David shearer biography

Series 1 No.Episode TitleSynopsisAir Date1Sharp PracticeDr Jack Kerruish starts work at a surgery in Derbyshire, where he develops a volatile relationship with fellow medic Beth Glover. 10 May 1993 2OutsidersThe Beeches finally becomes a paying concern - but Beth's relief at its new-found solvency is cut short by the discovery that a rival health centre is stealing her patients. 17 May 1993 3Growing PainsJack treats an athlete whose sudden pre-race injury seems just a little too convenient to be true. 24 May 1993 4Roses Around the DoorJack tries to help a childless couple and learns a harsh lesson on the realities of country life. 31 May 1993 5Impulsive BehaviourJack helps resolve a confused priest's doubts about his mental state, and begins flirting with an attractive trainee GP working at rival centre The Beeches. 7 June 1993 6Hope to DieJack and Beth disagree over the treatment of a young patient with a heart defect, while Sarah and Will's marriage deteriorates as their financial problems mount. 14 June 1993 7Listening SkillsWill desperately tries to make up with Sarah and comes up with a plan to clear their debts. 21 June 1993 8Giddy HeightsJack's mountain rescue skills are put to the test when a kidney transplant patient is lost during a storm, while Will tries to deal with his personal problems. 28 June 1993 Series 2 1In Good FaithJack struggles to save an asthmatic girl's life when her mother will only resort to faith healing. Meanwhile, Will has survived his breakdown and is eager to go back to work. 1 March 1994 2Old HabitsThe three doctors fall out when a consultant refuses to operate on their heart patient because he is a heavy smoker. Meanwhile, Will's marriage suffers another setback. 8 March 1994 3Love Thy NeighbourJack is caught in a dilemma when he has to tell his best friends that Chloe has cancer, and his relationship with Beth continues to deteriorate. 15 March 1994 4Act of RemembranceJack has to deal with a patient whose employer will not let her rest. Meanwhile, Isabel and Ken's romance takes a dive when their ward collapses. 22 March 1994 5Enemy WithinJack is shocked and angry when Beth is assaulted by a patient's father. 30 March 1994 6Long WeekendJack tries to help his ex-fiance Karen, who is an acute schizophrenic, while Kim contracts a rare infection. 6 April 1994 7Chance EncounterAfter secretly meeting her ex-lover, Beth comes across an accident on the moors which takes a life-threatening turn. 13 April 1994 8Life ChangesWill's marriage hits rock bottom and Beth must pass on devastating news to a friend. 19 April 1994 9Brave FaceAn old friend of Will's requests his help to end their life. 26 April 1994 10AbbeyThe village is shocked when a dead baby is discovered on the moors and a homeless teenage girl is suspected of being the mother. 3 May 1994 11Perfect LoveBeth and Jack are excited about their wedding day, but their friends' idyllic marriage reveals deeper feelings which bring them down to earth. 10 May 1994 12Power GamesJack suspects a patient of malingering and Beth becomes embroiled in a family dispute when one of her patients suffers a heart attack. 17 May 1994 13Happy Ever AfterAlice appears in court for non-payment of council tax, a teenager asks Jack for tranquillisers, and interviews are held for the post of fund manager. 24 May 1994 Series 3 1Light at the End of the TunnelA group of school kids get trapped in a mine forcing Jack to face his fears as he tries to rescue them. Meanwhile, Sarah and Will finally decide to divorce. 31 January 1995 2TenderA new nurse joins the practice and Will stands as a candidate for the local council. Meanwhile, Beth comes to terms with her friend's imminent death. 7 February 1995 3Coming OutBeth treats two youngsters for an infection spread by rat urine, while Jack opposes Cardale residents trying to get a new home for ex-psychiatric patients closed down. 14 February 1995 4Losing OutBeth finds herself in the unhappy position of having to investigate her own husband's professional conduct, a predicament made worse by the grief of Isabel's funeral. 28 February 1995 5To Have and to HoldJack feels increasingly disillusioned with life in Cardale and goes to set up a new clinic in Africa, leaving Beth hard-pressed to cope in his absence. 