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The Worst Episodes of The Royal

Every episode of The Royal ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of The Royal!

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

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    The Royal Season 7 Episode 12 - Compromising Positions
    6.9/10(22 votes)

    S7:E12

    Sister Brigid helps to make a bright future for her sister Moira and her baby. However when things take a shocking twist Gordon and Jill have to make a heartrending decision. Susie does her best to be the perfect nurse and ends her relationship with Carnegie. However he proposes to her. Meanwhile Bobby has to deal with the violent stepfather of a local thug, taking matters into his own hands.

    Director:David Kester
    Writer:Sarah Bagshaw

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  2. The Royal Season 8 Episode 2 - Counting Chickens
    7.0/10(28 votes)

    S8:E2

    Dr Ellis confronts local prejudice when he discovers one of his patients has contracted a rare disease abroad. Jack and Alun begin a crackpot scheme to raise chickens, Brigid makes a decision about baby Aisling's future, while Jean becomes more frustrated with Lizzie's incompetence.

    Director:David Kester
    Writers:John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

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  3. The Royal Season 7 Episode 9 - Busman's Holiday
    7.2/10(21 votes)

    S7:E9

    Mr. Middleditch's 70th Birthday celebrations are interrupted by a bus crash.

    Director:Dominic Keavey
    Writer:Mark Holloway

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  4. The Royal Season 8 Episode 9 - Dead Air
    7.3/10(28 votes)

    S8:E9

    A girls’ trip out on board a pirate radio ship ends badly when they are embroiled in a siege. And Drs Ormerod and Weatherill are mystified when a girl guide leader recovers miraculously from a stroke.

    Director:David Kester
    Writer:Dawn Harrison

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  5. The Royal Season 8 Episode 3 - These Foolish Things
    7.4/10(24 votes)

    S8:E3

    Weatherill treats a schoolgirl whose crush on a teacher has spiralled out of control, while Ormerod and Ellis launch a daring cliff rescue when a family picnic goes awry. Jack and Alun use an old map to hunt for buried treasure underneath the hospital, and an old friend of Matron is taken ill.

    Director:Ian Barber
    Writer:Susan Wilkins

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  6. The Royal Season 1 Episode 3 - Coffin Fit
    7.5/10(36 votes)

    S1:E3

    Claude Greengrass causes a kerfuffle with a coffin containing the remains of his deceased sister and a mysterious phone call only serves to raise suspicions. Jill Weatherill has trouble with a patient who refuses to accept her condition, while Dr. Cheriton panics when he arrives at the scene of an accident bereft of vital medical equipment.

    Director:Paul Walker
    Writer:Mark Holloway

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  7. The Royal Season 2 Episode 1 - All at Sea
    7.5/10(33 votes)

    S2:E1

    Gordon struggles to cope following the coach crash which left his wife horrifically injured and turns for comfort to colleague Jill, who tries to persuade him to take time off work. Meanwhile, a woman arrives at the Royal requiring an emergency hysterectomy following an illegal abortion, and pleads that the whole affair be kept secret from her fiance, and Greengrass is shocked to discover he has a long-lost daughter.

    Director:Keith Boak
    Writer:Sarah Bagshaw

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  8. The Royal Season 8 Episode 5 - Should I Stay or Should I Go Now
    7.5/10(26 votes)

    S8:E5

    A new student nurse arrives at the Royal. Lizzie falls for a motorcycle stunt rider who is convinced he’s destined to live fast, die young. But Dr Ormerod comes up with a different diagnosis.

    Director:Neil Adams
    Writer:Patrick Melanaphy

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  9. The Royal Season 2 Episode 4 - Wishing and Hoping
    7.7/10(29 votes)

    S2:E4

    A frantic mother and father bring their daughter to the Royal for whooping cough treatment, and Cheriton is shocked to hear the girl hasn't been vaccinated because of her parents' fears of the side-effects. Tragically, the youngster dies - leaving the worried staff to cope with an influx of children in need of immunisation.

    Director:Judith Dine
    Writer:Michael Russell

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  10. The Royal Season 5 Episode 8 - Waifs and Strays
    7.7/10(22 votes)

    S5:E8

    It is revealed that a couple have unofficially adopted an unwell child.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Sarah Bagshaw

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  11. The Royal Season 8 Episode 6 - Please Release Me
    7.7/10(21 votes)

    S8:E6

    A patient with cancer dies unexpectedly after a visit from Dr Ormerod, and the grieving family point the finger at him. Dr Omerod is arrested on suspicion of murder – how will he prove his innocence? Dr Ralph Ellis holds a clinic at the local prison and is concerned about the mental health of one of his patients. When a full scale riot breaks out, Ralph’s trapped. Will he escape unscathed?

    Director:Neil Adams
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  12. The Royal Season 8 Episode 8 - Manoeuvres
    7.7/10(21 votes)

    S8:E8

    A family outing causes trouble for the Ormerods and Lizzie attempts to improve her vocabulary.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writers:John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

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  13. The Royal Season 8 Episode 12 - The Enemy Within
    7.7/10(32 votes)

    S8:E12

    A can of worms is opened when Gordon attends to a local family's problems, and when violence spills onto the Royal's wards he gets caught up in the crossfire. Meanwhile, baby Aisling's adoption is final. However, Sister Brigid is confused by her feelings.

    Director:Ian Barber
    Writer:Sarah Bagshaw

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  14. The Royal Season 4 Episode 9 - Say a Little Prayer
    7.8/10(23 votes)

    S4:E9

    Sister Brigid is concerned about the head of her convent who is refusing treatment and Jill hears from Samantha.

