Forgotten ITV Medical Drama Is a Must-Watch for Call the Midwife Fans — Viewers Say Its Early Seasons Are “Exceptional”

Fans missing the emotional medical stories and period atmosphere of Call the Midwife may want to rediscover Bramwell, a largely forgotten ITV drama that viewers have praised for its compelling storytelling, gritty Victorian setting and strong central performance from Jemma Redgrave.

First airing in 1995, Bramwell ran for four seasons until 1999 and transports viewers to London in 1895. At its heart is Dr Eleanor Bramwell, a determined female physician attempting to build a medical career at a time when women routinely faced prejudice and resistance from their male colleagues.

After a disagreement with a senior colleague costs Eleanor her hospital position, her father offers her work alongside him in private practice. Instead, she chooses a very different path.

Family friend Lady Cora Peters asks Eleanor to establish The Thrift, a small hospital on Thrift Street dedicated to treating impoverished patients. There, she assembles an unconventional team that includes stern Nurse Ethel Car, porter Daniel Bentley and former colleague Dr Joe Marsham.

But keeping The Thrift alive proves almost as difficult as treating its patients.

Across the series, Eleanor faces professional prejudice, financial pressures and complicated relationships while the drama explores subjects including poverty, racism, alcoholism and the harsh conditions of Victorian workhouses.

The show has retained an impressive reputation among viewers decades later, currently holding a 7.8/10 IMDb rating. One reviewer called its first three seasons “terrific,” while another praised the series as a “very compelling show” from a historical perspective.

Others singled out Redgrave’s performance and the series’ atmospheric depiction of Victorian London, with episodes exploring themes of class, betrayal, love, loss and the limitations of medicine at the time.

There is one recurring warning from longtime viewers, however: opinions become considerably more divided when the drama reaches its fourth and final season. One fan who awarded the series 9/10 simply advised viewers to enjoy the first three seasons and “skip the fourth.”

For anyone who loves Call the Midwife, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman or character-driven historical medical dramas, Bramwell could be the overlooked period series worth discovering next.

Bramwell is available to rent on Prime Video now.