7 March 1995 6Fighting ChanceWill tries to help a boxing champion whose blackouts are casting a shadow over his future in sport, but only succeeds in driving him into the bare-knuckle arena. 14 March 1995 7Family TiesWill's son is seriously injured on the school rugby field, while Jack returns from Africa and barely has chance to unpack before he is called out to an attempted death. 21 March 1995 8Ill WindA freak storm hits Cardale, and the Kerruishes work round the clock to treat casualties, saving strangers as well as close friends injured in the devastation. 28 March 1995 9A Normal LifeA Cardale schoolgirl begins behaving erratically, causing concern for her parents and provoking a professional difference of opinion between Will and Beth. 4 April 1995 10Walking AwayNew trainee Andrew Attwood arrives at The Beeches and causes friction, falling foul of Jack and losing a valuable contract. 11 April 1995 11Bedside MannersAndrew lands himself in hot water again by failing to diagnose a patient's life-threatening condition, while Jack doubts Will's commitment to the practice. 18 April 1995 12Giving UpPub tenants James and Chloe ask Jack for advice on how to become foster parents, and Beth is rushed to hospital with abdominal pains, leaving Andrew to handle her workload. 25 April 1995 13Nobody's FaultAndrew tries to help a distressed patient who is mutilating himself, but when the man attempts suicide the doctor realises the situation is more severe than he thought. 2 May 1995 14Life and SoulJack considers expanding the practice, though Will voices his objections, while Beth links a patient's ill health to his working environment. 9 May 1995 15Other LivesBeth wants to move away from Cardale, but Jack doesn't share her enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Chloe and James White attend an interview at the fostering agency. 16 May 1995 Series 4 1Holding It TogetherNow that Jack and Beth have left for Africa, Will sets about finding new partners to help run The Beeches, a task made doubly difficult by new locum Erica Matthews. 27 February 1996 2A New LifeWill bids a tearful farewell to the boys as they leave for Florida, while Erica is confronted by a patient suffering from delusions. 5 March 1996 3New HorizonsErica throws a house-warming party, intending to use it as an excuse to chat up Will - but he spoils her plans by turning up with a doctor from the nearby health centre. 12 March 1996 4Looking BackErica clashes with Will as she struggles to deal with the emotional problems created by the arrival of old flame Dan Copeland, who has tracked her down from Manchester. 19 March 1996 5Whipping BoyWill and Andrew clash over the welfare of a boy trapped in a bitter custody battle, while locum doctor Erica is angry to learn her position has been advertised. 26 March 1996 6Close TiesErica intervenes in an operation, saving the patient's life and prompting Will to look favourably on her application. Kirsty begins to have doubts about her future with Andrew. 2 April 1996 7In Safe HandsAndrew secures a patient's life-saving operation, but Kirsty is still left wondering if she's doing the right thing. 9 April 1996 8PartnersWill finds himself increasingly drawn to Kate - until a disagreement prompted by a multiple sclerosis sufferer's violent husband makes him have second thoughts. 16 April 1996 9Running on EmptyPersonal dilemmas continue to overshadow the medical agenda, as a depressed Andrew jeopardises his career and Kate agonises over Will's suggestion they move in together. 23 April 1996 10Heart and SoulKate announces she's pregnant but intends to have an abortion, forcing Will to make an agonising personal choice. 30 April 1996 Series 5 1Eye of the StormWill is ecstatic to become a father and Andrew returns to Cardale after six months away, asking for his old job back, but finds a surprise in store for him. 14 January 1997 2The PriceWill and Kate face a harrowing time as their baby's health deteriorates alarmingly. 21 January 1997 3Innocent BloodDavid's family join him in Cardale, but his happiness is marred by the discovery that a boy he helped deliver 11 years ago has contracted a deadly illness. 28 January 1997 4Letting GoWill says farewell to his friends and colleagues over a special lunch which ends in a big surprise for the departing doctor, while Erica battles to save Alice North's life. 4 February 1997 5ClassicsAndrew is seriously injured in a car crash en route to Erica's birthday party, and faces the grim task of ensuring his fellow motorists make it through the night alive. 