Maternal, ITV’s new medical drama, captures working mothers in the raw: ‘The juggle is real’

Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter for all the latest entertainment news and reviews Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter Sign up to our free IndyArts newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “What if I hate being away from them?” she shouts to her husband across the roof of a car echoing with baby screams – “or love being away from them – that’s worse, right?” Nagra is joined by Mum star Lisa McGrillis as Helen, a registrar in acute medicine whose cheating husband has been promoted to her boss while she’s been taking time away to raise their children. open image in gallery Lara Pulver as Catherine in ‘Maternal’ Working motherhood is not just the risible indignity of showing up to a meeting with milk on your blouse, or even the nasty choice between nailing the promotion-nabbing presentation and arriving at your kid’s school in time for the nativity play. Pulver calls the show, which moves at the headlong clip of an NHS day shift, “quietly political”, by which she means it’s more entertaining than it is polemical. Retrain now while you’re still young enough to do something else.” When Catherine insists that she’s only ever wanted to be a surgeon, Becky turns merciless: “Then why did you become a mother?” open image in gallery Parminder Nagra as Maryam, back at work after two years of maternity leave Part of what impressed and horrified me about the tranche of episodes available to critics was the unexpected ripple effect of new motherhood.