions of a window cleaner.

    0 Comments
    View all

Best Episodes Summary

"For Better for Worse" is the best rated episode of "The Royal". It scored 9.1/10 based on 31 votes. Directed by Terry McDonough and written by Deborah Cook, it aired on 12/5/2004. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "For Those in Peril".