11 February 1997 6Lost FeelingsDavid helps a paraplegic friend and his wife fulfill their dearest wish to have a child, while Andrew investigates Erica's claims of supernatural goings-on. 18 February 1997 7Home TruthsAndrew and Erica clash over the best way to treat a baby's mysterious illness. 4 March 1997 8Running to HideAndrew's relationship with his shapely accountant goes beyond business, while David worries about his wife's erratic behaviour and the practice is sued for negligence. 11 March 1997 9Borrowed TimeAn old friend of Andrew arrives in Cardale with devastating news. 18 March 1997 10Tough LoveAndrew bites the bullet and tells Erica he wants them to be a couple, but her reaction is not as he had hoped. Claire's extrovert behaviour causes gossip among the locals. 25 March 1997 11State of MindClare unwittingly endangers an older patient's life, forcing David to step back and take a long, hard look at what's causing her erratic behaviour. 1 April 1997 12PrioritiesErica's commitment to the Beeches is tested to the limit. 8 April 1997 13A Change of HeartAndrew's ex-wife turns up out of the blue, forcing him to re-examine his feelings for her and Erica, while Clare's mental condition takes yet another turn for the worse. 15 April 1997 14Fight or FlightDavid treats a pilot suffering from what seems to be vertigo, although his dizzy spells could have another cause. 22 April 1997 Series 6 1All Fall DownDavid and Andrew strive to convince the authorities that mass inoculation is the only way to prevent a meningitis outbreak sweeping through Cardale. 5 January 1998 2Through a Glass DarklyErica is left traumatised by a meeting with her natural father, while Andrew regrets inviting David to go house-hunting with him. 12 January 1998 3A Matter of PrincipleDavid takes on the local health authority, outraged that they won't operate on a Down's syndrome heart patient. 19 January 1998 4The Good SonA local lad returns to Cardale after travelling the world, but it soon becomes clear he's got something to hide. A phone call from his sister shatters Andrew's happiness. 26 January 1998 5Another Day of LifeNew locum Nick Goodson arrives at the Beeches and Erica's role as prosecution witness in a controversial child abuse trial makes her the target of a hate campaign. 2 February 1998 6A Change of ViewErica prepares to visit Andrew in Liverpool, leaving locum Nick Goodson in charge of the surgery, while David tangles with a pair of runaway pensioners in a stolen coach. 9 February 1998 7Body and SoulAndrew stops dithering and proposes to Erica, but his mind is soon distracted from romance by the plight of a priest suffering from a mystery illness. 16 February 1998 8The Spinning WheelAndrew's terminally ill mother asks him to help end her life, while back in Cardale, the past catches up with scheming locum Dr Nick Goodson in spectacular fashion. 23 February 1998 9Glass HousesDavid has an unscheduled run-in with old flame Anna Bradshaw, and it isn't long before sparks are flying in more ways than one. 2 March 1998 10The Ghost in the MachineErica makes a decision over Andrew's proposal, but while looking to the future, a dangerous legacy from the past threatens public safety elsewhere in Cardale. 16 March 1998 11The Falling SkyA woman holds a wounded Andrew and a heavily pregnant Clare at gunpoint, triggering a tense siege. 23 March 1998 12A Child I DreamedA woman who agrees to be a surrogate mother finds her decision has far-reaching consequences. 30 March 1998 13Two Things Stand Like StoneErica prepares for her hen night, Rob McBride's past threatens to ruin his future. 6 April 1998 14Once in a LifetimeCardale prepares for Andrew and Erica's wedding, but a health scare tests everyone to the limit. 20 April 1998 Series 7 1Race Against TimeAndrew takes up rally driving in the hope it will help him forget Erica. 5 January 1999 2The Ties That BindThe race is on to find a suitable donor to save a dying leukaemia patient. 12 January 1999 3Turn a Blind EyeJoanna feels the emotional strain of general practice when one of her patients faces death. 19 January 1999 4Comrades in ArmsAndrew's judgement is put on the line in a battle of prejudice and personal feeling. 