Harry Potter TV series star Paapa Essiedu breaks down his “very vulnerable” new BBC drama

This article contains mention of pregnancy loss and miscarriage that some readers may find distressing.

Paapa Essiedu, star of The Capture and the upcoming Harry Potter TV series, will next be seen in Babies, the latest BBC drama from Mum and Marriage writer Stefan Golaszewski.

Essiedu stars as Stephen alongside Siobhán Cullen as Lisa, with the duo playing a married couple who experience multiple pregnancy losses and miscarriages, while trying to have a baby.

Radio Times caught up with Essiedu, Cullen and their co-star Jack Bannon to speak about the series, and asked what Babies explores surrounding pregnancy loss which hasn't been seen on TV before.

Essiedu responded: "To be honest, I don't think Stefan's that concerned with what's been seen on screen before, because I don't think he really watches telly. He’s incredibly concerned with being very truthful, very authentic and very specific, and I think that's what was his main motivator."

"I wouldn't speak on his behalf," Essiedu continued, "but from what he said to us, and what I've heard him speak about to others, he's obsessed with portraying real life. And if you watch the show, there are no filters, often to the detriment of our egos. It's very, very raw, it's very, very vulnerable and very true.

"So, it's obviously an experience that many people go through and I would argue that there hasn't been huge amounts of space made for that to be spoken about, both just in our lives, but also in media, on the news, in music, in art, on television.

"But I think whilst this show is partly about that, and that is something that Stefan researched and drew upon experience to tell in the most authentic way possible, it's also about so many other things – it’s about relationships, it's about friendships, it’s about family and it's about love."

Bannon plays Dave in the series, with his character being Stephen's best friend. Dave, who is already a father, is seen at the start of a new relationship with Amanda, played by Charlotte Riley.

As that relationship develops, and Stephen and Lisa struggle with their losses, Stephen and Dave's friendship is threatened by underlying issues which rise to the surface.

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All episodes of Babies are on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 30 March, with the series airing on BBC One from 9pm that night.

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