The Real Midwives of Essex, New Series for W

Firecracker Films, the production company behind popular shows like Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over and Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, has been commissioned by UKTV to create a new docu-reality series called The Real Midwives of Essex. This exciting eight-part series will provide an in-depth look into the lives of midwives at Basildon University Hospital.

The show aims to showcase the daily experiences and challenges faced by these dedicated professionals, shedding light on their work both inside and outside the hospital. With unprecedented access to Basildon University Hospital, The Real Midwives of Essex will present an intimate portrayal of junior midwives’ journeys. Blending documentary-style storytelling with elements of reality TV, the series promises a fresh take on the genre.

The tight-knit cast includes a mix of student midwives, their instructors, and newly qualified midwives. Viewers will witness their early mornings, grueling 12-hour shifts, personal lives, and social outings. What makes this particularly remarkable is that these individuals qualify as medical professionals after only three years of training – making them some of Britain’s youngest healthcare providers.

Helen Nightingale, Head of Factual and Factual Entertainment at UKTV said: “Following our successful collaboration with Firecracker on Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, we are extremely excited about this opportunity to shed light on even more of Britain’s most unsung heroes.”

Adam Collings, Channel Director for W shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming show: “It’s such a pleasure to have The Real Midwives of Essex coming to W… I know W viewers are going to love seeing both sides of these amazing midwives’ lives!”

The executive producer from Firecracker Films, Sam Emmery expressed delight over working on this project: “We are delighted to be working with the team at UKTV on this exciting new series… Introducing viewers to an amazing group of midwives.”

The Real Midwives of Essex is set to air on W and UKTV Play later this year. This new series will offer a unique insight into the daily lives and experiences of midwives, showcasing their heroic work on the frontlines as well as the realities they face off-camera. It promises to be a compelling and enlightening portrayal of these unsung heroes.

In addition to this exciting new show, UKTV has recently announced its plans to launch ‘U’ – a new Masterbrand that will bring together its family of free-to-air channels and streaming service. The rebranding is set to take place in Summer 2024, with UKTV Play transitioning to U and its existing free-to-air channels becoming U&DAVE, U&DRAMA, U&YESTERDAY, and U&W.