26 January 1999 5PassionDavid gives an old friend some shocking advice, but struggles to practise what he preaches. 2 February 1999 6Map of the Heart: Part 1David tries to help a troubled teenager, but ends up risking the happiness of everyone around him. 9 February 1999 7Map of the Heart: Part 2As Cardale struggles to come to terms with David's shocking death, a destructive patient pushes Andrew's patience to the limit. 23 February 1999 8Before the Lights Go OutA new face appears at the Beeches, and Joanna's heroic efforts to arrange an operation for an Alzheimer's sufferer bring her into contact with an old flame. 2 March 1999 9Fighting ChanceThe staff fight to save the community hospital, finding an ally in Ronnie, who uses his experience to their advantage. 9 March 1999 10No BoundsSam is tormented by the case of a cancer sufferer who refuses to endanger her unborn child by undergoing treatment, while the campaign to save the local hospital gets a boost. 16 March 1999 11Take Her BackJoanna is held at knifepoint by a runaway mother, some good news lifts Sam's depression over the death of a patient and romance blossoms between Andrew and Dawn. 23 March 1999 12Single MindedDawn fears her breast cancer might return, while plucky local copper Pete Greenhalgh faces an adversary even his courage cannot protect him from. 30 March 1999 13The Nature of ThingsClare Shearer returns to Cardale and wastes no time in claiming her share of the Beeches. 6 April 1999 Series 8 1Breaking PointA chance encounter with a troop of soldiers plunges Joanna and Andrew into a life-or-death crisis. 14 September 1999 2AloneA savage attack on Alice North shocks Cardale, and helps push Joanna back into the arms of her ex-lover Martin Henderson. 21 September 1999 3Eskimo RollSam learns a respected member of the community is harbouring a devastating secret and Joanna grows concerned about Alice's state of mind. 28 September 1999 4Wood for the TreesDawn's son slips into a coma, leaving surgeons baffled Meanwhile, estranged father Keith turns up, indicating his disapproval of his wife's involvement with Andrew. 5 October 1999 5Buying TimeSam breaks all the rules and gets emotionally involved with a patient, casting a shadow over his future at the Beeches. 12 October 1999 6Change of LifeSam makes an unusual bet with a smoker anxious to quit, while Andrew tries to help a farmer whose failing health has driven him to take desperate measures. 19 October 1999 7Close to Heaven: Part 1Tragedy looms as Andrew and Sam try to save an injured man from a fast-flowing river, only too aware that his life rests in their hands. 2 November 1999 8Close to Heaven: Part 2Sam is tormented by the thought that he could have done more to help Andrew and Joanna's teenage patient recoils from the prospect of an operation. 9 November 1999 9The First StoneSam tries to help an overweight local woman whose efforts to slim are placing her life in jeopardy, while Joanna sparks off another health scare in Cardale. 16 November 1999 10Hearts and MindsJoanna is presented with an unenviable dilemma by old flame Martin Henderson, who asks her to leave Cardale and start a new life with him. 23 November 1999 11Not Waving But DrowningSam is visited by an old friend who seems to have gone up in the world since their schooldays together, but the reunion has a tragic outcome. 30 November 1999 12Moving OnAndrew tries to convince his friend Ronnie Neale that he has a serious illness, and ends up coming to blows with Dawn's estranged husband Keith over her affections. 7 December 1999 13New BeginningsJoanna breaks devastating news to a teenage gymnast, and finds herself thrust into the middle of a family crisis. 14 December 1999 Series 9 1And Then There Were TwoThe sickly folk of Cardale are hit by another mystery illness, which sweeps through the village spreading terror in its wake. 4 January 2000 2Close to HomeKerri Davidson starts work at the Beeches, while Andrew intervenes to solve Sam's accommodation dilemma. 11 January 2000 3Family ValuesAndrew treats a man whose sister is killing him with kindness, while Sam encourages a grieving husband to accept responsibility for his baby daughter. 18 January 2000 4Letting GoThe doctors wrestle with the concept of assisted death. 