NEXT time you’re tuning in to Popmaster on Radio 2, spare a thought for the nation’s district nurses. You might not realise it, but the dulcet tones of daytime favourite Ken Bruce can offer an oasis of calm for those at the hectic forefront of home-based medical care.

Or at least they can for Frankie Maddox, lead character in BBC1’s new medical drama series Frankie. Her love of the veteran DJ helps her to make it through the various stresses and traumas of being a community nurse.

It’s a rare lead role for Eve Myles, best known for playing Jack Harkness’s sidekick Gwen Cooper in Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. So rare, in fact, that the actress could hardly believe her luck when she got the role: “Even two days before wrapping, I woke up my partner in the middle of the night and said, ‘I can’t believe I got Frankie’.”

Compared to Gwen, Frankie is a complete change of pace. Unlike the terminally troubled medics that populate most hospital-based medical dramas, she’s always upbeat, cheerful and professional, if not above a certain amount of mischief.

“She is very energetic and loves life, music, dancing, food and wine. She has a naughty, almost childlike sense of humour, but when it comes to her job, there is no one else you would want,” says Myles.

It’s an attitude the actress observed when exploring the world of district nurses. She felt the role required some research, particularly as it’s a career not often seen on television. “The biggest thing I stole from spending time with them was how they adapt to every single different situation . . . and how they have lots of fun when they are not on duty.”

If this makes Frankie’s life sound like a breeze, it’s not. While her commitment to her patients is never less than 100 per cent, when it comes to personal relationships she is not always so successful.

Her easy-going attitude does not impress her uptight boss Dr Evans (Jemma Redgrave), and much of the drama throughout the series arises from their conflicting approaches to medical care.

Likewise, things seldom run smoothly with boyfriend Ian (Dean Lennox Kelly), a straight-talking copper whose brusque attitude is often at odds with that of his girlfriend.

When it comes to Ken Bruce, however, Myles is certain it’s a love that will last.

“He’s the other man in her life. When she gets in her car it becomes her personal special place. He brings the wannabe pop star out in her.”