Life Lines - Series 8

Drama of the Week

BBC

Drama, Fiction

3.9 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The award winning drama set in an Ambulance Control Room.

Carrie is a call handler for the ambulance service. Every day she makes split-second decisions as she deals with a succession of emergencies; from a young woman who has been sexually assaulted to a vicious attack on an ambulance crew. Carrie is gifted with the knack of calmly helping people through their most vulnerable moments. Each episode is a collage of heart-stopping stories, where Carrie’s indiscriminate acts of kindness can mean the difference between life and death But how can a newly pregnant Carrie maintain a calm facade when she has to work with an AI system that can listen but doesn't always understand and her own body rebelling against her.

For details of organisations which offer advice and support with pregnancy related issues, go online to bbc.co.uk/actionline

Carrie ..... Sarah Ridgeway Will ..... Rick Warden Ian ..... Michael Jibson Caitlyn ..... Rowan Robinson Dan/Doctor ..... Tom Victor Flo/Holly ..... Abbie Andrews Isaac ....Keenan Munn-Francis Andy ..... Jason Barnett Nina ..... Kitty O'Sullivan Receptionist ..... Maggie Service

Technical Producers ..... Andrew Garratt & Neva Missirian Production Co-ordinator ..... Luke MacGregor

Writer ..... Al Smith Director ..... Sally Avens

A BBC Studios Audio Production

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, Podcasts.
0:07.0	Afghanistan, January 2007.
0:11.0	We felt there were Taliban fighters coming through this complex called Jigramport.
0:16.0	A military operation that did not go to plan.
0:19.0	It was the most intense far far I've ever been, you know.
0:22.5	What we need to do is cut off the snake's head.
0:25.3	And a daring rescue attempt that defied belief, told by the soldiers who were there.
0:30.6	Right, I'm about to sit on a helicopter and fly into a Taliban fort.
0:34.8	The Fort, listen first on BBC Sounds.
0:38.8	This is Drama of the Week.
0:45.3	Lifelines by Al Smith, part one.
1:00.3	Ambulance service is the patient breathing and conscious?
1:04.6	This is the ambulance service.
1:07.0	I can't get hold of my mum.
1:09.3	Okay, why's that?
1:13.7	She's not picking up. How old are you, call her?
1:17.4	Sixteen. And what's your name? Caitlin.
1:24.8	Hi, Caitlin. Is there an emergency you need help with today? I'm stuck in a muddy field.
1:27.6	Right. Where are you calling from, please?
1:29.0	Langstock.
1:30.4	Langstock?
1:33.0	Somerset, on the level somewhere.
	...

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