Adam Kay is a British author, comedian and screenwriter who first trained and worked as an NHS junior doctor. He is best known for This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor, a bestselling memoir drawn from the diaries he kept during his medical training. The book became a cultural touchstone and was adapted into a BAFTA-nominated television series.
Before his writing career took off, Kay spent six years in obstetrics and gynaecology. He left clinical medicine in 2010 after a traumatic patient incident, an experience he has publicly linked to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. His later work in comedy, books, and television grew directly out of those years on the hospital ward.
Kay’s writing is marked by a blend of dark humour, personal honesty, and pointed commentary on the pressures facing healthcare professionals. His public profile continues to expand through new book releases, stand-up performances, and television projects.
What books has Adam Kay written?
Adam Kay has published work across several genres: adult memoir, medical crime fiction, children’s nonfiction, and activity books. His most famous title remains This Is Going to Hurt, but his bibliography has grown steadily since 2017.
Adam Kay: From Junior Doctor to Bestselling Author and Comedian
- Former NHS junior doctor (2004–2010)
- Author of bestselling diary This Is Going to Hurt (2017)
- BAFTA-nominated comedy writer and performer
- Married to James Farrell, father of two children via surrogacy
No major new adult book has been confirmed for 2025. The most recent titles prominently identified are the medical crime novel A Particularly Nasty Case and the children’s activity book Mr Kay’s Gruesome Games.
Key insights from Kay’s writing career
- Kay’s medical background gives his comedy and writing an authenticity that resonates with healthcare workers and general readers alike.
- This Is Going to Hurt became a cultural phenomenon and helped spark public debate about NHS working conditions.
- He transitioned from medicine to entertainment with unusual fluency, building a multi-platform career as author, screenwriter, and performer.
- His memoir was adapted into a BAFTA-nominated BBC drama starring Ben Whishaw.
- Kay’s children’s books explore science and the human body with the same irreverent humour that defines his adult work.
- He has been open about the psychological toll of leaving medicine, including the traumatic incident that prompted his departure.
- His public profile includes consistent advocacy for NHS staff welfare and healthcare policy awareness.
Snapshot facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Adam Richard Kay |
| Born | 12 June 1980, Brighton, England |
| Occupation | Author, comedian, TV writer, former doctor |
| Notable work | This Is Going to Hurt (book and TV series) |
| Spouse | James Farrell (married 2018) |
| Children | Two (Ruby and Ziggy, via surrogacy) |
| Education | Imperial College London (Medicine) |
| Years as a doctor | 2004–2010 |
| Genres | Memoir, comedy, medical fiction, children’s nonfiction |
Kay’s principal adult books include This Is Going to Hurt (2017), ’Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas, Undoctored: The Story of a Medic Who Ran Out of Patients, and A Particularly Nasty Case. His children’s and educational titles include Kay’s Anatomy (2020), Kay’s Marvellous Medicine, Kay’s Brilliant Brains (2023), Kay’s Incredible Inventions (2023), Dexter Procter: The 10-Year-Old Doctor, and Mr Kay’s Gruesome Games. The television adaptation of his memoir was written by Kay and broadcast on the BBC in 2022 as a seven-part comedy-drama; it received strong critical attention and was BAFTA-nominated. Further details on the adaptation are available here.
Who is Adam Kay’s husband and does he have children?
Adam Kay married James Farrell, a television producer, in 2018. The couple live in rural Oxfordshire with their two children.
Adam Kay’s husband James Farrell
Farrell works in television production. Kay has referred to him in interviews and in his writing, though Farrell himself maintains a relatively low public profile. The couple’s wedding took place in 2018.
Adam Kay’s children
Kay and Farrell have two children, born through surrogacy. Later reporting identifies them as Ruby and Ziggy. Kay has spoken publicly about difficult aspects of family life, including the loss of a child and the experience of his daughter spending time in neonatal intensive care. The Oxford Mail has covered these personal experiences.
There is no reliable public information about a previous marriage. The query may stem from confusion about Kay’s sexuality or from an assumption based on his earlier private life.
What is Adam Kay’s background as a doctor and comedian?
Kay’s route from medicine to entertainment is unusual and well documented. His career falls into two distinct phases: clinical medicine and media work.
Medical training and NHS career
Adam Richard Kay was born on 12 June 1980 in Brighton, England. He grew up in a Jewish family with his parents, Stewart and Naomi Kay, and three siblings. He attended Dulwich College and studied medicine at Imperial College London, graduating in 2004. Kay worked for the NHS from 2004 to 2010, specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. His Wikipedia entry covers his early life and education.
He left medicine after a traumatic obstetric incident involving an undiagnosed placenta praevia, in which a baby was stillborn and the mother required intensive care. Kay has said that the experience contributed to symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
Transition to comedy and television writing
Before becoming widely known as an author, Kay worked in television comedy. His credits include co-creating and writing the BBC Three sitcom Crims, as well as writing or script-editing for programmes including Mrs Brown’s Boys, Mongrels, Watson & Oliver, Up the Women, Very British Problems, Flat TV, Our Ex-Wife, Who Is America?, That Mitchell and Webb Look and Child Genius. His later television work includes adapting his own memoir and developing children’s material such as Dexter Procter. The Big Issue has reported on Kay’s motivations for writing about the NHS.
