“Call the Midwife” is a period drama TV series created by Heidi Thomas. Its storyline is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth, which revolves around a group of nurse midwives in the East End of London during the 1950s and 1960s. The series has been expanded to include new, historically-sourced material.
The first series (Season 1) of six episodes premiered in the UK on January 15, 2012. Produced by Neal Street Productions, “Call the Midwife” achieved very high ratings during its Season 1, making it the most successful new drama series on BBC One since 2001.
The second series (Season 2) of eight episodes aired in the UK early in 2013 and it achieved a consolidated series average of 10.47 million viewers. A third eight-part series aired in the UK from January 2014 with a consolidated average of 10.54 million viewers.
During the autumn of 2012, PBS has broadcast the first series of “Call the Midwife” in the US, which received widespread critical acclaim. The Wall Street Journal described the show as an immensely absorbing drama that is worth any trouble it takes to catch up with its singular pleasures.
The Washington Post, on the other hand, cited that the cast of “Call the Midwife” is marvelous and the gritty, post-war set pieces are meticulously recreated.
TV Guide also described the series as a delight to watch while the San Francisco Chronicle described it as a sentimental, poignant, and often heartbreaking show.