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The Duke of Bedford

The Duke of Bedford is a minor member of Royalty who rather urgently needs his massive face tumour removed.

Played by
Nicholas Blane

He is rich, loud, privileged and entitled. The death rates in Victorian hospitals were high, and so patients would put off procedures for as long as possible, leading to tumours the size of grapefruits and gangrenous infections.

Operating on the Duke is a huge honour for Robert and involves a complicated and unusual procedure: a ‘tracheotomy’.

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