Channel 4's period drama Home Fires is receiving renewed praise from viewers, with some calling it 'better than Call the Midwife'. The series, which originally aired on ITV in 2015, is now available to stream for free on Channel 4 and UKTV.
Set in the rural Cheshire village of Great Paxford between September 1932 and early 1940, the show follows members of the Women's Institute on the Home Front during the Second World War. Created by Simon Block and co-directed by Robert Quinn and Bruce Goodinson, it features an ensemble cast including Francesca Annis, Samantha Bond, and Ruth Gemmell.
Despite being cancelled by ITV after two series in 2016, the programme has maintained a devoted fanbase. It holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics describing it as 'as satisfying as a warm cup of tea' and praising its 'convincing period detail' and 'top notch performances'.
Viewers have expressed their admiration on social media and review sites. One IMDB user awarded it '20 stars', calling it a 'touching heartwarming series', while another lamented its cancellation, saying: 'I absolutely cannot believe that this absolutely incredible series has been cancelled.' Creator Simon Block later continued the story through a novelisation to resolve the cliffhangers.
The official plot summary states: 'The story follows a group of women living in a rural Cheshire village during World War II. With the war occupying their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers, the women are forced to cope with the pressures of living with limited resources in a nation of disarray.'
