If you’re feeling sorry for yourself this January, I prescribe an episode of Call the Midwife to put your life in perspective. True, it’s set in 1950s east London and follows the trials of four young mid-wives, which might make relating to it slightly harder. The harrowing plot threads of the second series’ debut episode, however, will at least give you a healthy dose of ‘the real world’ - whatever that is.

For those uninitiated in the series, I’ll give you a short, but perhaps not so sweet, synopsis. Young and newly qualified midwife Jenny Lee arrives at Nonnatus House, a convent, where she works with her fellow nurses Trixie, Cynthia and Chummy, the latter played by BBC comedy favourite Miranda Hart. The foursome must not only wrangle with the complications of childbirth, but the judgement of the Sisters who work with them, especially the feisty Sister Evangelina (Pam Ferris). Recurring themes of impoverishment and social issues make for a hard-hitting cocktail-if you were just expecting lots of cute babies, stop reading now.

There’s an authentic feel of austerity about Call the Midwife. Perhaps it’s just because my accommodation doesn’t offer very good heating, but the scenes of grey alleyways and drab interiors made me reach for my jumper. This point is especially pertinent to the first episode of the second series, in which a woman in an abusive relationship is allowing her home to rot around her. As if this wasn’t grim enough, there’s also a Swedish woman afloat a ship with much more to worry about than seasickness, including the attentions of her shipmates. Luckily, there’s some comedy relief, often emanating from Chummy, though I do keep expecting her to come out with one of her Miranda catch-phrases whilst helping to deliver a baby ('such fun!'). 

An episode of Call the Midwife seems to gather increasing momentum as it progresses, just like the bicycles that the midwives ride across cobbled streets in idyllic scenes. However, it’s not all wan and whimsy. I particularly enjoyed one line delivered by Trixie to Sister Evangelina: “I’m sorry sister but it’s 1958, women want pain relief!” Female emancipation indeed!

Having attracted 9.3 million viewers with its premiere episode, it seems that the second born series of Call the Midwife is off to a robust start. If you like the idea of a historical drama with a different perspective, you’ll probably have tried this already. For everyone else: think more bruises and banter than babies.