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Storyline
Based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth; the story follows twenty-two year old Jenny, who in 1957 leaves her comfortable home to become a midwife in London's East End. She is surprised to find that she will be living in a convent: Nonnatus House. Working alongside fellow nurses and the medically-trained nuns, Jenny has her eyes opened to the harsh living conditions of the slums, but she also discovers the warm hearts and the bravery of the mothers. Even after Jenny leaves Nonnatus, she continues to chronicle the lives of the midwives who have become her family.
Written by
L. Hamre
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Taglines:
In 1950's London, they delivered hope for all.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The series is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by
Jennifer Worth, the first in a trilogy of books describing her work as a district nurse and midwife in the East End of London during the 1950s. The premiere episode was dedicated to Worth's memory, as she died six months before it aired.
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Goofs
The ship in the intro for all the Series is the Dominion Monarch. Series 7 is set in 1963. That ship was scrapped by the end of 1962 so it should've been removed from the intro.
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Connections
Featured in
Jeremy Vine: Episode #4.14 (2021)
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It's hard to believe that anyone could be as compassionate and tender as the midwives in Call the Midwife, compassion and tenderness being rare qualities in the increasingly disconnected world of the 21st century. I suspect those qualities are a real incentive for even the casual viewer of this series, which depicts the lives of midwives toiling in the east London of the late 50s- early 1960s. The world of almost 60 years ago was a very different one from today, both from a social and technological standpoint. I'm impressed by the attention to detail in the series, which allows viewers to immerse themselves in the stories, which touch upon issues such as abortion and incest, as well as the then real threats of polio and tuberculosis. More recent stories have even addressed the thalidomide tragedy. The acting is, without exception, top notch, especially that of Judy Parfitt as Sister Monica Joan. I tend to be especially critical of shows that rely on lachrymose sentimentality to further the story. Call the Midwife is at times tender, sweet tempered and, well, nice, but never false as it displays the panorama of the human condition.