25 January 2000 5Language of the EyeA hypochondriac tries Joanna's patience with a string of fictitious illnesses, while Andrew attempts to help a girl's parents come to terms with her deafness. 1 February 2000 6Once Too OftenJoanna faces dilemmas on both a personal and professional level, while Sam sets his heart on a romantic goal and Andrew tries to avoid appearing deceitful. 8 February 2000 7Truth or DareA chemical spillage outside the Black Swan plunges Cardale into a state of emergency, and it's up to Andrew and Sam to save lives. 15 February 2000 8GhostsSam tries to reunite a family torn apart by a terrible secret, while Joanna sets off to see Tom in Scarborough - but has trouble telling him the reason for her visit. 22 February 2000 9A Test of FaithAndrew and Kate help an alcoholic woman fighting to keep custody of her children, while Mike and Liz digest some unexpected news. 29 February 2000 10Turning TidesCarol's troubled son turns up unexpectedly, Sam and Kerri expose a drugs fraud, and Andrew makes a life-changing decision. 7 March 2000 11Faith, Hope & LoveSam is forced to confront his feelings for Kerri, while Joanna discovers a patient's seemingly trivial snoring problem hides a sensitive issue. 14 March 2000 12Last OrdersJoanna and Tom face tough decisions about their future, and Sam's medical bag is stolen, leading to a crisis for one of his patients. 21 March 2000 13Hopes and DreamsA feud between a local farmer and a fairground family has tragic consequences for Joanna, while Andrew learns his affair with Kate is no longer a secret. 28 March 2000 Series 10 1For Love of the ChildA fresh face joins the surgery, while a patient suspected of being a paedophile is the cause of a fierce dispute between Tom and Andrew. 5 September 2000 2Hit and RunAlex tries to get to the bottom of a local policeman's aggressive behaviour and finds his dark secret, while Richard edges nearer to finding out the truth about Kate's affair. 12 September 2000 3Skin DeepAndrew feels the wrath of Richard as his affair with Kate becomes common knowledge. Tom struggles to help a teenager whose battle against anorexia is tearing her family apart. 19 September 2000 4On a Clear DayA childless woman's bid to adopt is thrown into jeopardy by ill health, and Tom seeks a nanny to look after Joe. 26 September 2000 5AbsolutionAndrew and Kate's relationship sails into stormy waters as Richard's life hangs in the balance, and Alex tries to persuade a patient to undergo treatment for his breast cancer. 3 October 2000 6Lonely Hearts: Part 1Andrew gains a doting fan, and Carol discovers her new male friend has an unorthodox method of pain relief. 31 October 2000 7Lonely Hearts: Part 2Andrew's career hangs in the balance as the GMC hearing deliberates over charges of misconduct with an infatuated former patient. 7 November 2000 8Divided We StandWill fears a patient is pressuring his younger brother into donating a kidney, while Alice makes a shocking discovery about the local TV repair man. 14 November 2000 9Keeping Up the ActSam helps a lovestruck teenager deal with an embarrassing complaint, and pub landlord Mike Pullen pushes himself too far to impress the brewery manager. 21 November 2000 10Playing GodA pregnant woman's dilemma reminds Will of a past tragedy, and Alex is forced to tackle her addiction while treating a victim of passive smoking. 28 November 2000 11Walls of JerichoAlex has to summon up the courage of her convictions to help a Down's syndrome patient, and Will comes to the aid of a feuding couple. 5 December 2000 12MasqueradeWill makes the mistake of getting emotionally attached to a patient with psychiatric problems, and a black cloud descends over Kerri and Sam's engagement party. 12 December 2000 13ElectricityThe Beeches partnership is suddenly thrown into a state of turmoil as fate deals a cruel blow to Sam and Kerri, leaving them fighting for their lives. 19 December 2000 Series 11 1Still WatersWill's sympathy for a couple of old friends contemplating fertility treatment soon turns to irritation when they opt to take matters into their own hands. 2 January 2001 2Flesh and BloodTom blows his top when Bridgit breaks the rules by having an affair with a haemophiliac patient, and Sam invests in a controversial new drug. 9 January 2001 3Win Some, Lose SomeTom fears cyclist Nick Pullen is being pushed beyond his limits by an overzealous trainer, while Will clashes with ex-wife Kate over an alcoholic patient. 