A US medical television drama starring an actor from Barry is launching in the UK this week as HBO Max becomes accessible to British viewers.

The Pitt is generating significant buzz at the moment. This acclaimed series chronicles the personnel of an emergency department as they strive to survive one 15-hour shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Centre. The staff contend with staffing gaps and insufficient funding alongside their own private struggles, resulting in an authentic depiction of healthcare professionals that has earned praise from the medical field.

The ensemble features numerous familiar faces from other film and television projects, though one figure will stand out particularly to Barry residents.

Gerran Howell, 35, portrays the kind-hearted but inexperienced Dr Dennis Whitaker in the series, bringing a hint of the Vale to fictional Pittsburgh.

Howell spent his formative years in Barry, attending Barry Comprehensive School before studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Some readers may recall him most vividly from his portrayals of Private Parry in 1917, or as Vlad in the CBBC series Young Dracula. That programme tracked a family of vampires relocating from Transylvania to a Welsh rural community – quite different from the frenetic atmosphere of the emergency department in The Pitt.

Howell’s casting received endorsement from a major Hollywood figure, with his recommendation for the Dr Whitaker part coming from George Clooney, alongside whom he appeared in the television miniseries Catch 22.

Noah Wyle, celebrated for his role in medical drama ER, heads the cast of The Pitt as Dr Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch, providing ideal mentorship for someone like Howell venturing into the emergency department realm for the first time with this series.

Viewers wishing to see The Pitt will require an HBO Max subscription, with plans beginning at £4.99 monthly. An ad-free subscription costs £9.99 per month and their premium tier is priced at £14.99 monthly.

The programme has collected Emmy Awards, Golden Globe wins and was selected as one of the ten finest television programmes of 2025 by the American Film Institute – and now it is assisting a Barry man in building further recognition.

With a third series of The Pitt already in development, audiences will see more of Gerran Howell shortly.