“It’s about the highs and lows”: Siobhán Cullen, Paapa Essiedu and Jack Bannon on Babies

There aren’t that many films or TV series that attempt to tackle the tricky – and in many respects still rather taboo – subject of pregnancy loss. A few recent examples spring to mind: the comedy Trying, which explores fertility and adoption, or drama feature Only You starring Josh O’Connor and Laia Costa, both very different in tone. And of course, we’ve seen more humorous depictions of the chaos of motherhood in shows like Motherland. But Babies feels like quite a different beast.

From acclaimed writer Stefan Golaszewski, the six-part BBC series follows Lisa and Stephen (Siobhán Cullen and Paapa Essiedu) as they navigate miscarriage and the difficulties of conceiving, while trying to hold onto their relationship and find moments of wit, warmth and connection along the way.

It’s not always an easy watch, but the chemistry between the cast really carries it. Essiedu and Cullen are magnetic together, while Jack Bannon and Charlotte Riley offer an interesting counterpoint, their relationship unfolding in parallel and exposing tensions in long-standing friendships.

What stands out is how much the series leans into the everyday – the seemingly mundane moments around the house, the small interactions, the pauses – and how revealing they can be. As the cast explained, the same care is given to those moments as to the more overtly emotional scenes, which makes it far more truthful. Plus it captures the very British need to put a brave face on things, whether avoiding ordering an alcoholic drink in a pub or being triggered by conversations around kids while struggling having them behind closed doors.

The trio shared about what drew them to the project, the quality of the writing, and the experience of navigating both the tough scenes and those with more levity. As they reflected, it’s often the balance between humour and heartbreak that feels most true to life.

Ultimately, Babies is as much about love as it is about loss – a series that creates space for those conversations, while also offering something audiences can connect with, whatever their own experience.

Sarah Bradbury

Babies is released on BBC iPlayer on 30^th March 2026.

Watch the trailer for Babies here: