Call the Midwife starts this weekend

The six episode series stars Jessica Raine as Jenny, and the cast also includes Jenny Agutter, Pam Ferris, Miranda Hart and Judy Parfitt.

The series was adapted with the blessing and guidance of midwife and author Jennifer Worth, who worked closely with the production team and screenwriter, before tragically passing away in the summer of 2011.

Pippa Harris, executive producer for the series, said: ‘I loved the fact that Jennifer's writing gives you an insight into a recent, yet long vanished world.

‘Although she was only writing about the late 50s, this post-war period in the East End was extremely tough.

‘Surrounded by bomb damage, and sometimes living in slum conditions, women gave birth to baby after baby often with no running water, clean bed linen or pain relief.

‘Yet despite the hardship, Jennifer's books are filled with warmth and humour and show the powerful bonds of family and community that held people together.’

The opening episode, which starts at 8pm on BBC1, sees Jenny Lee arriving at Nonnatus House and undergoing her initial training in the community.

The episode then goes on to focus on the case of Conchita Warren - the first that Jenny is allowed to handle alone.

The cast have been working with a midwifery advisor, to help them with the birthing scene.

Jessica Raine said: ‘I remember speaking to an actor who is a doctor and he said something really useful.

‘We were parting in the corridor and he said that delivering a baby never isn’t amazing.

‘You think maybe you’d get used to the job of being a midwife but he said it’s always amazing, it’s a new life in the room.

‘It’s never not a miracle, it’s utterly incredible. I’m trying to remember that when you’re dealing with a prosthetic strange baby.’