Much of the humour of the show springs from the characters' varying views on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">death</a> and their contrasting beliefs about the relative importance of their work. The show often derives humour from the fact that the characters are not primarily <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_pathology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">forensic pathologists</a>. Davison's character, Anthony Webster, is frequently at pains to explain that he is a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histopathology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">histopathologist</a>, for example. Their case load therefore infrequently verges into the more "exciting" area of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crime-related death</a>. Nevertheless, one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_gags" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">running gags</a> of the programme was that the character originally played by Tracy-Ann Oberman (and in later series by Matilda Ziegler), the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">anatomical pathologist</a> Ruth Anderson, was secondarily credentialled as a forensic pathologist, but had so rarely used these skills that her deductive reasoning skills were faulty.Two other major themes can be seen throughout the history of the programme. One is the desire, especially on the part of Donaldson and Webster, to educate the public about pathology. Various schemes, notably including the first radio broadcast of an autopsy, are hatched to accomplish this goal. Another predominant theme is the effect of a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">career</a> in pathology on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_life" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">personal lives</a> of its practitioners. This is especially evident in Series 3 where every character has at least one subplot revolving around the issue. Chief among these is the series-long arc in which Ruth and Anthony try to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_insemination" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">conceive a child non-sexually</a> — he because his relationship with his naturally-conceived daughter has fallen into ruin, and she because of an inability to sustain a meaningful romantic relationship with a man.

TV & Film

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Film History

Much of the humour of the show springs from the characters' varying views on death and their contrasting beliefs about the relative importance of their work. The show often derives humour from the fact that the characters are not primarily forensic pathologists. Davison's character, Anthony Webster, is frequently at pains to explain that he is a histopathologist, for example. Their case load therefore infrequently verges into the more "exciting" area of crime-related death. Nevertheless, one of the running gags of the programme was that the character originally played by Tracy-Ann Oberman (and in later series by Matilda Ziegler), the anatomical pathologist Ruth Anderson, was secondarily credentialled as a forensic pathologist, but had so rarely used these skills that her deductive reasoning skills were faulty.Two other major themes can be seen throughout the history of the programme.One is the desire, especially on the part of Donaldson and Webster, to educate the public about pathology. Various schemes, notably including the first radio broadcast of an autopsy, are hatched to accomplish this goal. Another predominant theme is the effect of a career in pathology on the personal lives of its practitioners. This is especially evident in Series 3 where every character has at least one subplot revolving around the issue. Chief among these is the series-long arc in which Ruth and Anthony try to conceive a child non-sexually — he because his relationship with his naturally-conceived daughter has fallen into ruin, and she because of an inability to sustain a meaningful romantic relationship with a man.

Much of the humour of the show springs from the characters' varying views on&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death" rel="noopener noreferrer">death</a>&nbsp;and their contrasting beliefs about the relative importance of their work. The show often derives humour from the fact that the characters are not primarily&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_pathology" rel="noopener noreferrer">forensic pathologists</a>. Davison's character, Anthony Webster, is frequently at pains to explain that he is a&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Histopathology" rel="noopener noreferrer">histopathologist</a>, for example. Their case load therefore infrequently verges into the more "exciting" area of&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder" rel="noopener noreferrer">crime-related death</a>. Nevertheless, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running_gags" rel="noopener noreferrer">running gags</a>&nbsp;of the programme was that the character originally played by Tracy-Ann Oberman (and in later series by Matilda Ziegler), the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatomical_pathology" rel="noopener noreferrer">anatomical pathologist</a>&nbsp;Ruth Anderson, was secondarily credentialled as a forensic pathologist, but had so rarely used these skills that her deductive reasoning skills were faulty.Two other major themes can be seen throughout the history of the programme. One is the desire, especially on the part of Donaldson and Webster, to educate the public about pathology. Various schemes, notably including the first&nbsp;radio&nbsp;broadcast of an autopsy, are hatched to accomplish this goal. Another predominant theme is the effect of a&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career" rel="noopener noreferrer">career</a>&nbsp;in pathology on the&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_life" rel="noopener noreferrer">personal lives</a>&nbsp;of its practitioners. This is especially evident in Series 3 where every character has at least one subplot revolving around the issue. Chief among these is the series-long arc in which Ruth and Anthony try to&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_insemination" rel="noopener noreferrer">conceive a child non-sexually</a>&nbsp;— he because his relationship with his naturally-conceived daughter has fallen into ruin, and she because of an inability to sustain a meaningful romantic relationship with a man.

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