Entertainment
Is Call The Midwife leaving BBC for Netflix? Streaming platform ‘keen on beloved period drama’
Netflix are said to be keen to take Call The Midwife from the BBC.
The programme has been broadcasted on the terrestrial channel since it
began in 2012 and the streaming service giant are reportedly earmarked
the show as an “irresistible prospect”.
An insider told the Mail on Sunday: ‘The hour-long format of the programme and its huge viewing figures make it an irresistible prospect for Netflix.
‘They would also be able to make more than the current eight episodes per series – and it would be watched globally.’
However, a Call the Midwife spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘This is categorically untrue and Call the Midwife will remain a BBC commissioned series.
‘It enjoys great success on PBS, Netflix and other networks around the world but it continues to be much loved by huge audiences on BBC One and that is where it will stay.’
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It comes after creator Heidi Thomas revealed she does get a lot of offers from other channels and services, who tell her they could give her the budget to film 30 episodes.
Speaking about the offers she’s had, she said: ‘I do get offered a lot of stuff. A lot of film producers were setting up to produce television and they would approach me with an idea and say, “I think we can do 30 episodes.”
‘But I thought, “In your wildest dreams! You don’t know anything about television.” They just wanted to sell more of it. I found that quite dispiriting.’
However, Heidi admits she was a little jealous of Netflix series The Crown’s budget.
She added: ‘I do remember watching a very early episode of The Crown where an aeroplane takes off on a runway in Africa and emus run underneath it.
‘I was like, “Urgh. They have got emus.” On Call The Midwife, if we need a dog show, people bring their own pets. I felt like a poor relation at that moment.’
The future of Call The Midwife seems bright, with BBC planning an 11th series with new episodes set to go into production later this year.
The Beeb has also confirmed the series will air until at least 2024, with 13 seasons expected with Christmas specials for each run.
Metro.co.uk has contacted a representative for Netflix for comment.
Call The Midwife airs Sundays at 8pm on BBC One.
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