The Royal

A hunting expedition ends in tragedy, and staff at the Royal persuade a devout Catholic mother to be sterilised, much to the disgust of her priest. The drama, featuring Robert Daws, explores the clash between institutional authority and personal faith.

Thicker Than Water is a drama episode that forms part of the programme catalogue under the title “Thicker Than Water”. It is presented as a self‑contained story rather than a series, and it falls squarely within the drama genre. The episode is billed simply as a programme, and its narrative focus is conveyed through a concise premise. The storyline opens with a hunting expedition that ends in tragedy, setting a sombre tone from the outset. The mishap on the hunt acts as the catalyst for the events that follow, creating a backdrop of loss and tension that permeates the rest of the episode. In the wake of the tragedy, staff members at the Royal persuade a devout Catholic mother to undergo sterilisation. This suggestion provokes strong disapproval from her priest, whose disgust underscores the moral and religious conflict at the heart of the plot. The clash between the Royal officials’ proposal and the mother’s faith‑based convictions drives much of the episode’s dramatic tension. The drama is anchored by the performance of Robert Daws, whose involvement is highlighted in the programme’s description. His presence adds a recognizable face to the unfolding narrative, which intertwines themes of tragedy, institutional pressure, and religious dissent within a tightly scripted episode.