Kate and Matt made the decision to allow cameras into their lives when they learned that Channel 4's One Born Every Minute would be filming at the hospital where Kate was expecting to deliver. The Manchester couple, who had been attempting to start a family since 2020, were finally on the verge of meeting their first child after undergoing IVF treatment. According to BBC News, their baby had been conceived using their final embryo, making this moment particularly significant for the pair.
"Our final chance at parenthood and it only went and worked,"Kate reflected in a clip from the new series. The couple's determination to share their experience stemmed from a desire to offer encouragement to others navigating similar challenges.
"We've been on a long journey to get here. We went through five years of fertility treatment, IVF, and it was a story that we really wanted to share. So when St Mary's Hospital sent out the communications to anyone who was due to give birth over summer, we were really passionate about the idea of sharing our story and sharing some hope for other people. It was also having a document of her that we could keep for the rest of our lives, so it was important for us to apply."
The documentary series, which originally ran for 11 series between 2010 and 2018, has made its return to television after an eight-year absence. According to AOL, this marks the programme's 12th series, with executive producer Will Rowson noting that audiences' increased willingness to share personal experiences represents a generational shift. The revived series was filmed at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, one of the region's busiest maternity units, and follows expectant parents as they navigate the maternity ward, each bringing their own hopes, fears and aspirations for the future. Kate and Matt's story will appear in episode two.
Matt reflected on the emotional weight of their journey, saying
"It was obviously a lot to deal with emotionally, spiritually, physically over the years, particularly for Kate and me watching from the sidelines. But to know it was the last [embryo], it was like OK, we're going to get on with real life now after this because every other one didn't quite work. But then she came and it just answered all the calls."
Watching their labour unfold on screen proved to be an intense experience for the couple. Kate described the emotional complexity of revisiting those moments with their daughter, now four months old, present beside them.
"We talk about how we met, we talk about our IVF journey, some of the struggles and challenges we had, we've had loss in that journey as well. To watch ourselves talk about that while she was sat on our laps and then see that moment of her being pulled out [during her C-section] it's quite gruesome but also gorgeous."
For Matt, the experience of watching the episode served as another form of emotional processing.
"Personally, it was another form of therapy [to watch the episode]. It's been such a long emotional journey to work with the team that produced the show and go back over our history and like how we met, how we fell in love and everything that just led to this point was great to think about and put out there."
The new series addresses more complex pregnancies and surgical procedures than the original run, tackling topics that have gained prominence since the show concluded in 2018. This reflects a broader shift in how television documentary approaches maternal healthcare and the diverse experiences of expectant parents.
Becky Longworth, a midwife with a decade of experience at St Mary's Hospital, was among the clinical staff featured in the series. She acknowledged the initial adjustment to working with cameras present.
"It can feel like a lot initially. You're very aware when you're watching the cameras go up and then you're getting your microphone put on at the start of the shift. But then you soon forget - the shift just runs its course. You've got other things to think about. You're very busy and you see us how we are every day."
Longworth expressed hope that the programme would cast maternity services in a positive light, particularly given the intense scrutiny the sector has faced in recent years.
"We are a friendly face. We do support you. We do answer your questions. We do listen to you. We do accommodate your choices. And if people can come into us knowing that about us already then it will make their journey and their experience a lot more positive for them from the outset."
When to watch
According to Hello Rayo, the new series premiered on E4 on Sunday 25 October 2026, with episodes also available to stream on Channel 4. The programme is scheduled to air on Sunday nights, with listings indicating a total of 12 episodes across the series.