16 January 2001 4Trust in MeWill uncovers the extent of Sam's deception as he prepares to go down the aisle with Kerri, leaving the bride with a tough decision to make. 23 January 2001 5Together We StandAlex helps two elderly sisters against Will's orders and discovers something about herself into the bargain, while Tom persuades Kerri to face everyone at work. 30 January 2001 6Prisoners of the PastWill treats a nun with a broken arm and in the process finds she's dying from an incurable illness, a traumatic revelation that brings him closer to wife Kate. 6 February 2001 7Private Lives, Public EyeThe Mayor of Cardale suffers severe attacks of lethargy, and Tom uncovers an affair between a local teacher and her pupil. 13 February 2001 8Suffer the Little ChildrenWill unwittingly brings to light a family scandal, while Tom and Alex's budding relationship is jeopardised by a difference of medical opinion. 20 February 2001 9Body BeautifulTom helps a swimming instructor come to terms with a serious bowel condition, and a meals-on-wheels driver suffers a stroke at the wheel and nearly crashes into Kate. 8 March 2001 10Hidden AgendasAlex struggles to save a boy's life after a farmer dumps dangerous chemicals in a pond, but is distracted when her estranged father turns up seeking a reconciliation. 15 March 2001 11CrossfireWill's career is thrown into turmoil when one of his patients has an epileptic fit while driving and is killed in the ensuing crash. 22 March 2001 12Blind SpotTom is caught in a dilemma when a harassed mother requests an abortion without telling her husband. Alex faces her cancer test ordeal alone. 29 March 2001 13Bad MedicineAlex flees the practice and heads back home to York, hotly pursued by Tom, who tries to persuade her to face up to her illness. 5 April 2001 Series 12 1Episode 1Sultry nurse Claire Brightwell breezes into Cardale to shake up the practice, while Tom is involved in a climbing accident and Will's son Tony returns. 25 October 2001 2Episode 2Newcomer Claire wastes little time in making her presence felt at the practice and tries to seduce Tom, while Will wonders how many more revelations about his son he can take. 1 November 2001 3Episode 3The outbreak of a deadly epidemic puts strain on the practice, while Claire does her wicked best to drive a wedge between Alex and Tom. 8 November 2001 4Episode 4Claire is accused of stealing from a patient, and finds support from her colleagues in short supply, while a modern-day Noah gives Will cause for concern. 15 November 2001 5Episode 5Dashing new trainee doctor Matt Kendal has a baptism of fire on his first day at the Beeches, while Will's decision to turn away all non-urgent cases has disastrous consequences. 22 November 2001 6Episode 6A weekend away turns into chaos when an Army helicopter crashes, unearthing horrifying memories of the Balkan conflict for Alex and Claire, who race to save the casualties. 29 November 2001 7Episode 7Leanne is raped and left for dead, a trauma that sends the whole community into shock. Will apologises to Carol, while Matt and Shaun step up their rivalry on the football field. 6 December 2001 8Episode 8Tom takes the law into his own hands to nail the man who assaulted Leanne, while Kate grows increasingly frustrated by Will's mood swings. 13 December 2001 9Episode 9A runaway bride causes concern, while Claire's increasingly erratic behaviour worries Alex, and Kate starts spending more and more time with James. 3 January 2002 10Episode 10Claire provides a much-needed shoulder to cry on for Will, who is public enemy number one following the emergence of his plans to dissolve the Beeches partnership. 10 January 2002 11Episode 11Claire's true colours shine through as she accuses Will of rape, and Alex oversees the exhumation of a marine she believes was murdered by her mentally unstable colleague. 17 January 2002 12Episode 12Claire's disappearance has disturbing repercussions, while Will deals with a depressed gardener, and Shaun takes desperate measures to make himself more appealing to Kerri. 24 January 2002 13Episode 13Tom and Alex's wedding plans have to be put on hold as a cable car emergency demands their attention, and to make matters worse Claire turns up. 30 January 2002