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The new BBC drama series *Babies* centers on the profound and often unspoken difficulties faced by couples dealing with pregnancy loss. It follows Lisa and Steven, a couple in their 30s, as they navigate the emotional turmoil and strain on their relationship caused by multiple miscarriages during their attempt to have a child. For the show’s lead actor Paapa Essiedu, the impact of the series is measured by its ability to encourage open conversations about pregnancy loss. Essiedu says, “If it makes one person able to talk about pregnancy loss when they previously couldn’t, I think the show will have been a success.”
To authentically portray these sensitive experiences, the cast engaged deeply with the topic. Essiedu, who is neither a parent nor someone who has been close to childbirth, consulted with specialists and midwives to gain a fuller understanding of the experience. He describes this process as “incredibly informative.” His co-star Siobhán Cullen similarly combined medical advice with personal encounters, talking to women she knows who have endured pregnancy loss. Cullen found having midwives present on set to be “invaluable,” as well as receiving candid stories from those close to her, which enriched her portrayal. She highlights the generosity of those who shared their journeys toward parenthood.
Acknowledging the limited representation of miscarriage and pregnancy loss in media, Cullen hopes the series will offer “a space for someone to share.” Essiedu points out that society tends to avoid conversations about grief due to discomfort, leading to stigma and isolation. Drawing attention to this, he notes, “There’s a sensitivity around any kind of grief and an assumption that those questions shouldn’t be asked.” The drama’s writer and director, Stefan Golaszewski, who has a background in award-winning BBC comedies and dramas, created the show with “such humility and honest” at its core. Although the story draws from some of his personal experiences, Golaszewski made it “more objectively dramatic,” aiming to generate openness around a subject often stigmatized. He observes that miscarriage is frequently medicalized, which can create a disconnect between personal grief and others’ perceptions.
In contrast to typical fast-paced dramas, *Babies* deliberately lingers on quiet moments—pauses, unfinished conversations, and silences—reflecting the ordinary reality of grief. Golaszewski explains that representing the “banal” truth of grief, where life’s daily necessities continue despite heartbreak, was intentional: “Your heart is blown to pieces but do you still need to eat dinner and go to work so I’m not stylistically chasing silence, just representing the truth of it.” The series also highlights the shared emotional pain experienced by both partners. While miscarriage is often considered primarily a woman’s physical ordeal, the show portrays Steven’s struggle to recognize his grief, emphasized by Lisa’s reminder: “they are your babies too.” Both Essiedu and Cullen share how working on *Babies* has deepened their understanding of parenthood and relationships, enhancing their compassion toward those who face difficulties in becoming parents.
The actors also reflect on the challenges of expressing vulnerability in real life. Steven’s use of humor as a defense mechanism to hide his true feelings resonates with Essiedu’s observations of how people handle painful emotions. He describes opening up as taking “a leap of faith,” accepting the risk of rejection for the possibility of intimacy and connection. Essiedu also acknowledges his own growth in this area: “I try not to be judgemental of past versions of myself who haven’t been able to do that.” Beyond the themes of the show, Essiedu has faced public scrutiny, notably receiving death threats following his casting as Severus Snape in the upcoming HBO *Harry Potter* series. Despite this negativity, he highlights the substantial support he has also received and maintains a measured approach to social media and public opinion, knowing it is impossible to satisfy everyone. He says, “There’s something about being put in this position where you want to please everyone, but you can’t and I’ve known that from a pretty early stage.”
*Babies* was broadcast on BBC One on Monday, 30 March at 21:00 BST
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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