
Quacks (2017) is a brilliant and delightfully offbeat historical comedy that perfectly blends wit, charm, and absurdity. Set in 1840s London, the show takes us into the chaotic world of early medicine with a cast of quirky, ambitious, and deeply flawed characters. The performances are outstanding, particularly from Tom Basden as the substance-abusing yet endearing surgeon (i.e., dentist) John, who is convinced that the future of medicine lies in finding effective anesthesia. He is joined by the arrogant doctor Tom, played by Rory Kinnear, who appears to be more concerned with showmanship than he is with treating his patients. Meanwhile, Tom’s wife Caroline (played by the wonderful Lydia Leonard) grapples with her husband’s sexual disinterest in her and his dismissiveness concerning her ambitions to become a doctor herself. Rounding out the cast is William, played by Mathew Baynton, who is the hapless alienist nursing a secret crush on Caroline.
The show’s pacing is spot on, balancing sharp humor with moments of surprising emotional depth, all while demonstrating that it’s possible to have both a witty, urbane comedy and good historical costumes in the same show.
You have to immerse yourself in the period, not only in terms of the clothes, but also what was happening in society, technology and the arts, as they all influenced what people wore. At initial ‘look meetings’ with the director, producers and writer, we discussed how we wanted Quacks to look real, vibrant and unique.
Looking at real garments of the period (the V&A have a great archive) is a good starting point in understanding the cut of clothes, how they’re made, the fabrics and colours. Our perception of early Victorian London is influenced largely by paintings and previous productions and films we’ve seen. However, it was interesting to find that it was a surprisingly colourful period for fabrics and not everything was black or brown. This was perfect for our production.
Richard Cooke, Costume Designer, “The Making of Quacks”.
Lydia Leonard plays Caroline, who has aspirations of practicing medicine in her own right. Her clothing strikes a nice balance between fashionable for the period and practical.










What sets Quacks apart is its sharp social commentary wrapped in humor — highlighting the absurdity of the medical field’s early days while also touching on issues like ambition, friendship, and the pursuit of modern medicine. The production design beautifully captures the period, making the world come to life in vivid, colorful detail. I thought it created a good blend of historical fact and absurdist comedy, with it’s unconventional take on the history of western medicine both intelligent and entertaining. For those who enjoy smart humor with a dash of historical flair, Quacks is an absolute must-watch.
Sadly, it only got one season before it was cancelled, proving that even though you can have a smart, funny, and reasonably historically costumed show, you can’t seem to convince production companies to keep them going.
Have you watched Quacks (2017)? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Find this frock flick at:
Good grief, has it really been so long since this delightful little show left the airwaves? (It’s fascinating to look over the cast list with hindsight and see more than one alumnus who went on to far bigger things).