    Director:Graeme Harper
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  15. The Royal Season 6 Episode 6 - Cursed and Blessed
    7.8/10(28 votes)

    S6:E6

    An expectant mother attends for treatment, but is harassed by her ex-husband. Stella is relieved to find she has not contracted an infection from her attacker, but suffers accusations of lying to save her reputation. Meanwhile, Sister Brigid makes a misguided suggestion, and a surprise visitor from overseas forces Goodwin to reconsider his future plans.

    Director:Ian Bevitt
    Writer:Sarah Bagshaw

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  16. The Royal Season 7 Episode 2 - On the Road
    7.8/10(24 votes)

    S7:E2

    Carnegie disapproves when Nick admits several homeless people from Elsinby to the hospital. Gordon is reluctant to let Jill take on heavy duties. However his plans fall apart when she is called to attend to road along the coast when a female victim of a car accident goes into labor. Meanwhile, Matron is stunned when she sees who is the new student nurse, and patient who enjoys gossip discloses where Ken is.

    Director:Ian Barber
    Writers:John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

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  17. The Royal Season 7 Episode 11 - Best of Intentions
    7.8/10(20 votes)

    S7:E11

    Nick races against time to save two schoolgirls who have been poisoned by carbon monoxide, Susie has to use quick thinking when Matron falls ill during their picnic on the cliff front and has to go into hospital, giving Susie an opportunity to prove herself. In the meantime, a man is training to become a priest, which causes a family problem which Jill needs to sort out.

    Director:David Kester
    Writer:Dawn Harrison

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  18. The Royal Season 8 Episode 7 - Tutti Fritti
    7.8/10(22 votes)

    S8:E7

    A secret from Jean’s past resurfaces when the wife of a former lover arrives at the Royal and accuses Jean of being up to her old tricks. When things take a shocking turn Jean is forced to reconsider her future as well as her past.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Mark Holloway

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  19. The Royal Season 2 Episode 2 - Snakes and Ladders
    7.9/10(34 votes)

    S2:E2

    A teenage boy is brought into the Royal having fallen from a cliff, but it soon emerges that the incident was a suicide attempt as evidence of extreme depression comes to the surface. Cheriton contacts the youngster's psychiatrist but is taken aback when electroshock therapy is suggested as a form of treatment, so ventures to the family home to recommend an alternative — only for tragedy to strike. Meanwhile, a hypochondriac causes chaos at the hospital when she insists her dog be treated following a snake bite, and a heart-to-heart between Weatherill and Ormerod leads to a passionate kiss.

    Director:Paul Duane
    Writer:Michael Russell

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  20. The Royal Season 7 Episode 10 - In the Air
    7.9/10(19 votes)

    S7:E10

    With Susie and Carnegie's relationship becoming the focus of talk in the hospital, Matron reaches the end of her patience and decides to suspend Susie when she's late for work. Mr Rose faces a personal test when a golfing friend of his has to into the operating theatre, Nick copes struggles with a dilemna and Gordon and Bobby are called to a farming accident where a man is trapped by a combine harvester.

    Director:Dominic Keavey
    Writers:John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

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  21. The Royal Season 1 Episode 7 - Crash
    8.0/10(34 votes)

    S1:E7

    A serious coach crash throws the Royal into chaos, and for one member of the staff, the incident proves exceptionally traumatic. Cheriton has a bombshell for Nurse Taylor.

    Director:Tim Dowd
    Writer:Mark Holloway

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  22. The Royal Season 2 Episode 3 - Thicker Than Water
    8.0/10(27 votes)

    S2:E3

    Sister Brigid has a crisis of faith over a mother whose life is in danger. Family secrets are exposed when a hunting trip ends in tragedy, and Ken and Harper clash over the hospital laundry.

    Director:Paul Walker
    Writer:Jane Hollowood

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  23. The Royal Season 5 Episode 9 - Winners and Losers
    8.0/10(27 votes)

    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.

    Director:Alan Wareing
    Writer:Ken Blakeson

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  24. The Royal Season 8 Episode 10 - A Hero for Our Time
    8.0/10(24 votes)

    S8:E10

    There is a near crash on the road which involves a woman called Dolly and her daughter Alison and a rich aristocratic heir and his girlfriend. Ellis and Ormerod are called out to attend the scene of the accident. The car with Dolly and Alison in it ends up crashing into the lake to avoid the other car. With the car sinking Jack attempts to get them out. The other couple are taken to the hospital to be checked out where a water tank comes crashing through the ceiling and traps Tom the male driver. Suffering with a a ruptured spleen, Ormerod and Rose manage to free him and get him to theatre for surgery.

    Director:David Kester
    Writer:Susan Wilkins

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  25. The Royal Season 2 Episode 5 - One of Those Days
    8.1/10(26 votes)

    S2:E5

    Ormerod rushes to help following a boating accident, but realises he's been sent to the wrong location, and when he finally arrives at the disaster scene, his efforts to save a man's life prove futile. On returning to the hospital, he angrily chastises Lizzie for the misinformation - only to realise he was too hasty in blaming her. Can he make amends? Meanwhile, PC Ventress comes to the Royal with two men who had been fighting over a girl, and one promptly collapses due to a brain haemorrhage. Weatherill faces a testing time when she helps deliver a baby which is tragically stillborn and nurse Meryl reveals she suspects she may be pregnant.

    Director:Terry McDonough
    Writers:John Flanagan, Andrew McCulloch

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Compromising Positions" is the worst rated episode of "The Royal". It scored 6.9/10 based on 22 votes. Directed by David Kester and written by Sarah Bagshaw, it aired on 7/5/2009. This episode scored 0.1 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Counting Chickens".