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This popular British period drama series, set in the late 1950s and 1960s, follows a group of nurse-midwives working in the impoverished Poplar district of East London. What is the title of this show?

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Call the Midwife - television illustration
Call the Midwife — television

The popular British period drama you're thinking of is "Call the Midwife (Review)." This acclaimed series perfectly matches the description, centering on a group of dedicated nurse-midwives and nuns working in the deprived Poplar district of East London during the transformative decades of the late 1950s and 1960s. The show vividly portrays their daily lives as they navigate the challenges and joys of delivering babies and providing vital healthcare to a community facing significant poverty and social change.

The series is an adaptation of the best-selling memoirs of Jennifer Worth, who herself worked as a district nurse and midwife in the East End during the 1950s. Her books, including "Call the Midwife: A True Story of the East End in the 1950s," offer a poignant and often humorous look at a bygone era, forming the initial basis for the television show. The fictional Nonnatus House, where the characters reside, is inspired by the Community of St. John the Divine, an Anglican religious order with a history of nursing and midwifery in the area.

Beyond the personal stories of the midwives and their patients, the drama offers an educational glimpse into post-war British society. It explores the profound impact of the newly established National Health Service (NHS) on public health, the harsh realities of slum conditions and housing crises, and the evolving landscape of women's healthcare, including the introduction of new medical practices and contraception. The show is celebrated for its historical accuracy and its sensitive portrayal of social issues, making it both engaging entertainment and a valuable window into a pivotal period of British history.