Behind the scenes at Call the Midwife: Midwives in motion Midwives on bicycles! Its still amazing to us to think how this simple, quiet image has become such an iconic one on British TV. When we first aired Series 1 in 2012, it was an image that was to capture the imagination of the whole nation - even leading to hugely increased sales of bicycles with baskets! Such is the familiarity with the biking midwife image, it might be tempting to think that each episode features long sequences of cycling! But of course thats not the case. These sequences are extremely tricky to set up - involving a camera truck to track the action (see picture), and a large exterior street scene complete with supporting artistes, props and period buildings. These scenes provide a refreshing motion and contrast to the intense drama that dominates our stories. Most of our big exterior Poplar scenes - like the scene in this picture - are filmed in the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. This is a lovely location, and also a visitor attraction that you can visit at any time. The bicycle scenes give our drama an opportunity to break out of the cramped, intense delivery room or Poplar home, and let our characters feel the fresh breeze on their faces. One can only imagine how welcome this feeling must have been for the exhausted midwives working in Poplar at that time. The bicycle ride also allows us to see the Poplar community whizzing by. It is a bustling place - full of life and post-war employment. In these key sequences we are able to evoke an entire place and time - and place our drama firmly inside it. The midwife is not simply cycling down a Poplar street. She is cycling through a lost community. Although we cannot touch it, such scenes can allow us to feel that same breeze on our faces.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 10:10:36 +0000
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