Kay’s departure was prompted by a single, devastating case in obstetrics. He has described the incident’s aftermath as involving symptoms of PTSD and depression, and has said the experience changed his relationship with medicine permanently.
What is the timeline of Adam Kay’s career and personal life?
- 12 June 1980 – Born in Brighton, England.
- 2004 – Graduates in medicine from Imperial College London and begins working for the NHS.
- 2004–2010 – Works as a junior doctor specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology.
- 2010 – Leaves clinical medicine after a traumatic obstetric incident.
- 2017 – Publishes This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor.
- 2018 – Marries television producer James Farrell.
- 2020 – Publishes children’s book Kay’s Anatomy.
- 2022 – BBC One airs the television adaptation of This Is Going to Hurt, written by Kay and starring Ben Whishaw.
- 2023 – Publishes Kay’s Brilliant Brains and Kay’s Incredible Inventions.
- Ongoing – Stand-up comedy tours, television projects, and children’s book series continue.
What is known and what remains unclear about Adam Kay?
- Kay was a junior doctor before becoming a writer and comedian.
- He wrote This Is Going to Hurt, which was adapted into a BAFTA-nominated TV series.
- He is married to James Farrell and they have two children via surrogacy.
- His birth date and place are 12 June 1980 in Brighton.
- Whether a first marriage existed; no reliable public sources confirm a previous spouse.
- Specific details of upcoming adult book releases after 2024 have not been officially announced.
- Some minor variations exist across sources regarding the exact titles and dates of his children’s books.
Why does Adam Kay’s work matter in British culture?
Kay’s work sits at the intersection of healthcare advocacy and entertainment. By using humour to highlight systemic issues in the NHS, he reached audiences that traditional policy discussions often miss. This Is Going to Hurt helped popularise a candid, honest style of writing about junior doctors while drawing attention to staffing and working conditions.
His success reflects a broader trend of medical professionals turning to writing and media to communicate about healthcare from the inside. The popularity of his memoir has made him a key voice in discussions about doctor well-being and healthcare policy. Penguin Books maintains an author profile that tracks his publishing career. Other public figures who have written candid memoirs about health and personal experience include Richard Herring – Biography, Career, and Personal Life.
His subsequent career has expanded into children’s nonfiction, fiction, television writing, and live performance. Undoctored also became a stage show, addressing subjects including mental health, eating disorder, divorce, sexual assault, and the psychological consequences of leaving medicine.
What has Adam Kay said about his career and the NHS?
“It’s a thankless job, but somebody’s got to do it – and I’m glad it’s not me anymore.”
Adam Kay, in interviews
“The NHS is a national treasure, and I wanted to show why it deserves our support.”
Adam Kay, in various media appearances
Kay’s comments consistently mix gratitude toward the health service with sharp criticism of the conditions under which staff operate. The BBC Radio 4 profile of Kay includes further discussion of his views. Pan Macmillan’s page for This Is Going to Hurt provides publisher background on the book.
To summarise, who is Adam Kay?
Adam Kay is a former NHS junior doctor turned bestselling author, comedy writer, and performer. His memoir This Is Going to Hurt made him a household name and sparked wider conversation about the realities of medical training. He continues to write across multiple formats—adult books, children’s nonfiction, television drama, and live comedy—while maintaining a public role as an advocate for healthcare staff. For a similarly in-depth look at another British entertainer who has written about personal health challenges, read the profile of Paul Sinha – Parkinson’s, The Chase, Husband and Memoir.
Frequently asked questions about Adam Kay
Is Adam Kay married to a man or a woman?
Adam Kay is married to James Farrell, a television producer. He is gay.
Did Adam Kay have a first wife?
There is no reliable public information about a previous marriage. The query may stem from confusion.
Where can I watch This Is Going to Hurt?
The TV series aired on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video, depending on region.
What is Adam Kay’s full name?
His full name is Adam Richard Kay.
Where did Adam Kay study medicine?
He studied medicine at Imperial College London, graduating in 2004.
How many siblings does Adam Kay have?
He grew up with three siblings in a Jewish family in Brighton.
What motivated Adam Kay to write This Is Going to Hurt?
The book was partly motivated by political disputes over junior-doctor contracts and the characterisation of doctors as greedy during those disputes.
What television shows has Adam Kay written for?
His credits include Crims, Mrs Brown’s Boys, Mongrels, That Mitchell and Webb Look, Who Is America?, and Child Genius, among others.
What stage show is based on Undoctored?
Undoctored was adapted into a live stage show addressing mental health, eating disorder, divorce, sexual assault, and leaving medicine.
Does Adam Kay still work as a doctor?
No. He left clinical medicine in 2010 and has not returned to practice.
Sophie Kendall is Culture & Communities Editor at RegionalReport.co.uk, covering community stories, arts, culture, festivals, local events and heritage.