BBC One orders more Call the Midwife

Call the MidwifeBBC One controller Danny Cohen has ordered a second series of Sunday evening drama Call the Midwife.

Only two episodes of the 1950s drama based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth have aired so far but Call the Midwife has proven to be a hit with viewers and critics alike. Cranford and Upstairs Downstairs scribe Heidi Thomas has adapted the series for BBC One with a cast consisting of Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris, Jessica Raine and Miranda Hart. Call the Midwife launched last Sunday with an overnight audience of 8 million viewers while the BBC report the opening instalment had a consolidated figure of 9.8 million viewers.

Last night’s second episode pulled in 8.6 million viewers to BBC One at 8pm making it the most watched programme of Sunday evening comfortably beating entertainment series Dancing on Ice on ITV1 – the episode peaked at 9.2 million. Therefore its hardly surprising that Danny Cohen has been quick to order an 8 part second series of the drama which has taken Sunday by storm.

Below is the BBC Press Release:

 


Following outstanding ratings BBC One Controller, Danny Cohen, announces Call The Midwife will be returning for a second series. Call The Midwife has captured the hearts of audiences on Sunday nights at 8pm, the series opener last week consolidated at 9.8million viewers making it BBC One’s highest launch episode of a new drama on record. With last night’s episode averaging a massive 8.6 million as audiences tuned in to see Miranda Hart join the cast of nursing nuns.

“Call The Midwife has had a huge impact with audiences. It’s a very high-quality drama series from a brilliant team. It manages to be both hard-hitting and emotional, gritty and warm. I am already looking forward to the second series.” – Danny Cohen

“Call The Midwife is a totally original mix of comedy, tears, babies and nuns and it is fantastic to see this distinctive piece of British drama win such high praise and ratings. We can’t wait for the team to return next year and are very grateful to the vision of Jennifer Worth and Heidi Thomas.” – Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning

Based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth, adapted by Heidi Thomas and produced by Neal Street Productions, Call The Midwife is a moving, funny and colourful look at midwifery and family in 1950’s East End London. The story follows Jenny, played by newcomer Jessica Raine, who joins an eccentric and loveable community of nursing nuns played by Jenny Agutter as Sister Julienne, Pam Ferris as Sister Evangelina, Miranda Hart as Chummy and Judy Parfitt (as Sister Monica Joan).  The series reveals their friendships and the extraordinary true stories they encounter, as they are drawn into the lives and homes of the women and families they treat.

“We are thrilled that viewers have taken Call The Midwife to their hearts. The re-commission is a fantastic tribute to Jennifer Worth and will ensure that her legacy lives on. We’re very much looking forward to working with our tremendous cast and crew to revisit the residents of Nonnatus House.” – Pippa Harris, Executive Producer, Neal Street Productions