The Bafta-winning documentary series One Born Every Minute is set to return eight years after its cancellation, airing on E4 instead of its original home on Channel 4. The show, which originally ran for 11 seasons before concluding in 2018, will once again place cameras in an NHS maternity unit to capture the realities of labour and delivery.
The reboot will consist of 12 episodes and will focus on the challenges facing the NHS, including budget cuts and staff shortages. Vivienne Molokwu, Senior Commissioning Editor at E4, described the series as a 'roller coaster of emotions' that will show how the digital age has reshaped how families navigate pregnancy. Will Rowson, Co-Creative Director at production company Dragonfly TV, said the hiatus has seen significant changes in pregnancy and maternity care, making it an opportune moment to reimagine the show.
The series returns against a backdrop of documented failures in UK maternity services. A recent national investigation by Baroness Valerie Amos highlighted issues such as capacity problems, racism, discrimination, and poor hospital conditions, including leaking roofs and fire hazards. The report questioned how such conditions could be regarded as acceptable in 2026, noting that some women were forced to give birth in corridors.
One Born Every Minute originally won a Bafta for Best Factual Series in 2010. The new series is expected to air later this year on E4.
