The show follows the professional and social lives of the junior midwives in Basildon University Hospital. Thanks to its exclusive access, the programme reveals what it takes to survive in one of the most demanding jobs in the country.

Midwives can qualify after three years, putting them amongst Britain’s youngest medical professionals. The Real Midwives of Essex sheds light on those who have recently qualified, as well as the student midwives, and the people teaching them.

Together, they deal with 12-hour shifts, early starts and nights out.

The show was commissioned by Helen Nightingale, UKTV’s head of factual and factual entertainment. 

“Following our successful collaboration with Firecracker on Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, we are extremely excited about this opportunity to shed light on even more of Britain's most unsung heroes,” said Nightingale. “The Real Midwives of Essex will also take the audience behind the scenes to see what these young midwives get up to beyond their professional roles.”

W channel director Adam Collings ordered the series alongside Hilary Rosen, director of commissioning.

“This show brings the perfect blend of these midwives’ front line heroics and the reality of their everyday lives,” said Collings. “I know W viewers are going to love seeing both sides of these amazing midwives' lives!”