Let the Blood Run Free was an anarchic Australian spoof television soap opera set in the fictional St Christopher's Hospital and created by comedy collective The Blood Group, based on their theatrical comedy revue. Directed by John Thomson, the show ran for two series on Network Ten, August 1990 – January 1994.
It was one of the first interactive TV programs, where the audience could vote on The Young Doctors -style skits. One episode included a parody of the cult series Prisoner (aka Prisoner: Cell Block H ). Tory McBride, then the associate producer of comedy at the venue, came up with the concept and the title and in association with comedy director John Thomson, put together the team which was to become The Blood Group. The show was very loosely scripted and then improvised on stage, with two planned storylines depending on live audience voting.
The live Le Joke version, which had a continuous weekly run for about a year, was a success with audience members returning every Thursday evening to see the next episode. Before long, it had become too big for the 100-seat Le Joke theatre, and was moved downstairs for several seasons on the main stage of the Last Laugh.
There was also a radio version of the show.
Television
Let The Blood Run Free was subsequently picked up for television and 26 episodes were produced using a number of the storylines developed during the stage shows. They aired in Australia from 20 August 1990 to 15 January 1994 and in the UK on Channel 4 from 29 August 1992 to 7 January 1995. The show featured the original cast including Kath & Kim actor Peter Rowsthorn in the early role of hospital orderly Warren Cronkshonk.
The series was sold to broadcast in 70 countries. It was particularly popular in Germany, who financed the second season.
It is thought to be one of the first interactive television series ever made – in keeping with the live version, at the end of each episode the viewers could vote by telephone to decide the direction the storylines would take.