Call the Midwife: Sheer gritty class

January 18, 2013

Call the MidwifeI’m not usually one for an early Sunday evening TV drama – I’m much more a Walking Dead/Boardwalk Empire/Homeland kinda gal – but I absolutely love Call the Midwife, which is back on BBC1 this Sunday. Don’t be deceived by the 8pm time slot, there’s really nothing very cosy about it. Set in the East End in 1958, every episode contains gritty realism as the midwives and nuns struggle to give maternity care to those who need it.

It’s often very sad, the acting is quite brilliant (particularly by Pam Ferris and Miranda Hart) and the narration, by Vanessa Redgrave, is always poignant. But the real beauty of Call the Midwife is that it’s a TV series which focuses on women, because, let’s face it, there aren’t too many of those. Yes there’s a male doctor on call, but for the most part, the midwives – and the sisters – are doing it all themselves. Respect.

 

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  • Peggy January 22, 2013 at 7:34 am

    I love this series, although I tend to be useless at watching consistently any series. I watched the Christmas episode and some of the previous season but then I forgot it was starting again last Sunday. Thanks the reminder, must set the recorder!

  • S January 18, 2013 at 10:50 am

    You should read the midwife trilogy by Jennifer Worth, they are 3 amazing books. Not to say the programme isn’t good, but as is often the case I personally think the books are better as it is in your imagination, and nothing gets left out.

  • Erica January 18, 2013 at 8:24 am

    My sister plays a small part in this. I watched it over Christmas and enjoyed it.