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

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This article discusses sensitive topics like pregnancy loss and miscarriage, which may be upsetting to some readers.

Paapa Essiedu, known for his roles in The Capture and the new Harry Potter TV show, is starring in Babies, a new drama series from Stefan Golaszewski, the writer behind Mum and Marriage.

Weruche Opia stars as Stephen, and Siobhán Cullen plays Lisa, a married couple struggling with repeated miscarriages as they try to start a family.

TopMob interviewed Essiedu, Cullen, and Jack Bannon about their new series, ‘Babies,’ focusing on how the show tackles the rarely-seen topic of pregnancy loss on television.

Essiedu explained that Stefan isn’t really focused on what’s been done in other shows or movies – he doesn’t watch much TV. Instead, Stefan is driven by a desire to be genuine, truthful, and very detailed in his work. That’s what motivates him the most, according to Essiedu.

Look, I can’t speak for the guy directly, but from what he’s shared with us, and what I’ve overheard him say elsewhere, he’s completely fixated on authenticity. And honestly, when you watch the show, it really comes across – there’s almost no glossing over things. It can sting sometimes, definitely bruising a few egos! It’s just incredibly raw, really vulnerable, and feels incredibly true to life.

It’s something a lot of people experience, but there hasn’t been much open discussion about it – not in everyday life, and rarely in the media, like news, music, art, or on TV.

While the show is based on real experiences Stefan researched to ensure authenticity, it’s really about much more than that. At its heart, it’s a story about relationships, friendships, family, and love.

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In the series, Bannon portrays Dave, who is Stephen’s close friend. At the beginning of the show, Dave—already a dad—starts a new relationship with Amanda, played by Charlotte Riley.

As Stephen and Lisa grow closer and cope with their grief, tensions that have been brewing between Stephen and Dave begin to cause problems in their friendship.

For information and support, please visit Tommy’s or The Mariposa Trust.

You can watch all episodes of Babies on BBC iPlayer starting at 6am on Monday, March 30th. The series will also be shown on BBC One at 9pm that same evening.

Want to stay updated on ‘Babies’? Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob ‘What to Watch’ app! Download now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at Fremantle, a major international TV production company. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-03-27 16:36