The BBC has released a breathtaking upcoming six-part drama, and early viewers say it delivers a love story so raw, so intimate, and so emotionally charged that it “stays in your chest long after the screen fades to black.” Babies, premiering on BBC One in early 2026, is billed as a gripping, tender, and urgent portrait of two people fighting to hold onto hope in impossible circumstances, and the preview alone has audiences shaken—soft glances, unspoken pain, impossible choices—all hinting at a story that could break hearts nationwide. With tension, beauty, and devastating emotional stakes woven into every frame, this is the drama everyone will be talking about… and crying over. Created by Lucy Kirkwood (Chimerica, The Children), the series stars Siobhan Finneran (Happy Valley) and Jack Farthing (Poldark) as a devoted couple navigating the shattering reality of infertility in a world that promises miracles but delivers heartbreak.
At its core, Babies follows the quiet unraveling of a seemingly perfect marriage when a longed-for pregnancy turns into a nightmare of loss and longing. Finneran’s Laura is a high-powered lawyer whose meticulously planned life crumbles under the weight of repeated miscarriages, while Farthing’s Matt, a soft-spoken teacher, clings to optimism even as doubt erodes their foundation. What begins as whispered dreams of baby names and nursery paint colors spirals into a devastating exploration of grief, resentment, and the unspoken guilt that threatens to pull them apart. Kirkwood’s script, praised as “a masterclass in emotional devastation” by The Guardian, doesn’t shy away from the raw edges: the sterile IVF clinics, the awkward baby showers, the silent car rides home from yet another negative test. It’s not just about loss—it’s about what loss does to the love that survives it.
Finneran and Farthing’s chemistry is the series’ beating heart. Finneran’s Laura is a force—fierce, fractured, her smiles masking a storm—while Farthing’s Matt embodies the ache of quiet endurance, his gentle touches a lifeline in the chaos. The supporting cast elevates the intimacy: The Crown‘s Erin Doherty as Laura’s no-nonsense sister, Succession‘s Brian Cox as Matt’s gruff father, and newcomer Lila Crawford as a surrogate whose own secrets add layers of complexity. Directed by Philip John (Poldark), the series captures the mundane horror of trying to build a family in a world that feels rigged against it, with cinematography that turns cozy kitchens into claustrophobic cages.
Critics who’ve seen the first three episodes are breathless: 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Variety calling it “the most moving exploration of infertility since Private Life—a love story that hurts to watch and heals to remember.” Viewers at test screenings warn: “I paused Episode 2 to ugly-cry—it’s that real.” Social media is already buzzing with #BBCBabies, fans sharing their own stories: “This show gets it—the silence after another loss” (@InfertilityWarrior, 50k likes).
Babies isn’t a tearjerker—it’s a mirror, reflecting the quiet wars waged in bedrooms and waiting rooms. Stream it on BBC iPlayer from early 2026 (U.S. on BritBox). Brace for tears; embrace the truth.
