BBC One announce new comedy from Jessica Knappett, Push

And it's set in a lively NHS maternity unit!

BBC One has today announced a new six-part comedy from Jessica Knappett, which is set in a lively NHS maternity unit of a small rural hospital in West Yorkshire.

Push is a workplace ensemble comedy about an eccentric but dedicated team of midwives, desperately trying to keep their act together while things around them are quite literally falling apart.

The ward may be scruffy and perpetually underfunded, but this lot are (mostly) grafters and fiercely protective of the place they call home. For them, delivering babies is the best job in the world – made all the better by the company they keep.

They might be the angelic heroes of the NHS but they’re also glorious oddballs and lovable misfits, partial to an outrageous flirt in the corridor, a scandalous gossip in the staff room, or a disco nap in the sluice room. Push is a laugh out loud celebration of the chaotic, high-stakes reality of pulling off a miracle several times a day. It’s blood, sweat and (third degree) tears.

Push marks the first commission from the BBC Comedy Sitcom Project, a supercharged development opportunity which funded six writers’ rooms led by experienced showrunners to create the next big sitcom.

Jessica Knappett as the showrunner originated the idea for Push before helming a writers’ room of both established and new writer-performer talent.

Speaking about Push, Jessica Knappett said "It is an absolute joy and an immense privilege to be given the extraordinarily rare opportunity to make a sitcom and – not that I like to put pressure on myself – I do see it as almost a matter of public service to make this the best it can be. The NHS is a marvel to me and ever since I gave birth to my own children, I knew I wanted to birth a show about midwives. Thankfully this process has been a lot less painful and I didn’t need stitches."

To which the BBC's Director of Comedy, Jon Petrie, added "We’ve been looking for a high joke rate workplace comedy for a while now, and with Push it feels like Jess and the team have really delivered. Months in the making, full of warmth, friendship and sharp writing. We can’t wait to bring it into the world."

Produced by Various Artists Ltd, Push was created and written by Jessica Knappett, and will be produced by Helen Williams and executive produced by Jack Bayles, Phil Clarke and Jessica Knappett for Various Artists Limited.

Speaking ahead of the show airing, executive producer Jack Bayles, said "It’s been a total joy to see this very special project come to life. Jess has maintained an incredibly clear vision, and with the team around her she has pulled together a brilliantly funny show with effortless charm, bags of heart, and a cast of characters as richly diverse as the NHS itself. The support from the writers’ room initiative has really helped to develop something fully formed and ready to drop. Pun intended!"

Full casting and transmission details will be announced in due course.

Push will air on BBC One