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A group of student and newly qualified midwives have enjoyed a sneak-peak at the first episode of their new eight-part TV series, The Young Midwives of Essex.

The staff and students working on Basildon Hospital’s maternity unit, were excited to have a special screening of the first episode in the hospital’s lecture theatre, ahead of it being aired on U&W on Monday 25 November, at 8pm.

The Young Midwives of Essex, from the makers of Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, is a hybrid documentary/reality series which follows the midwives at Basildon Hospital as they navigate their training on the busy maternity unit, as well as their lectures, exams – as students at Anglia Ruskin University – and their lives outside of work and study.

Mary, a midwife from Basildon, who appears in the first episode, said: “It’s great to finally see the first episode, it feels like we’ve all collectively given birth to it, so we’re just like proud parents and can’t wait for everyone to see it. We hope this show will give viewers, friends, and family a real insight into the highs, lows and dedication that it takes to be a midwife; helping inspire more people into midwifery as well.”

Of the filming she said: “At first, I was very nervous because it was completely new. But eventually it just became normality because the crew were there every shift.”

All week, Mary and the dedicated midwifery staff and students have appeared in various TV and lifestyle magazines from What’s on TV, who billed the programme as “TOWIE meets Call the Midwife”, to Inside Soap and Heat, who said that “the use of social media ‘to help narratives’ also promises to give a more intimate feel to this tried-and-tested formula.”

The midwives have also been interviewed by BBC Radio Essex and BBC Look East, which has featured already and will be seen again for the very first episode of The Young Midwives of Essex at 8pm, on U&W.

All eight episodes will then be available straight after to stream for free on u.co.uk.